2007 Gage-Tyler Cup round 7

26 September 2007

This, the last round of the Mid-Thames Wednesday night DFs, was full of surprises; Mid-Thames' guest Tx operator was Chris Plummer who travelled all the way down from Biddulph to run this event. Then, at the start, we were all pleased to see Bernard Poole turn up to greet us and to see him having a good recovery after his recent operation. Thirdly, after we had taken our bearings, a motor bike pulled up across the exit and it looked like a visit by the "old bill". As he approached you could just make out it was Min Standen who was travelling back home from work and also called in to say Hi.

Anyway, back to the DF. Chris' signal was audible to the eight teams who supported this revised start date, giving various bearings from 250 to 280 which pointed towards Henley on Thames and Reading. Bill Pechey and Peter Lisle got as far as Sonning while I and two other teams managed to get near to Nettlebed.

The 8pm signal proved to most that Chris was back towards the start, my bearing put Chris towards Medmenham (the wrong side of the river Thames). After driving down the wrong road on the other side of the Thames I realised that Chris was almost back at the start in Ashley Hill forest. Still with no idea really to where Chris was stationed I drove along the lower road towards the local pub and then at last came upon two DF cars. Luckily, the Tx signal came on and took me into the forest and up the hill. Worried about torch failure, I sat still for five minutes until Chris decided to give us more of a chance of finding him. With signal now blasting my ears off, I met Bill Pechey inside a clutch of small bushes. I took the left and he took the right and straight into Chris' hide. With a frantic lurch, I managed to get in just before Peter Lisle crashed through in third place. (Peter had walked past Chris at 8.30 !).

Just after we had signed in, David Ryan (Mr X) managed to find Chris (his team had arrived early in the site area but, as no other team was visible, they thought it was the wrong place to be). Six teams managed to find a cold but not wet Chris Plummer. Good chatter was made at the nice little pub (the Dew Drop Inn!) at the bottom of the track. My thanks to Chris for all his efforts and to all the other operators and teams for helping the Mid-Thames Club have a very successful Gage-Tyler year.

Brian Bristow

Position Competitor Finish
1 Bill Pechey 21:06:16
2 Brian Bristow 21:06:29
3 Peter Lisle 21:06:48
4 David Ryan 21:08:17
5 Mark Coventry 21:16:21
6 Steve Stone 21:18:19
7 Alan Simmons NF
8 Graham Phillips NF