Not only the National contests were left with problems but, due to unforeseen circumstances, John Champion had to pull out running this event. After ringing around, Steve Stone stood in at one day's notice.

Seven teams entered this evening's event. There was a nice positive signal from Steve, Unknown to us, at this point in time, Steve's aerial was positioned under a national grid power line, which gave a conflicting number of bearings.

Once again, after speaking to Steve on the number of teams competing, I started out last. I looked at the map and decided to make for the Speen area, where I arrived with one minute to spare. The 8pm signal was strong but the bearing veered up the map well away from the original bearing. Judging by the signal strength, I estimated that Steve was around one and a half miles away at Hampden Common. On arrival there, I searched the local pub and "Great", there was Steve's car parked.

As I waited for the next bearing I heard a screech of brakes and spotted Mark Coventry who eventually parked on the nearby cricket field. With signal on, both of us decided to run down through the woods and onwards towards the lower road. As I reached this road John Mullins and Co were about to proceed across the road and into the adjoining wood.

Up and up we all ran until the next signal came on which made us run still further into a small fir plantation. The next transmission was very strong and positive but just as I cleared the small plantation, thinking "I'm in the lead", Peter Lisle appeared from nowhere to dash though a small path underneath those dreaded pylons. At the same time, I tried to cut my way through directly to Steve but just before reaching his hide crawled to the right missing Steve by metres. After searching around after the signal went off, I found Steve, only to find that Peter and John Mullins had beaten me in (Drat).

As I started the long walk back, I felt that the area was not the same as when I ran in (yes, I was lost). So I walked back to Steve's hide to get correct directions only to hear shouts of despair from Mark Coventry whose sense aerial had fallen off and did not know where to go, so after calling him in, all seven teams eventually found Steve.

It was as expected a typical "yomp" style DF event with Steve walking 1.5 km to his hide. Congratulations to John Mullins on coming second (watch out Mr.X)

Brian Bristow