The Hare and the Three Tortoises

Eight teams managed to hear Peter's signal from the start but, once again, skywave interfered with the bearings with variations between 265 and 285 degrees being plotted. With the bearings being passed on to the Oxford map a squeal of shock was heard as Claire Barrell found she had not got said map and, surprise-surprise, nobody else had a spare. So it was decided that she would follow me and as she was still learning to use Geoff Foster's DF set he would follow her.

Meanwhile the Hare (Peter Lisle) raced off to get to the junction of the A34 just a short distance from where Peter was hiding. We, however, plodded along and managed to get just past Stadhampton where the signal was indeed stronger but still drifting through the Abingdon area. Off we went again with hopes of reaching the other side of Abingdon, but due to the speed of Claire's little car only made it to the car park just before the town. To our surprise, Bill Pechey drove in just before Peter's third transmission.

This time the signal was more positive, 340 degrees, which went northwards to Boars Hill. Into the cars we jumped and circumnavigated Abingdon town towards Boars Hill. With the fourth signal, on it pointed out that Peter was indeed on that hill. We met Alan Simmons somewhat bewildered to where Peter might be, but he soon turned around and followed the pack of three tortoises. On arrival at the hill, we spotted Peter's car and then legged it down to a wood with swamp-like areas. Claire and I searched this area whilst Geoffrey turned back because he had lost us.

With the next signal on, we made for the swampy area and thrashed up the good bits with Alan and Colin Boyce, but the hide was not here but up the top of the slope where Geoff had returned to. With a little bit of searching, he found Peter fairly easy. I then managed to DF up the slope and saw Peter Lisle looking like he had been in and with a deep breath managed to go around a thick bush to find Peter Bradley hiding there. How many teams have been in I asked ("You're second", was the reply). Great, let's call in Claire but, yes, Peter Lisle just beat her (blast!). Gradually, all the eight teams managed to find the hidden location well before close down.

The lesson learned this evening is you do not need to race around to win just plod like Tortoises.

Brian Bristow