2008 G.T. Peck Memorial Trophy

30 March 2008

The G.T. Peck Memorial Trophy event took place on a beautiful, sunny, Spring day. This was in stark contrast to the weather the previous afternoon when the antennas were erected!

Station A was operated by me and was located on Watlington Hill, near Christmas Common. Those who had a few spare moments running to or from the car would have noticed the large numbers of red kites that like to float on the updrafts. Anyone coming up from the bottom of the hill (nobody did) would have seen the famous White Mark cut out of the chalk.

The station was located in a grove of yew trees with little cover, however, the interlocking low branches of the trees made progress somewhat difficult. I had planned to lie down in the shadows under a tree using a camouflage net but on the day, I changed my mind and climbed about ten feet up the tree where the branches and early foliage helped to conceal all the kit. Several people passed very close to the tree without noticing and some spent quite a long time in the vicinity.

Min Standen operated station B; he was located about 19 km from the start on Ashley Hill, a few miles West of Maidenhead. He was well hidden in a largish patch of rhododendrons that the overnight rain had made very soft underfoot. The antenna was in several pieces; one went almost all the way around the rhododendrons, one was quite short and ended up in a likely-looking hide about 30 yards from the station and the third was a few hundred feet long tied off to a wire fence at its remote end. This caused a good deal of confusion to competitors although it should have been easy to follow the antenna wire to the station.

All competitors, except Alan Simmons, went for station A first although logic would suggest that B should have been taken first. Steve Stone was first into station A; he had no trouble at all, just walking straight up to the correct yew tree. Peter Lisle came in about 13 minutes later but caught up with Steve at station B and managed to get in just ahead of him to win the contest.

All competitors managed to find both stations within the time (just!) and everyone seemed to have a good time. The excellent tea was held at Crays Pond Scout Hut and was prepared single-handedly by Doreen Pechey. She was a bit worn out at the end of the day!

Peter and Steve gave accounts of how they had done so well and collected their prizes. Rosie Merry won the ladies’ prize.

Bill Pechey

Photos of the event can be seen here.

Position Competitor Finish Time A Time B
1 Peter Lisle 15:32:57 14:39:03 15:32:57
2 Steve Stone 15:35:06 14:26:00 15:35:06
3 Mark Coventry 15:40:35 14:47:14 15:40:35
4 George Whenham 15:41:30 14:46:43 15:41:30
5 Brian Bristow 15:46:32 14:38:53 15:46:32
6 Roy Emeny 15:48:53 14:56:38 15:48:53
7 Colin Merry 15:50:50 14:48:08 15:50:50
8 Graham Phillips 15:51:17 14:43:17 15:51:17
9 Paul Clark 15:51:43 14:47:29 15:51:43
10 Alan Simmons 16:02:32 16:02:32 14:54:24
11 Graham Jones 16:07:58 15:05:17 16:07:58
12 Graham Nicholls 16:21:25 14:56:54 16:21:25
13 Geoffrey Foster 16:29:24 15:08:35 16:29:24