Operator was Alan Simmons

Due to holidays, only five teams started at Cowleaze Wood to hear a fine signal from Alan, but the surprise was that the signal went towards Abingdon not Princes Risborough as expected. All the teams plotted around 265 ish and proceeded to get as far towards Abingdon as was possible. I managed to get past Stadhampton along with Mark Coventry, whilst Steve Stone opted to get past Benson towards Dorchester.

At the 8pm signal it was clear Alan was somewhere near to Clifton Hampton, and on arriving at the Local car park I spotted Mark Coventry running towards the Thames path. I decided to wait for the next transmission and it confirmed Alan was indeed on the Thames path but a fair way down.

A quick glance of the map (wish I looked more closely) I decided to drive around the road to the next village (Long wittenham). I quickly found a footpath leading towards the river. With the next TX signal on, "Great! It's only about 100 yards to go.", then my luck ran out; a b----y great weir with padlocked gates prevented me going any further so, with haste, I ran all the way back to the car and drove back to the place where I had seen Mark ages before.

Alan had then decided to give slightly longer transmissions which helped with the long trek down the Thames path. To my surprise, who had ran the wrong way up the path? (Mark Coventry). Great, I will not be last! On and on until I started meeting Graham Phillips then Mr X and Mr Y. With one last puff of stamina I found Alan's site deep near to the fence. Minuets later, Mark and sidekick Dan arrived. Then a slow trek back to pub to hear how all the teams had faired. Alan had cunningly brought his Caravan and parked besides the Thames so no team would spot his car!

Brian Bristow.