Thinking somewhere on the Thames would make for an interesting event, I noticed a black dotted line on the map surrounding Abingdon sewage works. The map key confirmed it a footpath, so “I’ll take a look on my way over”, me thinks. As I walked along the metalled path leading away from the works gate, several trees looked to offer a great place to ‘hide’ about 5-6 feet from ground level, with power lines more or less overhead as per the map. I say hide, but I was clearly visible from the path with a high-powered torch directed in my direction. The site looked perfect!!

I connected the earth from the transmitter to the sewage works wire fence hoping to set up peaks and nulls along the length of the path so as to tempt competitors into the rough stuff as they ran in. Another three hours of threading aerial wire through the trees opposite my hide duly followed, including tying a dummy tee on to the pylon more or less opposite my hide, and leading the aerial around on top of the barbed wire surrounding two sides of said pylon further into the rough stuff. The far end was tied on to a barbed wire fence about 50-60 yards away, I guess. Wanting to draw competitors away from my hide, I tied another wire on to the fence about 15 feet from the first wire and hung it for about 30-40 paces high up in the trees making it easily visible for all to see, the far end connected to an earth stake pushed into the lake. Satisfied with my afternoon’s work, fish and chips from Abingdon was then the order of the day.

With a test transmission confirming I could be heard at the start, the competition began at half seven. Although I expected to see torches soon after half eight, darkness had more or less descended by 08:40 with no signs of activity. I put out transmissions every five minutes until nine aiming to get competitors to site when at about nine Alan turned up – ran straight past me – with Bill little more than five minutes later, like Alan, running straight past me while I continued to transmit. It was good to see Doreen follow a couple of minutes later, with Alan and Bill now well into thrashing under the power lines over by the lake. Time passed, torches came and went, and it appeared the signal was indeed drawing Alan and Bill into the cover away from my hide. As half nine approached I offered clues more or less giving away my position, which was quite amusing having a chat with Alan as he crept ever closer towards my hide.

It was interesting to hear how Alan and Bill had indeed found the signal peaking up close to the parked cars by the sewage works fence – some distance from the hide – and offering little assistance close to my hide peaking up in the thick stuff and under the second aerial. It was disappointing only four competitors made it to the start, with only two finding me. I’m wondering, am I trying too hard and making ‘Collett Events’ too difficult? How to pitch the National Qualifier come July...???

Andy Collett