Five teams assembled in Cowleaze Wood in pouring rain and darkness for the start of the final round of the Collier Cup. Brian Bristow was on the transmitter. Both Bill Pechey and Peter Lisle had a chance of winning the cup. The other teams were just there for the pleasure of a pleasant stroll in the pouring rain.

A reasonable signal was heard at the start together with a couple of Dutchmen having a QSO on our frequency. The signal was mainly sky wave but most teams agreed on a bearing of somewhere between 0 and 40 degrees. We decided to plot 20 degrees which was in the direction of Aylesbury. We set off along the B4009 through Chinnor towards Princes Risborough. We pased 2 teams in a lay-by but decided that we had just enough time to get beyond Princes Risborough for the 8:00pm transmission. We found a side road off the B4009 to take our bearing. The signal was quite strong and we plotted 20 degrees which went through the outskirts of Aylesbury but also crossed the Grand Union Canal. The transmissions at 8:15 and 8:30 confirmed the Canal as being the likely location so we headed for a marked car park next to the Canal. Unfortunately, there were 2 other competitiors already parked and Bill Pechey came in immediately after us. We waited a couple of minutes for the 8:40 signal and that indicated along the canal to the west. After a short walk along the muddy towpath we eventually found the operator in some bushes by the towpath. All the competitors found Brian before the close and we then adjourned to a local pub. We then had great difficulty in finding the pub which didn't look like a pub at all and was cleverly disguised as a 'Sizzler'.

Thanks to Brian for organising a good event and for sitting out in the pouring rain for the best part of 2 hours.

John Mullins