Report from the winner

So - a good strong signal from the start - thanks John! Bearing of 100, some skywave. Looked at the map and the bearing went through built-up Maidenhead - too close anyway, through built-up Slough (did not look very likely) and then through Heathrow airport (definitely not going to be there!). Hence it was either between Maidenhead and Slough or between Slough and the airport and given the skywave I decided on the latter. Some juicy-looking water around the junction of the M4 and M25 and a few bits of woodland plus some pylons....definitely suspicious.

Just before 8pm I was on the A4 at Colnbrook and about 1 mile south of my bearing - passed Graham looking for a suitable place to stop which was encouraging. The 8pm signal was due north and I had time to drive about 600 yards down the road and snatch a second bearing - 60 degrees. Cross on wood just south of M4. Main road access including Motorway bridge was from a road north of the motorway, but maximum 1 mile run anyway so hoofed it from where I was rather than drive. By 8.15 had reached the wood and the next signal confirmed the tx was there - just a case of getting into the wood, where I missed the path and had to get over a fence, two streams and a pile of logs which left me some distance away when the transmission finished. Straight on following my nose and hey - there's a suspicious looking 'growth' under that tree - turned out to be John!

Was I first? (Thinking last time I was this quick Andy had already been in!) - Yes! Great - time to beat it before I showed the way in to someone else! Little did I think that the next posse would be delayed as much as they were. Back to the pub and watched most of the Chelsea - Barcelona match in solitude..

Temporary aberration - I'm sure I will come last or near-last again soon as per the Geoff Peck memorial trophy...

Peter Lisle

Report from the runner-up

I managed a bearing more or less due East from the start, in between the thundery showers, and headed off along the M4 to take a bearing just off J5 - little did I know... Alongside the reservoir I took a bearing looking North East, strong, and thought the numerous watery patches looked likely. My next bearing from Iver to confirm was more or less South West, very strong, so much so I was convinced the canal was the place to go looking.

Feeling pleased with myself with no other competitors anywhere in sight, I discovered I'd no torch but for the head-torch. Ah! Undaunted, I ran West along the canal to the footbridge what must have been 1/2-3/4 mile away. Up comes the signal; South. I ran on through the rain, around and behind a container depot, then to be confronted by the railway! 'Perhaps I'm in the wrong place', me thinks. I considered the path to Iver station, however 10-15 minutes later I arrived back at the car my suspicions confirmed by our operator as he suggested we head for a motorway bridge close to the M4/M25 junction.

Arriving at said bridge I thought my chances of finding said operator were improved with seeing Mr Coventry's car parked close by. Following my DF set, I ran as best I could following the signal until I came across our transmitter operator, his stool, a flask of something hot, and a cheery smile! My biggest surprise of the evening? No, not finding out Mr Lisle had arrived some 50 minutes earlier, but I had finished second!!

A fun event, thank you all.

Andy Collett