After much examination of our three maps used on a Wednesday night, I settled on a site on the West London Map, having been in both Bucks and Oxfordshire the two previous years.

After much scrutiny settled on a location 600 yds due south east of Wraysbury Station, grid ref 018 738. Shortest access was via footpath just north of the station, run in down side of tracks and over foot-crossing. I was 100metres along the boundary fence, sat against it under very prickly hawthorn bush. I had put the aerial out about two weeks previous, on arrival I found the aerial retrieved and laid in a heap just yards from my hide, so hastily put the aerial out again, but with not too much height this time.

John Mullins phoned from the start and said the signal was weak, so I took off a wire from the earth lead that was tied into the railway fencing thinking that was the problem. However John phoned again from Windsor Great Park stating the signal was still weak. I then worked out that in my set up haste that I had the aerial and the earth linked into the wrong terminals on the TX. After that no complaints from John. The strength indicator was always registering over 2 so I thought the signal was OK even with the original errors. The bearing from the start should have been 114, and about 20 kilometres in distance.

First competitor in was Peter Lisle quickly followed by Alan, Bill, Graham, and Mark between 20.41 and 20.57. An early night ensued as only John Mullins to come, but nothing, no amount of coaxing, or good information, he was running around Stanwell Moor still in a daze left over from the National event on the previous Sunday.

Actually the first on site was a nosey Magpie, who inched its way to within about 6ft of me, followed by a Field mouse, who stopped in his tracks again only about a yard from me, gave me a pondering long look, before running off, I guess wondering what had taken over his patch.

I shut down at 21.30, and as I had travelled to the location by bus and train, (some competitors find the TX operators car an aid) I now had a fair walk to the Perserverance Pub in Wraysbury High Street, (three real ales on offer) where tales were exchanged of the evening, the good luck of Peter and the hard luck from the others!

Thanks to all who supported the event, and Graham for giving me a lift to the station after two hastily supped pints of Rebellion Mutiny.

Ray Goodearl.