2024 Gage-Tyler Cup Round 4

21 August 2024

Competitor Time Adj. Time Time Diff. Score Bill North
Geoffrey Foster 20:52:00 20:52:00 00:00:00 -5 10
Justin Snow 20:58:00 20:58:00 00:06:00 8 6
Alan Simmons 20:59:00 20:59:00 00:07:00 10 4
Peter Lisle 21:03:00 21:03:00 00:11:00 15 3
David Ryan 21:10:00 21:10:00 00:18:00 23 2
Bill Pechey 21:20:00 21:20:00 00:28:00 34 1
Justin Oldham NF 21:40:00 00:48:00 55 0
Roger Shepherd op - - - 4

Organiser's Report

Unfortunately work committments meant that I have not been able to compete recently, however I did commit to running a DF, normally I would have chosen a late season event when the nights are drawing in. Thought therefore was needed as to how I could make this event a bit more interesting.

Unknown to most competitors, my business is now based in Arborfield [Bill admitted at the end that he should have paid more attebntion to that] so I decided to examine a few potential sites in that area. Restriction on getting additional hands to erect the aerial also contributed to the fun.

In the end I elected to place the Tx in the triangle bounded by Sindlesham, Barkham and Arborfield, I spent several lunch hours pounding the maze of paths so be warned there are loads more sites around.

In the end I found a fallen tree, adjacent to a small stream with plenty of clear water and boggy soil. I thought therefore that a simple long-wire aerial would provide a suitable option - there being a well defined path only a few degrees off the general direction of Maidenhead Thicket. I got lucky - getting around 100M of fresh brown wire high into the trees, followed by a further 50M of black wire, ending in the middle of a holly thicket.

I understand that quite a few teams were checking their sense at the start.

My greatest surprise when I spotted torch-light approaching around about the 8:15 transmission and had a torch illuminate my reading matter a few seconds later - however, strangely, lights didn't re-appear at the 8:30 or 8:40 transmissions. However shortly after 8:50 Geoffrey finally spotted the tree and decided to investigate more thoroughly. Justin and Alan approached from the stream side a bit later, Justin being attracted by the reflection from the camo netting.

My choice of pub was less of an achievement - there being a shortage of decent ale - so one thing I must do is to get out a bit more and test the quality of the local hostelries - just in case I put on another event in the area.

Roger Shepherd