Chelmsford DF - Friday, 4 Nov. 2011

Guy Fawkes “Getaway” event.

Start at Tiptree Heath. at 7.30 pm.

Ian with  Main Tx (A) and  Getwaway (K)

Larby’s Report

 I knew Ian was leading the Championship. I also knew I had to be no more than 13 minutes after the 1st competitor to book in for me to win. I also knew with 30 points, no one could catch Ian on the Getaway title.

On a cold dark start at Tiptree Heath we all got a weak and variable bearing. I settled on 43 degrees.  I elected to ignore the signal at 7:40 and go with 7:50. I arrived behind Roy in a lay-by on the Colchester by-pass and took 130 degrees  The 8 o’clock bearing was taken at Brinkley Grove Road on  Highwoods. My bearings crossed (not including the start bearing)  near the railway. I chose to go near to the there to confirm Ian was in the south of Highwoods and not further south towards Colchester. My bearing on the Ipswich road confirmed where he was. Entry was gained via the tunnel under the railway in Broadlands Way. The Solar powered LEDs set on the path edge were quite effective.


 Please note - it was dark    .....  very dark when we got there!

 There were swamps .....

Ian went off as I ran towards the tunnel so I patiently waited until 8:20. This was due to several choices, left was grassy, right was grassy but straight on was wet and boggy. When he came on the signal was more to the right. I followed alongside a thorn hedge where the signal turned sharply to the left soon after running. I back-tracked until there was a hole to get into the thick and wide thorn hedge. Only RF fuelled adrenalin can get a 63 year old man to crawl on his belly through a thorny hedge on a damp dark night. After fighting my way 40 or so feet along the hedge to where the signal turned, there he was. Ah joy!

A simple large hole led out to the outside world into a long grass field. There was Phil and Roy looking around as Ian began transmitting the 8:30 transmission. I ran away to try and get a bearing on the mini but it was swamped by Ian’s signal.


.... and blackthorns ..... a paradise for flesh abusers ......

 ..... but the operator was nice and cozy!

I waited in the open to be joined by Phil, we both ran towards the Mini at 8:40 but it went off before we got close. Roy now appeared on the scene.  At 8:50 we all ran towards the mini arriving within 6 feet of the TX. I spotted the Triffid and kindly passed the 6 points to Roy and 4 points to Philip keeping the 9 for myself. Timbo arrived shortly after with Gary and Graham appearing soon after. Gary admits to being confident Ian was a long way from the start so went non-stop to Frating. Yes Gary, we have all done it.

Larby    (with Lady luck currently lodging with him,  DFs only, not the Lottery!)

Results
Main Tx Time Getaway Points
1. Larby 8.29.30 Larby 9
2. Roy 8.32.00 Roy 6
3. Philip 8.32.02 Philip 4
4. Tim 8.43.40 Tim 3
5. Gary 9.00.00 Graham 2
6. Graham 9.00.30 Gary 1

Thanks Ian,  good event   (code for I wasn't last).

So it looks as though Larby is the 'Main Man' and Ian is the 'Getaway Guru'

Results for the year are here Chelmsford 2011

l
Main Man 2011 - Larby receiving Chelmsford Cup
get
 Getaway Guru 2011 - Ian gets  'The Triffid Trophy'