BORTHWOOD COPSE -11^th DECEMBER 2005

REPORT

A beautiful morning - calm and sunny on the car park and, unusually warmer than in the copse. Often it's windy on the car park field and calm in the copse. It was an excellent parking place for a lot of cars and we are grateful to Mr Young for letting us use the field every year. Over a hundred people turned out and we hope they all enjoyed the day.

It was a pity about the vandalism on the String Course and on the main courses as well. Sorry it spoilt the fun for the little children. Vicky and Carole came to help put out the string on Saturday afternoon and we didn't leave the copse until 3.30pm. Brian Bayley was out setting up the main courses on Sunday morning at first light, so things were not left unattended for long. Brian also put up the road signs, so thanks to him for all that help.

Frank transported Chris and all the equipment to the venue and he and Iris carried down the mince pies and set up the Start. Soon Eileen and Jim arrived to deal with the Finish and the food. Iris also had to try and make sense of the vandalised string and stolen markers, which was not an easy job. They all had a long session in the copse, very many thanks for the help.

Mother Christmas arrived smiling, with her helpers, after her journey from Lapland. She gave out 51 stars so those who did not meet her were unlucky Congratulations to those who managed three meetings.

The Balloon Team survived the blowing up of more than 50 balloons. Most survived the journey through the copse. Only 15 were burst. Many people brought their own hats some complete with mistletoe. There were also some elegant designs made by Vanessa and Cathy. Vanessa also did sterling work at registration initiating newcomers into the mysteries of Score Courses and helping them with their maps.

The mince pie and nibble suppliers provided almost enough for everyone - how many mince pies were consumed we don't know. But thanks to all those who brought food. Special thanks to Cathy Ody who brought some star biscuits up to registration, early on, so that we did not starve whilst others were gobbling up nibbles in the copse.

Tony Howsam ran round the Long Score Course and found all the controls in 41 minutes. He would have had the highest final total had he not fallen on to his balloon after negotiating it safely through the hollies. As it was Dave and Mo equalled his total, despite having a time penalty. The Drovers finished third although they did not score full points on the course. Sue and Glyn scored full points on the course but lost out by having time penalties.

Sorry about those of you who finished with a minus total. Incurring big time penalties on a score course is nearly always a bad thing to do, scorewise. Hopefully the "Happiest Christmas Trees" and the others are still smiling and we will see then again. If you want to know how to go round a score course in the time allotted, ask the Barnes family, they were spot on.

The next event will have normal courses where controls are to be found in a set order. But in a small area like Borthwood with 27 controls set up, you could scarcely go anywhere without falling over one. Even if you weren't looking for it, or had just got lost !!

Finally, my thanks to all those who helped to clear up at Borthwood. Collecting up controls and road signs, winding up string, packing up Start, Finish and Registration equipment so that we would be welcome to come again next year. How many helpers did we have altogether? Too may to count.

We hope to see you all at Firestone Copse in the New Year.

Chris Lipscombe.