THE NEEDLES - 15th
OCTOBER 2006
Having agreed to plan this event , I was then faced with a
clash of loyalties, as I was also asked to work over the weekend. In the end I decided to do the planning
but leave others to put out the controls and run the event on the day. My
thanks to Carol Taverner and Keith Marston, who did a very competent job in my
absence.
I gather that the event went smoothly and from the fast
times recorded it that many of you enjoyed the lovely runnable terrain and didn't
stop too long to admire the even lovelier views. Thanks to everyone who helped
out. Here is Keith's report on his first experience of setting out and running an event.
Steve Taverner
---------------------
As a competitor in WightO events I have often wondered about
the effort that has been made by the Planner to have the controls in place in
advance of the 10.30 a.m start time.
It's one thing to wonder about someone else's effort and
another to actually have the responsibility to set the course in time. What time
would the setter needed to arrive on a Sunday morning to put out 30 controls
spread along the chalk ridge between the Tennyson Monument and The Needles
Battery? Fortunately Carol Taverner had agreed to set out the 9 kites at the
western end of West High Downs, leaving a mere 21 controls to place.
Clutching the master map, specially marked by Steve, at 7.30
am. I set off from Warren Farm weighed down by a shoulder bag with stakes and a
mallet and a specially designed kit bag containing the kites organised (hopefully)
organised in a logical placing order.My instructions were to ensure that the
kites , particularly for the White and Yellow courses, were to be clearly
visible and accurately placed. - a formidable responsibility.
The Hawthorns along the southern edge of Warren Farm had a
number of Ring Ouzels (Mountain blackbirds) on migration, gorging themselves on
haws prior to crossing the English Channel. Out in the early morning mist on
the old golf course a rabbit shrieked in the jaws of a stoat. No time to stop
and watch the drama - too many kites remained in the bag.
Manning the Finish was unexpectedly nerve racking as I
waited for the first competitor from each course to appear in the old chalk
quarry. First back, a happy Yellow
course runner, then a contented Orange course competitor, followed by White
course finishers.. but no sign of any of the starters on the Light Green and Green
courses . What a relief when they eventually turned up, breathless but happy,
even giving some precious expressions of appreciation.
Keith
Marston