Sunday 15th January 2012
I havenšt enough fingers and toes to count the amount of
events I've planned in Firestone Copse. So it's becoming increasingly difficult
to plan something different. I did a quick survey over Christmas and was
pleased to find many newly built hides that could be used as control sites.
Also, it seemed that the marshes were becoming accessible, with small paths,
open grassland and small streams and little ditches. These would make for new
control sites, so I spent an evening updating the map before planning the
courses.
I
decided I would overprint the courses on the maps to make the event easier.
Bases on previous events I thought that 15 Orange, Light Green and Yellow and
10 Green, plus a token amount of blank maps would be sufficient (apart from the
new hides not being demolished). How wrong could all of the above have been !!
Having
put the controls out I returned to the car park in my usual relaxed and groovy
manner at 10.20. Feeling pleased that I had achieved something new - only to be
confronted by something new ! Probably the biggest crowd of people I've ever
seen at a WightO event, a long queue waiting to start and an even longer queue
at Registration.
Daniel's
opening words to mw were " We've sold out of Orange maps and almost out of
Yellow I'm going to draw out some more". My response was " What the
bloody hell is going on ! ". It was also dawning on me that we were going
to run out of blank maps.
The
unflustered Registration team led by Ian coped admirably well under the
circumstances and managed to enrol some additional help. Every single map that
I had printed had been used and it was a great relief when the early starters
returned to pass on their maps to others.
Relief
however, turned to concern, as it appeared there was another problem. Some of
the kites on the marshes appeared 'submerged'. My thoughts (in the words of
Victor Meldrew) were "I don't believe it" !
Some
competitors thought that this justified what in racing terms could be described
as 'a refusal' and didn't attempt to visit the control site. 'Whimps '.
However,
some had other ideas. Iris Fay had a brilliant and cunning plan and I award her
the quote of the day. " I've torn my control card in box 6. That proves
I've been there doesn't it," she said. Of course it does Iris, why didn't anyone else think of
that? My heavily pregnant daughter, who had been relishing all the abuse I had
been getting, laughed so much I thought she was going to give birth. Thanks
Iris. Also thanks to all of those who helped on the day.
My
biggest thanks go to everybody who supported the event. In the circumstances I
have not penalised anyone missing, not punching or mis-punching controls. It's
encouraging to see so many responded to the Club's call for support and I hope
we will se you all again on Ventnor Downs. Hopefully none of the controls will
be submerged. If they are it really will be time to panic !