Snowman - Essex Double DF 

Organiser's report from Ian

The year 2010 had dawned; grey, cold and with imminent snow forecast. And just as predicted, snow it did, on and off for about the next two weeks. At this time thoughts also turned to the forthcoming 2010 Direction Finding season.

With the Essex Snowman contest being the first event of the local calendar, time was pressing as sites for the transmitters had to be found and details of the event needed to be published. The days continued to be miserably grey and cold, but eventually after much searching two suitable sites were chosen for the event. The main Snowman event would be run using the standard National DF Qualifying rules, but that the contest would be started and ended thirty minutes earlier to avoid the failing afternoon light at this time of the year.

Following-on from the introduction of the use of Mini and Micro transmitters in a number of contests over the past year, and the favourable reception received by their use, it was decided to also include several of these to ensure a full afternoon of activity. .

Although not part of the main Snowman Contest, the option was given to competitors if they wished to locate these additional transmitters, with one Mini and one Micro transmitter being located in the vicinity of each of the two main contest transmitters. A small prize would be given to the competitor who managed to locate the highest number of these within the overall time of the main competition.

The day of the contest arrived, the weather being as for the year so far, grey, damp and very cold! However, eight teams assembled at Tiptree Heath to await the first transmissions at 12.50pm. They were not disappointed, with good signals being received from both hidden stations.

Tim Parker, the A Station, was hidden in a small strip of overgrown and boggy woodland which was crossed by a bridleway from Boxted to Langham, about 13 miles north-east from the start. With both ends of the track being blocked to vehicles, competitors were compelled to take to their feet before searching for the hidden station. Mini and Micro transmitters, H and W had been secreted in the woodland also, but on opposite sides of the bridleway. The first person to arrive at Tim’s location being Peter Larbalestier, amazingly quickly at 14.00.

Ian Butson, the “B” Station, was located in the undergrowth at the edge of a wooded area to the south of Preston’s Lake, Colne Engaine , approximately 10 miles north of the start. The distant end of a long antenna which was tied-off in a wet and marshy area was a source of interest to a number of competitors.

Mini and Micro transmitters, I and X were hidden in nearby undergrowth.

The first person to arrive was Gary Parker at 14.20, closely followed by Roy Emeny with Rosy and Colin Merry hot on his heels.

Competitors were split between which of the two transmitters to locate first, with three going to A and five going to B

.
Six teams found both main transmitters, with two finding only the A Station.

Five competitors also located a number of the optional mini and micro transmitters. Although not competitively eligible, navigators from two teams also hunted separately for the additional transmitters, when their navigational assistance was no longer required.

Steve was second in the main competition and also received the prize for being the competitor finding the highest number of mini and micro transmitters, managing to locate all four.

Right - Caroline receives the Ladies prize.

Over to Peter for the winners report:

Once again I was lucky to have Richard Witney alongside. It became clear at the start Ian had decided to do it HIS way. After a year of multiple Txs and an infinite number of variations through the year, this was to be traditional National Double Rules, except a half hour earlier start and finish due to light.
So, we are advised there will be a Mini and a Micro at each site, but the main event is finding both stations in the quickest time. This then meant the almost forgotten 40 minutes of silence was back. Discussions with Richard make us realise that the Mini and Micro on the 1st station to be visited, need to be ignored as getting to the next Main Tx is paramount. So the plan, Richard helps me at 1st Tx then we split at 2nd as 2 teams. I get Ian then the other 2 Txs .
It’s 12:50 and up they come, Ian strong but Tim weak, we decide to head for Tim to make use of the 40 minutes as Ian is almost certainly near Halstead but Tim may be in Manningtree or QRP just down the road ! We decide on Tim 1st but stop to listen for the tell-tale Micro or Mini near a wood, but all quiet. We learn at the finish they guessed we would listen in ( extra transmissions) so didn’t activate until after 1:30pm.

I head off to the woody bit searching 1901 (micro), 1945 (Ian) and 1960 (Mini). As I pass some cover up comes the Mini, and 1 st in !!!! ?? Then I get the Micro, 2nd in, then Ian comes on. I lost 1 transmission due to searching along with Mr X and Mr Y the wrong end of the aerial. Eventually there’s Ian. Now to get the other 2 Txs said Ian, but I’ve got them already. I was surprised to be 1st and 2nd but obviously the Teams that went there 1st adopted the same strategy as me on my 1st Tx.
But where’s Richard ? He’s gone North chasing that weak signal which we earlier ignored ! Eventually he appears, to get in to all 3 Txs.

Thanks Ian and (very unwell Tim) for running the event.
Also well done Gary for being 1st into Ian. Pity you couldn't keep up the pace even though your legs are over 40 years younger than mine!
Well done Steve Stone for getting all 6 Txs but which possibly cost you the event. It should be noted he made a magnanimous gesture by donating his 2nd place prize (Lager) to Richard. Steve had the most stations but not the most points so won a prize.( 4 Mini bottles of wine) Richard had the most mini and micro points but wasn’t really a Team so didn’t qualify.
Rosie and Colin didn’t take the Cup for once, but they will make us pay on the 28th Feb. We have been invited to a “Greater Colchester“ Event to be held the other side of a small stream. Well Kent is a neighbouring County but are the natives friendly.
Will they seek revenge ?

Larby

Comments received from Steve via Topica

Hi All,
Just read the report and thought I'd add my comments.
I found the mini quite hard to find on Tims site mainly due to the envelope being fairly well hidden and it wasn't until I was really close could I see it. Compare this with Ians obvious plastic bags.
Ians micro was difficult to get a sense on, probably because it didn't seem to be transmitting clearly. I met Mr X and Mr Y on Ians site and we both ended up in the marshy area presumably where the earth stake was. As the transmission went off I decided to go find the micro and mini as I didn't expect another transmission for a while. As it happened I was heading for the mini when Ian came up just as I was out in the field. This told me he was in the bush by the fields hedge. I should have got Ian then but decided to get the mini and come back. This decision would have cost me second place had I been a couple of minutes slower. I still wouldn't have beaten Peter though as I wasn't on site at 3.17. Well done Peter!
I still find it surprising how difficult it seems to be for some people to find the minis and micros. To me it's very easy, probably because of my years of 80m DFing. It also helps that my receiver can be set with 2 frequencies and with a simple click of a switch I can change over. Keep trying, it gets easier once you know what to expect in terms of range of the TXs.
Final thought. The points slips are a good idea and I'm wondering whether a peg board system would be better. Literally a board with numbered pegs. Pegs would be easier to pocket, and hence not lose, then pits of paper. A peg board would also be easy to hang and therefore more consistently visible. Not to visible though in a public area of course.
Sorry I can't make Rosie and Colins event, good luck to all those that go.
Steve

Back to Ian

This opportunity was also used to present trophies to the winners of the 2009 local club contests, as follows.
The Chelmsford DF Trophy going to Roy Emeny, with the Colchester DF Trophy being received by Tim Parker. Congratulations to both.

P.S. On the day following the contest, the A site was revisited to recover the antenna. It was grey, damp and very cold. It also SNOWED!

9 Feb. 2010 / IRB