DF

Multi-DF Sunday April 8th 2018

Organiser Philip G0NXH
Location Wrabness, Near Harwich.
Pub The Crown, Manningtree
Times 13:30-16:00

If you have a facebook account then there are more pics and videos from Philip here

As you can see from the lack of squares on the map Philip managed to entertain us in a very small area but it didn't seem small with thick thorn hedges creating a maze to be solved as you approached each of the Txs, the close up aerial view on the right will give you some idea.

Above - the bushes hiding Tx H. It had been raining for most of the preceding week, living in one of the driest places in the country this came as a shock to the locals and mutterings about building an arc were common. Poor old Philip had to put out all ten Txs in the continuing rain. When I arrived at the site there was no sign of him or his car - he had gone home to change. Multi-Magic then occurred and the rain stopped for the duration of the event, phew!

Yep three good bearings (?)

Rosie enters the bramble maze looking for L and 40 points.

Left - John is calmly checking things out. Right - Justin demonsrates how to negotiate a bramble maze.

K offered a challenge for those who hadn't brought a step ladder.

The ghost is here somewhere ........ sense is difficult ......

............ busted !

Gary checks out Graham's tactics ......

...... Kay thinks he may have the right idea!

Above - Kay has spotted L. Right - Rosie at Tx K - confusing!

Colin seems surprised - Graham proves his relaxation theory.

Pos	Competitor	Hcap	Joker	A	B	C	F	G	H	K	L	M	1	Score	Raw %	Final Total
1	Colin M	33	A	80	26	32	9	9	13	9	9	15	26	228	78	195
2	Graham P	0	K	11	11	9	17	17	0	64	23	26	0	178	61	17
3	Roy E	124	F	17	17	17	80	32	26	26	20	32	23	290	100	166
4	Justin S	50	G	13	13	13	23	52	32	20	17	13	15	211	72	161
5	Tim P	124	B	32	64	40	13	15	23	17	15	20	32	271	93	147
6	Steve S	102	G	8	9	11	26	80	40	11	26	23	13	247	85	145
7	Rosie M	32	L	9	0	0	20	20	0	23	80	9	11	172	59	140
8	John M	3	A	52	23	20	0	0	0	8	8	0	20	131	45	128
9	Colin F	145	B	23	80	26	15	13	20	13	13	17	40	260	89	115
10	Richard S	63	G	15	15	15	32	46	17	15	11	11	0	177	61	114
11	Gary P	196	K	20	20	23	11	11	15	80	32	40	17	269	92	73

Raw% column (included since Nov 2017)
Purpose - points scores vary widely with event difficulty, the number of competitors present and their skill level. The Raw % based on the highest score achieved that day, ignoring handicaps, allows you to compare your own performances across different events. If you didn't win a prize you can still give yourself a pat on the back if it is improving.

Competitor

Joker

A

B

C

F

G

H

K

L

M

1

Validation

Colin M

A

13:44:31

13:48:16

14:04:47

15:19:00

15:29:30

15:34:30

14:48:15

14:54:30

15:07:47

14:17:15

15:42:22

Graham P

K

15:02:05

15:09:12

15:22:50

14:39:38

14:32:52

14:07:46

14:14:27

14:20:04

15:39:02

Roy E

F

14:40:30

14:45:58

14:53:23

13:50:09

13:54:46

14:00:45

14:07:53

14:14:40

14:17:48

14:34:54

15:24:26

Justin S

G

14:58:17

15:05:42

15:10:24

14:08:33

13:55:05

13:59:09

14:18:42

14:26:34

15:15:30

14:50:08

15:21:08

Tim P

B

13:44:42

13:47:58

14:03:57

14:53:42

14:50:01

15:00:09

14:24:33

14:29:50

14:41:03

14:13:31

15:13:23

Steve S

G

15:10:54

15:16:32

15:22:23

13:59:18

13:54:36

13:50:06

14:35:05

14:08:22

14:26:05

14:52:44

15:45:52

Rosie M

L

15:10:46

14:23:30

14:31:32

14:07:58

13:55:20

15:42:39

14:56:05

15:44:21

John M

A

13:57:59

14:12:05

14:34:14

15:22:13

15:28:44

14:41:43

15:47:30

Colin F

B

14:11:45

13:46:17

14:04:57

14:53:23

15:03:54

15:12:59

14:25:02

14:30:13

14:43:36

14:00:27

15:25:38

Richard S

G

14:40:45

14:46:22

15:02:26

13:50:34

14:04:01

15:13:22

14:24:48

14:30:28

15:30:25

15:38:26

Gary P

K

14:25:54

14:39:33

14:32:22

15:03:39

15:13:37

15:27:05

13:51:33

13:57:52

14:13:18

14:45:04

15:38:33

The validation time is when a competitor makes their final dib at their Joker in order to make their scores at other Triffids count. The only requirement is that this is before the end of the event, so competitors may take their time walking back from their last find, even stopping off at their car for a drink, only points mean prizes!

So how did Colin do it?

Phil had found us yet another new (unused) site for today. There was a good turn-out and the weather was perfect, not too hot and not too cold. All transmitters started up right on-cue at 1:30 and the competitors were requested to remain at the start for the first 5-minute cycle. I made use of this time to take very approximate bearings on the first of each chain, i.e. stations A, F and K. All signals were strong – perhaps not surprising given the small footprint of the nature reserve. “A” was due west (and this was my joker), “K” was NW-ish and “F” was just a little East of North.

There was only one track on to the reserve so there was an initial stampede of DFers – that was until we reached the first path junction. I needed to take a sharp-left to reach A, B and C. Tim was nearby when I finally homed-in on “A”. So I bagged a first for my joker. Moved on to B.

This time Tim was ahead of me. Station “C” was evil, housed in a cavern of thorny bushes. I clocked-in there just ahead of Colin F. Whilst heading for C I had heard the ghost once or twice and had taken a sight bearing on it so I next headed off to find it. Unfortunately I overshot by a long way since the randomness factor of transmissions caused a long gap without a signal. Backtracked and found it in a small hilly wood.

After the ABC (and ghost) group the next nearest was KLM. Found the region where K was hidden but the dense undergrowth prevented access, so circumnavigated the area to gain access. It was accessible from the estuary (northern) side. Found a big tree in a clearing – the signal was really strong. For some reason I didn’t think the station was here, but thought it was somewhere very close. Thick undergrowth made progress very slow and I ended up going round in a big circle and back to the same place again. This time I found the triffid in the bowl of the big tree. L and M were both off to the right from a west-going path. I really made a meal of finding these, overshooting several times in each direction – but finally found both.

Next was FGH which were further east. “F” was on a track/footpath junction. It became apparent that I had bypassed G and H on way to F so back-tracked to an area of beach. G had to be somewhere at the back of the beach, up a steep concrete-slab bank where there was a group of small trees.

I had climbed up the bank a number of times and expected to find a triffid somewhere at the top – but I didn’t. Finally, whilst at the second tree I spotted the aerial wire in the end tree. A final assault on this tree from both sides still failed to reveal a triffid. There was now only one remaining option – and that was to approach from the other side. I hopped over a broken fence into the field and there it was! H was very close to G and was soon bagged – which was just as well as the battery in my DF set failed soon after.

I now needed to revisit station A to comply with the rules for verifying finds on all of the other stations. Without the DF set it would be necessary to remember exactly where station A was hidden and also to remember the route to find it! Fortunately, given such a small site, this was possible and was soon back at my joker TX.

Good rendezvous in nearby pub and I was genuinely surprised to get a “first” (much helped by my handicap – or lack thereof).

The Hero League

Heroes - Some are stepping forward, some have frozen, some are running for cover, some are bewildered (Multi-Success!).

Link for Hero League

Well done to Gary who is hoping to be the first to be a 200 x Hero.

Thanks Philip, sorry you got wet but a great event.

Next event will be organised by Tim on Sunday May 20th - watch the noticeboard for details.