Radio Society of Great Britain
Silverstone - Winner's Blog

2m competition
After the overnight rain, the day was pleasantly sunny, with the forest a little wet.

I elected to do the 2m course first.

From the start ran up the main track into the forest, #1 was heard to west, #2 & #3 much quieter to the north with #4 and #5 to the east. As I passed the junction (A) I considered heading towards #1 then but decided to stay on the main track till I had heard all the others. After having heard then all the order was then #1, #2 or #3 as these were to the north with #4 and #5 on the way back. With a plan of action I then turned down the next track that headed in generally the right direction. When I got to about (B) I saw an indistinct track that I followed, I thought it might be the one shown on the map a little further on. #1 came on again as I was pressing on and following the final bearing when it finished soon located the control.
Looked for an easier way out and headed for the northern part of the area.
Whilst crossing the field heard #2 and decided that it was in the southern part of the northern area, so you can imagine my surprise when I got a bearing behind me when I next heard it at (C). Pick it up on the way back was the conclusion. Ran up the track towards (D), this position is a bit vague as it is where I next heard #3, from where I then ran hard trying to get a better fix on its position. The route off the path was following the final bearing, and soon realised that I was sort of parallel to the track that I cut out to. The next time it came on I was able to locate it from the path.
Now back to find #2. In retrospect it was the long way round to get out of that part of the woods, but I think the going was a little better underfoot. I was lucky to back near (E) when #2 can on again and soon found it in a ditch not far off the ride.
Was back near the track junction (F) when I next heard #4. Ventured into the woods following the final bearing, without any success in finding it. On its next transmission had more luck and was starting to see a pattern with the control locations.
I can't remember when I next heard #5 but I do remember at some point thinking that I should be on the parallel track to the north east. With trepidation I ventured cross country through the light green and it wasn't as bad as I though it might be. Across the track and I soon located #5 on another ditch, the pattern I observed.
From there it was a simple navigate up the hill to the finish.
Generally I found the transmitters quieter than usual, but this was probably due the wet forest acting as a big attenuator, and not my other concern of a low but obviously adequate battery in my receiver.
The map with my route marked is annotated with the locations (X)

80m competition
After a break for a rest, some food and a few post-mortems I ventured out on the 80m course.
The first bearing for #1 identified it as the first control to collect, and proceeded to get to that corner of the forest and quickly as possible. On the way took bearings on the others that set the order as #1, #2, #3 or #4 then #5.
Was near #1 on its next transmission and managed to catch sight of it as it finished.
By now there wasn't many options for the location of #2 so I just has to get to that part of the forest. Managed to be on the track nearby when it started transmitting, got a bearing and then caught sight of it. Not sure if I would have spotted it without the assistance of the bearing.
During the long run to the northern part of the woods for #3 and #4 tried to add to the information already gathered regarding their location. As they seemed a bit quiet and my receiver is a bit deaf, didn't achieve much, apart from confirmation that I hadn't overshot them.
When #4 was transmitting I wasn't close enough to venture off the track with confidence so pressed on towards #3. Got a good bearing off the main track for #3 but the going in the forest got a bit tough before I found it and I made my way out to the ride. I was then lucky to spot it from the ride between transmissions. This left me time to get back to near #4 before its next transmission. I wasn't as near as I would have liked but still ventured into the forest and after a little hunting around stumbled across it.
An early bearing I had taken on #5 suggested it was near the entrance to the forest. This was confirmed by a bearing obtained shortly after leaving the field. You can imagine my surprise when I got to that area only to discover it was back the way I had come, and from its strength about halfway back to the field. I was back near the cross track for its next transmission, and then watching my proximity to the start finish 400m exclusion zone. At about its edge I ventured into the woods and started to wander aimlessly around, waiting for the next transmission, when I found the control. I was almost at the finish when its next transmission started.
I thoroughly enjoyed my day out and appreciate John's hard work it organising and planning the event virtually single handed. It is a pity that there wasn't a larger attendance. Initial impression's from the map was that the forest was going to be tough, but a combination of good control site selection, not too far from a track and in sections of the forest that in reality weren't to thick.

Michael Dunbar