Radio Society of Great Britain
Willesley - 2m Winners' Blog

2m competition
Heading up the road from the start I was pleased to hear #1, to the right of the road, but I was very wary of the bearing as I was conscious of all the reflective surfaces surrounding me that could be playing havoc.
#2 was heard to the left, #3 also to the left but more in the direction of the finish. #4 and #5 were heard to the right.
Initial conclusions were that #1, #4 and #5 were in the Willesley Wood area, #2 in the Shellbrook Wood area and #3 near the lake beyond the finish.
#1 was transmitting when I turned off the road onto the wide ride and I had a good bearing into the vegetation when it turned finished and plunging in I soon found it. Pleased that I had got it on its second transmission but a lot of this was the luck of being near it when it was transmitting.
By the time I emerged from the trees and collected my thoughts #4 was transmitting from the direction of the lake followed by #5 to its left. A little concerned about what effect the power lines would be having on these bearings, I was directly under them. Decided to head towards #4. When the roads I intended to follow turned out to be canal like ditches I had to divert round the end of them. Then #5 can on quite close and I managed to run right around the copse it was in to get a good fix on it before venturing off the rides.
Heading towards #4 I took more bearings for #2 and #3 and was on the edge of the scattered trees when #4 finished its next cycle. Following the rough bearing I soon had it in my sights.
Coming out of #4 I took more bearings on #2 and #3 but there was not much more information to be gleaned. It was then a slog around the road to near Olivia’s Wood. The next bearing I had for #2 failed to give me any more information as I was on the line of the previous bearings. Left the road into Olivia’s Wood and round the back of the electricity sub-station. Under the power line emerging to the north west I was getting a lot of interference so to distance myself from it went round the other side block of walk. When it came on it wasn’t that loud and back towards the finish. In retrospect I should have retraced my steps but instead I thought it might be in this block of wood with low power. Ventured into the walk and couldn’t see anything, nor a way out in the direction that I then wanted to go. Emerged out the way I went in and then followed the hedge and power line up the hill looking for a way through. Eventually found one and was then confused and concerned that I couldn’t see the fence separating where I was from the out of bounds field, it was all one. Went round the edge of the field trying not to disturb the sheep. I crossed the farm access road and started up the hill whilst #2 was transmitting. After it finished continued to the track and turned right then looked down each the planting line as I went. When I felt that I had gone far enough, and still not having seen the control, I went up one of the planting lines, scanning both side, and lo and behold, the planning line I was in went beside the control.
From there to #3, I was out on the road during its next transmission, but then had difficulty locating a way off the road that didn’t involve negotiating a barbed wire fence in bushes. When I was a bit closer decided to stay on the track until it came on and managed to run it down during it transmission.
It was then an easy run to the finish.
I enjoyed the course, in an area that wasn’t too physical. Was a little annoyed with myself for wasting time with #2, initial reaction was 2 cycles, but in reality it was probably only 1. The plan to lure us into Shellbrook Wood certainly worked for me. The lure to get 4 before 1 didn’t as I was passing 1 when it was transmitting.

Michael Dunbar