Winter Series 2000-2001
Round 3- 3rd December 2000

Report by TX operator, John Heath:

As I usually hide beside the Manchester Ship Canal (April '97, Jan '00), there seemed no reason to change the habit of a lifetime when during an abortive visit to acquire a caravan from a scrap yard, my young companion Chris spotted a good DF site beside Boysnope Wharf. This was chosen as it was close to the start, and had easy access from the north via a footpath, from the west and east along a well-trodden disused railway line and from the south using a ferry across the canal.

The aerial, which was erected the previous week, consisted of 100 metres of clearly visible wire that rang along the disused railway track and finished up beneath a bridge where the transmitter was hidden.

The transmitter was operated on reduced power to give the impression the station was further from the start than in fact it was, but only Chris Plummer was persuaded to look further afield.

Most competitors seemed to assume the station was south of the Canal and there was some difficulty with crowded motorways in the vicinity of the Trafford Centre.

After a considerable time, during which the two man transmitter crew threw many stones into the canal in the hope of attracting the attention of any DF competitors in the vicinity, they were relieved to see Dave Peacock arrive on the landing stage on the wrong side of the Manchester Ship Canal, wave his set about and then disappear to summon the Ferryman. Whilst he was being rowed across the transmitter came on the air and the Ferryman, who happened to be a Radio Amateur was able to listen to a DF call on the headset.

As Dave left the Ferry and ran down the railway line over the top of the transmitter to investigate the far end of the wire, Chris Plummer and Giles appeared on the other side in need of a ferry trip over the Canal.

Dave Peacock to his great delight found the transmitter just as the ferry returned carrying the second team over the Canal, and then enjoyed watching them investigate the far end of the aerial first, before locating the hidden station beneath the bridge.

Chris Heys meanwhile, had abandoned his car many miles away in Glazebrook, due to a spurious bearing, and enjoyed an invigorating run as he meandered his way through the pleasant countryside to arrive at the transmitter quite weary but relieved not to be repeating his DNF of the previous month.

Dave Chippendale, who had battled through the traffic and had many bearings, but only one that went anywhere near the transmitter, gave up and went to the pub.

I had thought I would be very easy to find and was surprised how difficult all the teams found it. Perhaps I will hide by the Canal again next time as they all assumed I certainly wouldn’t be there again!

Chris's marathon "meander"
As the crow flies = 3.2 miles, actual distance covered = 6.8 miles!

Chris would like to thank John for the lift back to his car!