Winter Series 2003-2004
Round 5 - 22nd February 2004

Report by TX operator, John Heath:

Last year I set out to investigate the disused railway viaduct near Lumb, at the top of the map, as a possible DF site, but it was not as I had hoped, but I found nearby an area of scrubland between the railway and the River Irwell, and decided that this would be my next site.

On arriving to set up the aerial on the Monday, I was dismayed to find the area crossed by power cables, and decided the site was not as good as I had remembered it. Further down the line towards Ramsbottom, the disused railway crossed the River Irwell again and adjacent to it at a distance of about 100 yards the East Lancs Railway also crossed the River.

I thought I would set up beside the ELR and run a short aerial to both the bridges, tying it off on the steel handrail. This was not quite what I had originally intended, but was still a considerable distance from the start being located near to the Northern edge of the Manchester Map.

On the morning of the event there was a very penetrating north wind to add to the discomfort of the transmitter operator who was soon wishing he had worn three pair of trousers instead of the usual two. The station was set up without much cover at the base of a large tree half an hour before first transmission, and the aerial loaded up well. However, none of the competitors heard the signal at the start, so the envelopes for approximate bearing (351°) and distance (greater than 20Km) were opened. The actual bearing from the start would have been 359° with a distance of 27 Km. But armed with the "approximate" information, competitors could now concentrate on a defined area including Entwistle, Ramsbottom, Bury and the west side of Bolton.

At 11.11, three or four minutes after the fourth transmission , I was surprised when Chris Heys appeared right on top of me without my even noticing his approach. He was delighted to learn he was first and scurried away to “help” other competitors who may soon be arriving.

At 11.27 John Jocys appeared to be signed in and then quickly melted away into the countryside, as he was quickly followed the next minute by Geoff Foster who had travelled up to compete this month. I had hoped to get a picture of the steam train as it went past, but things were very busy and I missed it, but Chris Heys, now enjoying watching the other competitors arriving from his vantage point on the disused railway bridge did manage to catch it going over the River Irwell.

Chris Plummer who had parked some distance away and been on site for over 15 minutes, arrived 5 minutes later, but was disappointed to hear that Chris Heys, who had been beating up the bushes and feigned a sprint finish to the transmitter with him, had in fact been in nearly 20 minutes before. Perhaps Chris would have been happier attending the British Top-Band DF Association AGM after all.

Dave Chippendale who had abandoned his car the other side of the River and the railway followed 11 minutes later, and the station closed down at 11.45 leaving plenty of time for the operator to collect the aerial and arrive at the pub before 12.15.

This result levels the scores at the top of the table for this season, and will guarantee a closely fought competition in March between the two Chris's and Dave Peacock, who was not competing today.

The competitors should have found the transmitter much quicker as the operator has hidden next to this disused railway line for the past two years (Jan 2002 and Nov 2002) and does not always hide next to the Manchester Ship Canal as rumour would have it. (Ed: Well you used to! April 1997, Jan 2000, Dec 2000)

The pub was the Duckworth Arms on the A56 near Edenfield.

Thanks again to Geoff Foster and navigator Robert Vickers for making the journey up to Manchester to support this event. Geoff and Bob would like to remind competitors of the increasingly popular Radio Orienteering events held under International Amateur Radio Union rules. Refer to the IARU web site for more details, in particular for the event at Kinver Million to be held on 7th March. For further details, email Geoff or Bob.

Photos! Click to enlarge:

John Heath transmitting	East Lancs Railway in action
Ahem, is that a public footpath chaps?	Ouch!
Excellent, looks what's on the menu...	"I approve!"
Mmmmmmm!	June and Adam