This is the last DF to be run by Chris for some while (unless he gets visitors to western Canada in the next couple of years) apart from the Xmas Pud on 27th December when he will be home for Christmas) so it was bound to be a tough one.  A real pity the fell runner couldn’t take part (Chris Heys) but it was a test for the rest.

Chris had had his eyes on a place on the northern edge of the map for some time, a place called HADES.  Yes it was the DF from HELL.  It was a fair morning and Chris managed to pry his mate Clive out of his pit early on the Sunday morning after a night of beer and BBQ to celebrate Chris & Ann's 34th Wedding anniversary and Chris’s impending departure westwards.  However, by the time they had climbed the hill out of Whitworth it was near time to go on the air.  Chris had his new Roach pole aerial (40/80m coils) and a good length of wire to use, but nowhere to hide except a stone wall.  This wall couldn’t hide the 9m long pole, so once the competitors got near (some on hands and knees in the bog that someone called a field) they found Chris fairly easily, but not before climbing the paths into the moors.

The weather was sometimes clear, sometimes misty, so it felt rather like an episode of Sherlock Holmes, the Hound of the Baskervilles…  Sheep, cows and riders on horses came near to investigate but backed off from the bog once the ground got soft.

First in was the rejuvenated Noggy Dave Holland having reclaimed his set from Chris Heys for the day, he was not in a good state (note: needs to get fitter), but then it was some time between each competitor so no-one had to bog trot and race to be first.

Dave Peacock got some really rotten bearings from fairly close in, and was convinced that Chris was on top of the hills West of Witworth, rather than East, so some ribbing took place in the pub.  Congratulations to Roger Thawley for finding the TX on his very first outing using Chris’s RX, but admitted it seemed a lot more difficult wearing the headphones and using the set.  He needs a navigator for next time as Chris is leaving him with the gear to go hunting in his stead.

Gathering afterwards at the White House up on the Pennine Way, everyone swapped curses and thanks with Chris and wished him well (good riddance) for the next few years, but HE’LL BE BACK (to pinch a quote from Arnie) or was that HELL BE BACK?

The Winner's Story, by Dave Holland:

I am amazed that I found the TX as there was no signal at the start and after following the approximate (15 deg and over 20 Km) ended up at Ashworth just west of Rochdale for the 10.42 Tx.  Still nothing to be heard.  I decided to travel up the approximate bearing and at 11.00 heard a very weak signal so was then able to get a real bearing.  This point turned out to be about 2 miles from the TX!  I continued northwards on the A671 towards Whitworth and stopped just short of the top of the map, got out of the car and the TX came on.  This time a bit stronger, normally I wouldn't have left the car with such a signal strength but the edge of the map was  only about 1 mile away and there was a quarry shown which looked likely so left the car I went the rest of the way on foot and found Mr P on the top of the moors with a vertical antenna.  Actually everyone managed to get in but I suspect some had been helped with telephone calls....