59th RODINGS RALLY (2015) Report
Saturday 20th / Sunday 21st November
Dear Competitors,
Thank you all for entering the 59th Rodings Rally and well done to everyone who took part on what was a particularly cold night, though most of the people I spoke to did not seem to mind the chill. It did every one a favour in some parts by freezing the muddy patches! We also had a lot of interesting teams from universities, including the Dragon Flyers from the Insect Room at the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge who came in a very creditable seventh in the ten checkpoint event
Unusually this year, teams won the individual events who have never won before, so it just goes to show that if you keep going you will eventually succeed. Also returning to the fray after a bit of a hiatus was East Barnet School, who not only rustled up four teams, but one of their teams also will be taking home the Rockets Trophy for the fastest under 20 team over the five mile course, so well done them.
Of the 42 teams entering the 10 checkpoint event, 20 teams managed to find all 10 checkpoints. The winning team, Suffoc & SOS surprised even themselves by coming home in three hours and fifty four minutes, just ahead of the Dartford Scouts, who were two minutes behind them, and the Rayleigh Rockets number two team who took four and a half hours to complete the course.
Last year’s five checkpoint event winners were a team going by the mysterious name of ELR, who were equally stunned to have finally made it home in first place after several attempts. They came home in two hours and fifty-three minutes, nine minutes ahead of last year’s joint winners, The Barnet Strollers and a further seventeen minutes behind, the New Sospects.
The Group Trophies, awarded to the Group or club with the three highest placed teams in each event, went again to the Rayleigh Rockets in the 10 checkpoint event (30 checkpoints in 16 hours and 29 minutes hours). The best five checkpoint group again was the 41st Epping Forest Scouts, who managed 15 checkpoints in 14 hours and 52 minutes. Since both of these teams have held the trophies for a couple of years now, it’s up to you to mount a challenge!
The Rockets Trophy, as I mentioned above, went to a team from East Barnet School, their number 4 squad. The teams from the school, all of them under twenty years of age, came fourth as a group in the five checkpoint challenge, which is very creditable indeed. They were four of the eleven under twenty teams we had this year and we hope to see them all back again next year, bringing their mates along after telling them what a great time they had!
Trophy winners will be contacted shortly to confirm delivery arrangements if not already received.
As stated on our information sheet, 50p from every entry is donated to a charity nominated each year at our AGM. Those of you who entered the 2014 Rally may be interested to learn that your donations went to the Cody Dock Project.
Points to Note:
This year, Checkpoint one seems to have given a lot of the teams grief and it also seems to have been the area of most lost property. The only item I have of lost property is a right-handed grey and black glove with Seal Skinz on one finger. However, three teams asked us to put out an APB on the following items:
A pair of thin black gloves – John Pennifold
This is a long shot, but I have lost a reasonably expensive 'Silva' compass that was a Christmas present from my kids 3 years ago! (Typical rectangular base plate and should have a short thin cord attached - If I remember rightly the rotating bezel was black rather then the usual white.). If anyone's handed it in, I'll refund the postage and a bit extra for a beer! It was fairly early on in the night, about 10.20-10.30, on the way to checkpoint 1. Using your map, between grid references 7820 1925 (Junction of Debden Slade & The Green Ride) & 7830 1940, near top of the small hill. Probably on left side of The Green Ride (W) as you walk uphill (N). - Robin Richardson
One of my team members lost a head torch on our way into checkpoint 1 and was wondering if anyone has found it and handed it in. It was a very bright (think Neo or something like that) with a head-strap and rechargeable battery pack on it. Not sure how he lost it the size of it but there you go. It was almost brand new so he’s a bit gutted he lost it! - Tim Cartwright,
If anyone picked them up, could you contact me and I will make arrangements to get them back to their rightful owners.
Click here to read some feedback from competitors.
And Finally:
Next year is our 60th Rodings Rally, and as such will be a special event, on Saturday 19th/Sunday 20th November 2016. Because of this, the rules for entry are going to be tightened up a bit, as we had a few issues this year, and I am fairly sure that the anniversary event will be quite popular. Spaces will be on a first come, first served basis, so no asking for an early slot unless you are backing up that request with a completed entry form, properly filled in (mind out all of you I had to chase this year for various details, for example what distance you want to compete over) and with the finances taken care of. As usual, you can pay by bank transfer or cheque, and if you do use a bank transfer, please, please let me have a receipt/screen shot of the payment. Every year our poor Treasurer tears her hair out as we go back and forth trying to work out what belongs to whom, so for her sake if not mine, then have your receipts at the ready. We will also be moving the date for last e-mail entries forward by one day, to Wednesday 16th November (postal entries will close on Friday 11th November. Please make sure your entries are in before the 16th as demand for slots should be high.
Where did you come? Click Here and look for your team’s number in the event down the left hand side in the distance you covered.