54th RODINGS RALLY (2010)  Report & Results

Saturday 27th/Sunday 28th November 2010

Dear competitors

Thank you for entering the 54th Rodings Rally. By Friday 26^th November registrations for 68 teams had been received, with 59 teams registering to start on the night. We were pleased that so many of you turned out given the wintry conditions, and prospect of heavy snow! To say it was cold was probably an understatement; we hope you spared a thought for all our willing club members who spent all night either in a tent in the forest, or serving teas and coffees, or racing around making sure checkpoints were correctly located.

Teams entering the 10 checkpoint event are required to find nine checkpoints in the forest, and return to the final checkpoint at High Beach Village Hall within 8 hours. 14 teams (out of 34) achieved this within the time limit, congratulations to North Downs Search and Rescue who whizzed round the course in 4 hours and 30 minutes, only 17 minutes ahead of one of 2 Dartford Scouts teams. Third placed was a team from Suffolk Orienteering Club, this club has frequently bagged first place over the years so our commiserations to you for your relegation! There’s always next year…..

 The 10 checkpoint group trophy (the 3 highest placed teams from the same organisation) was wrestled back this year from the Cockney Nimrods by the Rayleigh Rockets. The 3 top placed Rayleigh Rockets teams discovered a total of 29 checkpoints in 20 hours and 13 minutes. We are aware of the friendly “rivalry” between these 2 groups every year, well done the Rockets for finally getting the trophy back after several years……

 The YHA trophy has been awarded since 2008 to the highest placed 10 checkpoint team from a YHA group, and this year returns to South Middlesex Local Group, whose team found all 10 checkpoints in 7 hours 3 minutes.

 The 5 checkpoint event, where teams were required to locate checkpoints 1, 3, 4 and 6, as well as the village hall, was won again this year by Nick and the Oldies in 2 hours and 25 minutes. Well done & congratulations, the Vic Halstead 5 checkpoint trophy will be returned to you!  

 The 5 checkpoint group trophy (for the 3 highest placed teams from the same organisation competing in the 5 checkpoint event) goes to Danbury Mission.  The top 3 teams from this group – DM Go Faster, DM Once Again and DM Strategy - located 15 checkpoints in 11 hours and 26 minutes. Hot on their heels were newcomers to the 5 checkpoint group trophy competition, Orion Harriers, who located 15 checkpoints in 14 hours and 49 minutes. DM team members may be interested to learn that Orion Harriers are a running club based on the edge of Epping Forest! Finally commiserations to 3^rd placed East Barnet School, last year’s winners of the 5 checkpoint group trophy.

 Finally the Suffolk Orienteering Club trophy for “Best Endeavour” goes to The Ousers. This team comprised 2 individuals who’d been looking for someone to form a team, were put in touch at the last minute, one cycled across from Wapping and they completed all 10 checkpoints, coming 12^th overall. (One then cycled back to Wapping).

 Trophy winners will be contacted shortly to confirm delivery arrangements.

 As previously mentioned we were grateful that so many of you turned up on the night, despite the extremely cold weather. It was good to have some new teams, as well as those regulars who return year after year.

 The results and solutions to the clues are enclosed with this report.

 As stated on the Rodings Rally information sheet sent out with the entry form, 25p out of every each competitor’s entry fee received is donated to charity. This year we will be donating at least £56 (Ann this figure is based on 224 competitors) the specific charity to whom the donation is sent will be agreed at our AGM in January. Those of you who took part in the 2009 Rodings Rally may be interested to learn that a donation of £200 was made to Essex Wildlife Trust's Tile Wood Appeal, with some of this money being raised through Rodings Rally 2009.

 Hope you all had a good time and thanks to those of you for your comments after the event. Any feedback – good or bad – is welcome!

 At this point in the report we usually ask a competitor of long standing to say a few words. This year however we thought you may be interested to know a little more about the organisation of the event, which takes about 8 months.

 It all starts in March, when one or other EFOG member starts muttering that a Rodings Rally meeting should be arranged. This is duly done, and at this point entrance and breakfast fees are agreed, route plotters are appointed and receipts confirming hall bookings and confirmation of the event from Epping Forest Conservators are waved around. It is largely forgotten until May or June, when publicity is planned and dates are agreed for route plotting in the forest. This usually starts in late August or early September and the term “checkpoint plotting” features very frequently in conversations between EFOG members! Also in late August, entry forms are sent to all who entered in Rodings Rally the previous year. It could be argued that this could be more efficiently done by email, but we do feel that a printed entry from arriving through a letter box is a handy reminder of the much loved event! Once the forms are in the post, there is a peaceful lull of a few days, until the first entry arrives in Norfolk. At that point, EFOG members are advised that there is no going back - the show must go on! Much of September and October is taken up with weekends spent in Epping Forest, locating checkpoints for the coming event. It becomes a bit of a social gathering involving children and dogs too! Much care is taken to avoid would-be competitors, though every year we encounter one or 2 who appear to be in training for something in the forest……..In November a state of near panic is reached, as tents are checked & replaced, lighting equipment is checked, competitors’ boards are hauled out of someone’s loft, bacon and eggs are purchased for breakfast……..all of a sudden the weekend of RR is here, and somehow it all falls into place. Once Rodings Rally is over, and all equipment packed away, our work is still not done – there are trophies to sort, certificates to send and lost property to return to grateful owners…..Once this is done, some relish the fact that it is all over while others are already discussing next year’s event…

 Rodings Rally 2011 will take place on the weekend of Saturday 19th/ Sunday 20th November, pending permission from the Epping Forest Conservators.

 Ann Lowther & Sue Stirling

On behalf of Epping Forest Outdoor Group

LOST PROPERTY

We would be grateful if you would take a few minutes to read the lost property list below. If you think any of these items belongs to you or one of your team mates please email Ann & Duncan Lowther: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with a brief description, or ring 020 8508 0874. Any property unclaimed after 3 months will be donated to a local charity shop

1 pair walking boots
1 pair gloves
1 pair safety glasses
1 torch with hollow handle
1 compass
1 solitary glove
2 x  waistcoats

  CLUE SOLUTIONS

(correct grid references are in bold)

 RESULTS

                                             Ten Checkpoint Event 

Five Checkpoint Event

                                  Best Ten Checkpoint Groups

                                    Best Five Checkpoint Groups  

                                             Best YHA Teams

                                 Suffoc Trophy for Best Endeavour 

                                Team 26                        The Ousers