0405summary

A reminder and...

Summary of the 04/05 season....

Round One: "The Gates Sang Well"

Back with a vengeance...

O/A	Driver		 Navigator	 Vehicle      Class   Fail    Points

1st	Julie Darkin	 Nick Darkin	 Citroen	E	0	124
2nd	Anthony Ellis	 Ian Jarman	 Vauxhall	E	1	122
3rd	Simon Roberts	 Richard Smalley Ford		E	1	146
4th 	Philippa Bentley Simon Bentley	 Mini 7		E	1	167
5th	Frank Evans	 Russ Evans	 Toyota		N	1	201
6th	Jez Rogers	 Paul Grantham	 Peugeot	N	1	277
7th	Jane Taylor	 Jonathan Taylor Metro		E	3	153
8th	Pete Bonds	 Chrys Bonds	 Santa-Fe	E	4	159
9th	Loz Gray	 Ben Taylor	 Honda		E	6	267
10th	Mick Cooper	 Richard Cooper  Landrover	N	11	333
	Rob O,Dowd	 Dave O,Dowd	 Vauxhall	N	Otl	Otl
	Dave Hartill	 Karl Ellis	 Ford		E	Otl	Otl

Round Two: "The really Olde old Stagers Stages"

We read the instructions... We 'day...


O/A	Driver		 Navigator		Vehicle	      Class   Fail    Points

1st	Julie Darkin	 Nick Darkin		Citroen WRC	E	0	041
2nd	Nic Nicolaou	 David Millard		VW		N	0	053
3rd	Tony Bishop	 Richard Soame		Honda		N	1	062
4th 	Philippa Bentley Simon Bentley		Austin Mini  	E	1	099
5th	KarenM		 PhilM			Audi		E	2	077
6th	Matt Taylor	 Ben Taylor/Emma Smith	Metro		E	2	093
7th	Anthony Ellis	 Ian Jarman		Vauxhall	E	2	096
8th	Jane Taylor	 Jonathan Taylor	Metro		E	2	108
9th	Rob O'Dowd	 Dave O'Dowd		Vauxhall	N	3	109
10th	Chris Green	 Andy Lawrence		Ford		N	3	115
11th	Simon Roberts	 Richard Smalley	Ford		E	4	131
12th 	Brian Phillips	 Tony Green		Citroen		N	9	244

Some of us just never learn do we? It was a jovial crowd that milled around the Bulls Head confines late on Friday eve, sniffin the sausage & beans, which way around the now more than infamous "5-way's" triangles? That sort of stuff…
BUT IT DIDN'T MATTER which way around that little maze because the CB's consisted of numbers!! To do well on our events… read the instructions & only four crews did just that. Letters counted, not too original but boy did it work. Just tek' a look @ crews 5^th to 11^th places, then discount the forty points that this actually cost them.
Could have been seriously close at the end…

So Julie & Nick strolled to a 20^th NE victory. This pair are on a roll, (sorry Nick,) could they now take the triple & become only the second in NE history to do so. (Your scribe managed this feat during the 99/00 season, but did utilize two drivers in the process!)

Nic & Dave, what payback for all the commitment. Bet you enjoyed the drive toward home on this occasion. Similarly, 3^rd for Tony & Richard looked all smiles, see above...!

Karl & Dave served up a cracker. This was a lesson to us all really, in my humble opinion & apart from my slight worries that Karl was just to busy to organize anything barring his next trip to Milton Keynes, it shows how you can indeed serve up something seemingly the same but oh so different if one digs deep. Well done both.

The spacious back room @ the Squirrel saw a capacity entry & soon we made the journey to S1 starting NE of said venue thru Nash End to its end @ Hartsgreen. Just a taster this, S2 taking in Kinver Edge, Shipwalks, Hollies & the open h/pin left @ Coxgreen. Classic's such as Dudhill, Tuckhill & Wooton ford drew us ever closer to the Morfe Valley to start S4 with what seem's like a triangle on every junc. A lovely piece of organising saw crews fail if they traversed the long triangle, S half sq 7790. On the `04 map this is perfectly divided @ Northing 90. Brilliant.
On to Beobridge, the `orrible "yellow" prior to Broughton, then SE taking in the testing Morfe House Farm road, via Blundies to swap map's NE of The Million forest. S5 & 6 directed us though a few rarely used "weird" lanes, Ashwood, Wall Heath & the Holbeck House tester saw crews enter the final yellow NE of The Straits, (remember the "`Straits?") to our host venue nestling somewhere around Sedgley! One of the best chap's…

Round Three: "A Firework Spektakular"

 O/A	 Driver		  Navigator	  Vehicle      Class   Fail    Points

1st	Julie Darkin	 Nick Darkin	 Citroen WRC	E	0	23
2nd	Simon Roberts	 Richard Smalley Ford	 	E	0	24
3rd	Chris Green	 Andy Lawrence	 Ford	 	N	0	24
4th 	Corin Redman	 Ben Taylor	 Toyota	 	E	0	34
5th	Jane Taylor	 Jonathan Taylor Metro	 	E	0	43
6th	Anthony Ellis	 Ian Jarman	 Vauxhall	E	0	44
7th	Paul Bunch	 Dave&Lunchbox   Grannie 	E       0       44
8th	KarenM	         PhilM		 Audi		E	0	46
9th	Philippa Bentley Simon Bentley	 Mini(charged)	E	0	56
10th	Dave Hartill	 Karl Ellis	 Ford		E	1	39
11th	Tracy Johnson	 Neil Rich	 Nissan		E	1	73
12th 	Richard Soame	 Tony Bishop	 Honda		N	1	78

Follow us they suggested, "we'll show you the way back to the Telford EP." So, at 11:45, Karen & I trundled ever so gently through the almost sleepy village of Edgmond glued to the back of one green Mini. Now, have you ever competed in a cct race, Karting or the like and made the final. Or watched the pace car pull in after an incident. Boy do you have to get it right, I mean if your not on it at precisely the time the car in front goes full throttle, it's all over. And I fractionally missed Mr Bentley go full throttle. Our astonishment was followed by serious laughter in the A4 cabin. I could not catch it; the Mini just disappeared like perhaps we were looking through binoculars. The wrong way round!
We caught them at Donnington…

Just a genuinely great family, and the Moggie Minor pen was a nice touch.
I noticed a comment in the event welcome message suggesting that; "next years event will be better." It doesn't need to be!
Julie & Nick are on top form just now, Ferrari F1 springs to mind. Richard's brand new R5 payed him back with a fine 2^nd o/a while the Novs scored well yet again to take the final podium. Good plotting Andy/Chris. In fact, checking back on a few records (sad) I do believe that this was the, not sure how to word it, closest scoring Round yet. Top nine with zero fails & two dead heats, wow.

The Route: A simple run out from Dawley gave crew's a gentle start through Little Wenlock & anti clockwise around Wrekin to the cleverly placed CB (on the 4right @ the end of the 2km straight,) to cross the M54 on Easting 60. N to Walcot… enter the Isombridge yellows complete with a wicked hole positioned on the SW sector of sq6014. It actually kinked our ns wing! Clever use of the lane's through Preston Moor & The Weald Moor's linked to Cherrington & Great Bolas. Instructions stated that no whites be used so the naughty yellow "white" in the NE of sq6821 fooled a few. Final section allowed the now std full entry to drop South to Chetwynd Park & finally the very well appointed Lamb PH @ Edgmond.
Well done to all, short break before playtime once more. Who can stop the Darkin Roller…

Round Four: "Post Halloween Nightmare Three..."

Giss a clue Boss... Claaasss winning... For you Emma...

O/A	Driver	Navigator	Vehicle	Class	Fail	Points

1st	Julie Darkin	  Nick Darkin	   Citroen WRC	E	0	093
2nd	KarenM	          PhilM	           A4		E	0	104
3rd	Simon Roberts	  Richard Smalley  Ford		E	0	105
4th 	Anthony Ellis	  Ian Jarman	   Vauxhall	E	0	109
5th	Rob O'Dowd	  Dave O'Dowd	   Subaru	N	0	146
6th	Chris Green	  Andy Lawrence	   Ford		N	1	116
7th	Dave Hartill	  Karl Ellis	   Ford		E	1	119
8th	Philippa Bentley  Simon Bentley	   Mini(veluxe) E	1	158
9th	Jane Taylor	  Jonathan Taylor  Metro	E	1	168
10th	Matt Taylor	  Ben Taylor/Emma  Metro	E	1	186
11th	Tracy Johnson	  Neil Rich	   Nissan	E	3	186
12th 	Richard Soame	  Tony Bishop	   Honda	N	3	217

There must be a chink in the Darkin armour. And I may have the answer. It's CHOCOLATE!
Julie D is a self-confessed chocoholic. So… let's all bring along a Chrissie present for them on Round five and fill the Saxo to the brim with the stuff. The intrepid driver will then refuse to leave the start venue before devouring the lot. Voila…
O.T.L... Sorted.

Yet another cracking event, what a season this is turning out to be. Simple but original ideas from Paul/Dave during R4. Great class win from our O'Dowd's with Round 5 orgs on a high having now taken the class lead. Yet another full (!) entry proved once again that this really does appear to be the premier navigational series in the area. Well done everybody.

The Route: Unsuspecting crew's gathered @ a lay bye near B'North & 10mins after route hand out we found ourselves bombarded with a never ending supply of CB's! After travelling through The Lye & Underton we had notched up six! A link to The Down took us via Oldbury & S to Chorley in what must be said, very greasy conditions. S2 pushed ever S to The Foxholes & a steady climb back up OS 138, Aston Botterill, Neenton & the cracking old fave through sq 6388. Monkhopton then and a ride "over the top" to drop down into Harpswood & the tricky slot L into the Oldbury yellow.
The final section took in familiar territory, Farmcote, Beobridge & finally home to the warm confines of a very friendly (and, it has to be said) salubrious surroundings of the Halfpenny Green airport restaurant. Great stuff…

Round Five: "PressurePlot"

O/A	Driver	Navigator	Vehicle	Class	Fail	Points
1^st	Julie Darkin	Nick Darkin	Citroen WRC	E	0	061
2^nd	Simon Roberts	Richard Smalley	Ford	E	0	086
3^rd	Dave Hartill	Karl Ellis	Ford	E	0	098
4^th	Paul Bunch	Dave Clayton	Ford	E	1	079
5^th	H	Andy Rousell	Ford	E	1	091
6^th	Martin O'Dowd	Dave O'Dowd	A6	N	1	100
7^th	KarenM	PhilM	A4	E	2	088
8^th	Philippa Bentley	Simon Bentley	Mini	E	2	119
9^th	Matt Taylor	Ben Taylor/Emma Smith	Metro	E	2	122
10^th	Jim Falconer	"Lunchbox"	Honda	N	5	185

Starting near Lythbank we headed thru Longdon & Plealey turning S again to take in a Pulverbatch loop. SF1 was located just prior to Minsterley where we took 1km of relaxed prior to starting SS2 near Ploxgreen. A right serious set of yellow's, Hopesgate, Bromlow, guided us ever nearer to our manned pick up control near Brockton. This allowed crews the pleasure of plotting the final portion of the evening. The instructions told us to go longest route over Long Mountain & Rowley where a small minority of entries made a right cobblers of this & hence plummeted down the order! A cracking route finished off with a trip past Asterley & Edge prior to the sumptuous finish venue @ Lea Cross.

Well done to our hardworking orgs, another excellent round. Another class win for the O'Dowd family makes it rather close at the top for the Nov's.

(Sorry... no piccies... forgot camera!)

Round Six: "New Pastures..."

New boy on the block... watch this space.

O/A	Driver	Navigator	Vehicle	Class	Fail	Points
1^st	Paul Bunch	Dave Clayton	Ford	E	0	059
2^nd	Julie Darkin	Nick Darkin	Citroen WRC	E	0	060
3^rd	Simon Roberts	Richard Smalley	Ford	E	0	071
4^th	KarenM	PhilM	A4	E	0	077
5^th	Matt Taylor	Ben Taylor/Emma Smith	Metro	E	0	082
6^th	Jane Taylor	Jonathan Taylor	Metro	E	0	087
7^th	Pete Cotton	Matt Barker	Van	E	0	088
8^th	Rob O'Dowd	Dave O'Dowd	Subaru	N	0	095
9^th	Chris Green	Andy Lawrence	Ford	N	0	098
10^th	Dave Hartill	Karl Ellis	Ford	E	0	109
11^th	Jules Falconer	"Lunchbox"/Jim Falconer	Ford RS1600	N	0	156

That's it folks, first time in our history.... all crew's clean on fails... Brilliant.

Even a minor hitch concerning a fallen tree on the B’North to Kidderminster road did not deter the up for it crew’s on Friday, a seriously blustery eve it was to be…

We must thank the intrepid threesome for venturing afar, (although we have touched on that vicinity moons ago,) a brave idea
& a great event it turned out to be indeed. Well, a great run of success finally came to an end, rather close though, with the Windy-boy’s taking a fine victory on a night which saw every crew clean on fails. Lunchbox didn’t care about the penalties gained, no fails was a win indeed. Well done. The shelf @ the Moggie factory is probably in need of a strengthening plate by now as the bros took Nov spoils once again.

The Route: A series of relatively easy but technical instructions saw the windswept gathering move out to SS1 & due W into the unknown including Wychbold, Rashwood and the nicely named Crutch Hill! Smart use of the map’s saw SS2 begin @ Elmbridge, loop to 139 & back SW as far as Doverdale. The lanes changed character as quick as my map with the lengthy sect 2 kissing the W edge of 139 taking in the Clay pit road N of Hartlebury. A Shenstone “maze” spun us round a bit with a few very narrow junction distances to boot. Having reached Rushock, the sect finish appeared to be under the power lines in 9070. Even Mr Darkin was a little confused, us having a conflab before separating once again. Two more map changes drew us ever closer to the manned section end, (outside the finish venue) where we just had to complete a final codeless S4 link prior to sampling the local Ale!

Round Seven: "South Westerly Challenge"

O/A	Driver	Navigator	Vehicle	Class	Fail	Points
1^st	Julie Darkin	Nick Darkin	Citroen WRC	E	0	060
2^nd	Anth Ellis	Ian Jarman	Vauxhall	E	0	065
3^rd	Simon Bentley	Philippa Bentley	Mini	E	0	068
4^th	Paul Bunch	Dave Clayton	Ford	E	0	070
5^th	Chris Green	Tony Green	Ford	N	0	075
6^th	KarenM	PhilM	A4	E	0	083
7^th	Simon Roberts	Richard Smalley	Ford	E	0	083
8^th	Matt Taylor	Ben Taylor/Emma Smith	Metro	E	0	095
9^th	“H”	Corin Redman	Ford	E	0	113
10^th	Pete Beards	Elwyn Manuel	Discovery	E	0	136
11^th	Rob O'Dowd	Dave O'Dowd	Subaru	N	0	143
12th	Nicolas Nickolaou	Dave Millard	VW (camper)	N	1	176

The organizing duo appeared a little concerned as the clock approached the 19.00 hand out time. Only four crew’s reporting but within 15mins they smiled broadly & we were the one’s sweating over a hot route card!

The Route: After a surprisingly simple plot vehicles started to exit the forest car park just SW of Ludlow & straight into S1. Longest route then, looped us around Leinthall Starkes then SE to the class juncs @ Brightall Common. SF1 located thru Yatton allowed a small breather to SS2. Some really lovely yellow, Lower Lye & Ongar Street gave the nav’s a little work whilst travelling due N now to finish 2 @ Walford. The route meandered over the Teme & instructions allowed us to pass over the main railway line just twice. The lanes seemed to grease over as we approached Hopton Castle, Abcott village allowing us through en-route to the last section. Clungunford & due E to the serious sections over Goat Hill, Aldon & Weo Edge. We finished with the difficult Roman Road SW of Craven Arms where the last code boards waited for us!

Good result once again for the Masters, nice one also Mr & Mr green taking the class win. Orgs… good one.

Round Eight: "It'll be OK on the night..."

O/A	Driver	Navigator	Vehicle	Class	Fail	Points
1^st	Julie Darkin	Nick Darkin	Citroen WRC	E	2	081
2^nd	Chris Green	Andy Lawrence	Ford	N	2	106
3^rd	Pete Bonds	Phil Matthews	Sante-Fe	E	3	086
4^th	Anth Ellis	Ian Jarman	Vauxhall	E	3	092
5^th	Matt Taylor	Ben Taylor/Emma Smith	Metro	E	3	109
6^th	Simon Roberts	Richard Smalley	Ford	E	5	141
7^th	Graham Middleton	Elwyn Manuel	Hyundai	E	5	158
8^th	Simon Bentley	Philippa Bentley	Mini	E	6	132
9^th	Jane Taylor	Jon Taylor	Metro	E	6	161
10^th	Rob O'Dowd	Dave O'Dowd	Subaru	N	8	171
11^th	Richard Soame	Tony Bishop	Honda	N	9	199
12th	Owen Evans	Tony Green	Rover	N	11	248

My own rent-a-driver & I arrived at 18:45. Graham Middleton somehow recognised me, shook my hand saying “should be a good craic tonight.”
“You want to believe it” I replied.
3hrs 42mins later I still had four refs to plot… but it was good craic.

As is the norm, a full entry soon had head’s down (see web piccies) desperately plotting a route that circled, it seemed, most of East Wales & South Shropshire. But the route was to be a cracker. 24hrs later & it may not have happened. Snow `an all.

The Route: First of five saw crew’s head straight into a demanding & mucky section, Medlicott, North to Bridges & the classic lanes around Linley Hill. Those that decided to look at the scenery early on would pay the penalty later that eve so a reasonably brisk pace was on the cards. SS2 dropped S through Hyssington, this section including the rather controversial via through the not as map “road” near to Snead. For us at least the daunting SS3 complete with pace note section turned out just fine in the end. Good stuff. The notes directed us due S once more through Cwm to end next to SS4 just W of Cefn Einion. This penultimate section saw us navigate the famous Mardu triangles… boy was the shortest route a close call!
With time pressing, SS5 was a nailbiter, Pete & I realising a missed code board approx 2km behind us. It was worth the turn around but we almost paid for with that clock ticking. Following the Green/Lawrence RS into the h/pin left on the final k our Sante-fe just wouldn’t come round quite as well and it was hereabouts that we missed the board that almost certainly cost a win. The final control was a blur but we made it. Just.

So, a fine result just when it was needed by the RS crew, looking good for Mr Green to take the o/a class. (Does Mr Lawrence realise that he becomes Expert also if he continues to sit with his man next season?!) Nice to observe Julie & Nick genuinely astonished to take the win with 2 fails to boot. Massive challenge by the organising pair. Always was going to be though…

No way to treat a Roamer!! Pressure on...

Round Nine: "Degrees of Altitude"

...Fun Boy 1 Expert Class...

Results: Round Nine

O/A	Driver	Navigator	Vehicle	Class	Fail	Points
1^st	Julie Darkin	Nick Darkin	Citroen WRC	E	0	029
2^nd	Simon Roberts	Richard Smalley	Ford	E	0	039
3^rd	Matt Taylor	Ben Taylor	Metro	E	0	044
4^th	Paul Bunch	Dave Clayton	Granada	E	1	046
5^th	Chris Green	Andy Lawrence	Ford	N	1	050
6^th	Dave Hartill	Karl Ellis	Ford	E	1	055
7^th	Anth Ellis	Ian Jarman	Vauxhall	E	1	063
8^th	KarenM	PhilM	Audi	E	1	088
9^th	Jane Taylor	Jon Taylor	Landrover	E	2	101
10^th	Philippa Bentley	Simon Bentley	Green Mini	E	4	097
11^th	Nick Nicolaou	Dave Millard	Ford W.R.C.	N	5	129
12th	Rob O'Dowd	Dave O'Dowd	Subaru	N	8	232

Without doubt season eleven is now acknowledged as one of the best yet. Fitting then that the final event should finish just a tad earlier than most & allow the now normal full entry time for a little reflection.

No change at the top, quite a stunning season for this inseparable duo. I was particularly happy for Richard & Simon, 2^nd in the challenge good reward for a sometimes trying season! Chris/Andy did more than enough with a solid fifth to take the o/a class. I include Andy here simply because he becomes expert if he continues to guide Chris next season.

The Bond’s used an interesting but really quite simple format to initially confuse a few. Once in the lanes it became apparent that the easiest job was finding a CB. Another matter deciding whether it was in or out! Good job both.

The Route: Depending on your red or blue hand out saw crews disappear in alternate directions… nice. Red saw us N to Haughton with a simple route S to Oldbury, Chelmarsh & Sutton. West then to a Sidbury loop, N along the fine Eudon George yellows with a dose of telegraph lane thrown in prior to the section end. Return to base for the Blue section which after plotting took in The Lye, Harpswood & the B’North walk route, followed as far as Middleton Baggot where our map told us to head for Monkhopton & the Acton Round 3 Left into sq Right adding to the fun. Muckley to Morville allowed us to finalise the references prior to the final control. And then the sandwiches arrived!!

...Fun Boy 2

That is all folks...

Go on then. Watch this space!