Once again the A68 beckoned and we headed north in the ZS to the first section ( Section 1 Home/Stead Farm) that we were marshalling for the day. As we were going direct to the section we couldn't use the route book and had to navigate ourselves there. Pam did a great job as usual and we arrived in plenty of time. The hill was set out ready for us and we worked out how we could cover it if nobody else turned up. Just before the first car was due we had loads of help and all was well. This photo doesn't show just how steep this hill was. The restart in the middle was tough.
I set the video camera up the hill looking down on the start and restart but the wind kept blowing it over so I had to wait for a chance to set it up down at the bottom and got some reasonable footage.
With the action finished we helped to tidy up the section and loaded the markers into the ZS boot to take to our afternoon section, closed the gate and had a cuppa & bite to eat while we decided how to tackle the next bit of the day. The plan was to go to our next section and set it up, then go to the lunch point for a hot sarnie then go back to the section. Finding the section would be easy, just follow the route book. There's a flaw in that plan. The trial went onto an OS map that we didn't have with us so we had to navigate on our own again.
Another problem cropped up in that the next section was subdivided. We had the markers but weren't sure if it was low numbers first or high ones. It was off to another section to find somebody who could give us the answer. While Pam was getting answers I took some pictures of the crumbling industrial heritage of the area.
Another problem cropped up in that the next section was subdivided. We had the markers but weren't sure if it was low numbers first or high ones. It was off to another section to find somebody who could give us the answer. While Pam was getting answers I took some pictures of the crumbling industrial heritage of the area.
Confident that we now knew what we were doing we set off and found the next section, section 11, Beaumont. Ha! Our confidence was misplaced. This trial had one more trick up its sleeve. There were two possible routes. Which one to take? We walked through and decided on one and started to set it out. Bernie and his team arrived and yes, you've guessed it. We were setting out the wrong course.
By the time we had the correct course set out with the help of Bernie and his team, it was too late to go for lunch so we settled down to wait for the competitors. We were the only marshals so we worked out how to handle it. Pam did the start and I did the restart which was in sight of the finish marker. This unfortunately left an unobserved part of the course and we just had to trust the honesty of the competitors. Another problem was communication. We had no radios and couldn't see each other. Pam didn't know if the section was clear so had to hold the competitors a short time to hopefully avoid them having to stop mid section.
I got the video camera set up in a fairly sheltered spot and the game was on.
By the time we had the correct course set out with the help of Bernie and his team, it was too late to go for lunch so we settled down to wait for the competitors. We were the only marshals so we worked out how to handle it. Pam did the start and I did the restart which was in sight of the finish marker. This unfortunately left an unobserved part of the course and we just had to trust the honesty of the competitors. Another problem was communication. We had no radios and couldn't see each other. Pam didn't know if the section was clear so had to hold the competitors a short time to hopefully avoid them having to stop mid section.
I got the video camera set up in a fairly sheltered spot and the game was on.
It was windy up there, blowing a gale and the arrival of a hot sausage bun was most welcome. Thank you!!
A low battery warning on my camera put paid to any more photos here. I had spare batteries but my hands were too cold to change them. The closing car came along so we packed up the section and headed to the finish at Parkhead station only to find there was nobody in charge there. It turned out that there were two extra sections in the quarry so we had a walk up to see what was going on. Just spectating here gave us the chance for some great photos after I'd changed the batteries. Some of these are Pam's and the ones she took of the Widowmaker from the bottom are superb. I went to the top of the hill for some shots but I didn't have much luck with pictures so tried some video with the stills camera and it's very shaky as I didn't have the tripod with me.
So it was back to the cafe, hand in our results sheets and markers, and set off for home.
That's the story of our first time in charge of sections and we really enjoyed it. If we made you happy, please let us know. If we mucked it up, tell that guy over there....the one with the bobble hat....yes, that's him running away down the track.
If you want any pictures, full size, by email, just let me know which one and I'll sort it for you.
That's the story of our first time in charge of sections and we really enjoyed it. If we made you happy, please let us know. If we mucked it up, tell that guy over there....the one with the bobble hat....yes, that's him running away down the track.
If you want any pictures, full size, by email, just let me know which one and I'll sort it for you.
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