Officials

Thanks to All Who Helped

Dear Colleague,

Yet again the event has arrived, happened and gone and once more it has been a resounding success.

True, the numbers were down slightly but that has been reflected across all rallies this year, however the quality of the competitors remained high.

The challenges on stage along with input from the weather virtually guaranteed another memorable year. Whilst Duncombe was a gentle introduction on Friday evening Dalby provided the wake up call and a portent of things to come. Langdale and Gale Rigg continued the theme with Duncombe once again providing a breather before the double dash around Croft before diving into the depths of Hamsterley and Shephershield in the pitch black. Sunday's suprise was the snow in Ae, missing in 2010, making the section from post 18 through to 19 something that Torvil & Dean would have excelled on. Heathhall needed no additional help with the water splash and Twiglees was its usual slippery self. De ja vue hit at Kershope on Monday with 3D full on flash backs to 2010. The challenge of the day was to find the road salt piles buried under the snow. Luckily I remembered where they were from last year and Joy and I set about helping with clearing the Kershope hairpins.

The delays incurred on Monday due to the snow and coupled with the event deadlines that had to be met, forced Colin to make the decision to run Kershope once only. With the late afternoon approaching and the temperature falling this was a wise decision as it allowed the stage marshals to leave the forest and the ice and snow behind before the darkness and freezing temperatures arrived.

As always there are many facets which make an event a success, not least the pre-event planning, however no amount of planning is any good without the dedication and commitment of those who action the plans made during the pre-event organisation process.

This includes the 'public face' of the rally which is you the marshals. For the past seven years I have written this thank you and each year I have expressed my thanks with sincerity. This eighth year is in no way different.
Despite the economic restrictions we have all felt on our 'purses', the number of marshals in the forests not only re-affirmed the events popularity but also your dedication to what we like to consider is the best event of it's kind in the country.

The personification of dedication was demonstrated by the a group of marshals in Kershope whose car caught fire whilst entering the stage. They were unhurt and the car was towed to post 2. This stalwart group then continued to carry out their duties and marshalled on the stage before returning to their car to sort out how to get home - dedication 'above and beyond' in my book - well done and THANK YOU.

I am sure there are many more 'unsung' heroes out there but a special thanks to everyone who braved the snow to get to your stations, especially those in Kershope on Monday.

The Radio Controllers from each day of the event have asked me to express their sincere thanks for the radio marshals and marshals being where they should be when they should have been and working as a team making the task of tracking competitors and rendering assistance, where necessary, that much more easier and efficient - Team Spirit - MAGIC.

For our part, we did try (for those in the night stages) to literally brighten your day with our fairy lit pickup but I am not sure how many read the 'Happy Christmas' lights in the rear window. The challenge is now, what to do for next year.

Thank you for your hard work and commitment to this excellent event and I hope Joy and I will receive your registration form in plenty of time for the 2012 event which takes place in it's normal position in the year the 23rd - 26th November 2012.

Please keep checking the website for updates.

Kind regards

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