Staple Ridge and Castle Neroche Galoppen Results - Organisers Comments:

Organising this Galoppen was a challenge albeit a worthwhile one and I was glad to see good numbers turning out to enjoy some autumn sunshine, so many juniors running including a team competing for the club.

There were several factors unfavourable to a successful event. One, the club’s new punching system being used at an event for the first time and our two leading SportsIdent (SI) boffins away on the day. Two, the logistics involved in managing two starts and finishes, some 700m west and 300m east respectively from the event field. Three, school half term coinciding and many potential helpers away. And last but not least, a relative novice in the organising role.

With IT, responsibility for matters on the day fell on a team relatively inexperienced with SI. Charged with getting the system up and running was Jim Nickolls. Jim was as cool as a cucumber sandwich and a glass of pink gin. Jim with Ted embodied a spirit of calm intensity which appeared to transmit itself to the later operators, who continued the good work. They appeared to enjoy themselves, to boot.

The distance of the start and finishes from ‘base’ was not ideal, but I appreciate the factors that made Will place them there. At various times, he and Sue seemed to be juggling with a series of unknowns (forestry work, land permissions in Staple Common) and constraints (a lack of suitable places to put the junior Finish, a potential uphill senior Finish). But they quickly managed to generate some neat solutions to the problems mentioned.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this event a success. I extend that particularly to those with pressing personal commitments away from the event, those who were proactive in their helpers’ roles and to those who provided me with friendly advice. Despite having his own responsibility with the string course, Roger was especially good to me, providing quick responses to my sometimes panicked enquiries. He was also prepared to do things which I didn’t have time to do. Also, as the club’s treasurer, he was admirably restrained when mentioning to me that I had failed to charge you competitors for your hired dibbers!