S.E.R.C Hoddom Event 10th and 11th June 2006

Friday the 9th of June saw several members of the group heading to Hoddom near Annan in the Dumfries and Galloway region, the plan was to set up the control unit and a campsite on the field at Mainholm Farm. Jim 2M0JWL, John MM0GOF (controller) and Richard MM1BHO with Mrs MM1BHO (Maggie) arrived mid afternoon and set up camp, John had to leave after the control unit was set up as he was working on another event the following day.

The rest of the troops arrived bright and early Saturday morning ready for the start of the event, present were John GM4LYJ, Davy MM0KBT and Mrs MM0KBT (Pam), Willie 2M0WUL and Mrs 2M0WUL (Jane) and Ian MM5AKZ and Mrs MM5AKZ (Cheryl). Richard MM1BHO and Maggie operated control on Saturday, there was one minor incident when a novice rider fell off at a water crossing she was not hurt too badly (a sprained wrist I think) but she retired from the ride. The rest of the day was very quiet which is the norm for this type of event. John GOF our controller arrived late afternoon after finishing his stint at another event....just in time for the party.......The Dumfries Scottish Endurance Riding Club were celebrating their tenth anniversary so a very nice meal had been planned for the evening.....posh frocks and wellies were the order of the day unfortunately non of the guys had bothered to pack theirs.

The high spot as far as we were concerned was the strange phenomenon of the Hoddom Sun Chair....Ian AKZ experienced this during Saturday afternoon.....it appears that once in the Hoddom triangle nothing seems to work as it should...even the simplest task of setting up a sun chair seems to go pearshaped.