Marshals Blog

HERO Marshals' Post

Last Updated 10th  December, 2010

There is only one word to describe the efforts of everyone involved with the 2010 Le Jog – AWESOME.

That same word can be applied to the experience Judith and I had throughout the event, a sentiment I am sure many of you will share.

Arriving at land’s End on the Thursday prior to the event we were surprised to find 2 inch of snow and even more worried when it started to snow heavily. Friday morning saw another 1 to 2 inch of fallen snow which, with the welfare of everyone involved in mind, prompted the decision to run a course car eight hours ahead of the event.

The experience of Geoff & Jane Gibson was called for and they were asked to carry out the advance inspection of the route which left CC 2 without a crew, but not for long as Judith and I were ‘invited’ to take on this duty as well as trying to carry out my role as Chief Marshal.

Conditions throughout the event gradually deteriorated the further north we travelled and everyone within the event organisation made every effort to provide me with information regarding inaccessible sections so that I in turn could advise you, hopefully, before you left home. Unfortunately due to having to follow the event route, where possible, and carry out the Course Car duties meant that I was out of phone signal on many occasions then had to ‘fire fight’ once back in signal. This inevitably meant that I did not manage to contact some of you before you left home for which I apologise. It also meant that I failed to advise some of you at all.      

To Colin Clapshoe, John Ross and Richard Morgan I can only say that I am very sorry to have let you down by not contacting you.

As mentioned the event began to suffer more as we travelled north with competitors, course cars, officials and marshals being caught up in the great M8 snarl up. Geoff & Jane managed to circumnavigate this but then got caught out on the A80 spending nineteen (yes 19) hours in the car.

The latter sections of Saturday were lost as was the second half of Sunday. Monday saw the running of one test at Sunwick farm, through the cow shed and in a blizzard, spectacular. Getting to Livingston was more of a test than anything experienced so far. The run from there to Pitlochry was ‘tricky’ due to black ice on the M90 however the run to Kinloch Rannoch was like a trip through Santa’s’ grotto with snow covered trees and sparkling snow. A four hour run to Lybster followed after which we managed to run

the final regularity of the event through deep snow.

Twenty eight crews made it to John O’Groats as did  three groups of travelling marshals. Well done to Mike & Rita Knox, Martin Shaw, John Payne, Ian Parkin and Neil Bowring.

Although the event was ‘not as planned’ the sense of achievement voiced by those who reached John O’Groats

was almost tangible. The big grins and the Colin McRae type doughnuts in the car park next to the cafe illustrated

the high spirits of the competitors and probably their relief of actually arriving at the finish.

At the prize presentation Peter Nedin, Clerk of the Course, made a point of thanking you for your contribution to the success event and Robert McLean (recipient, along with his wife Susan, of the HERO Cup) praised the dedication of the marshals. Everyone at the dinner stood to applaud your hard work and efforts throughout the event.

On behalf of HERO and from me personally a sincere THANK YOU. 

Regards

Chrys Worboys

HERO – Chief Marshal                  Tel: 01132 868651 (h)   07808 596092 (m)

Le Jog 2010 – The year of the snow!

Last Updated 28th July, 2010

A call to marshals.

Whilst still organising marshalling cover for the Scottish Malts in September I have an eye on two future HERO events which will require marshals in order to run the operation smoothly.

The first event, chronologically, is the HERO Throckmorton Challenge on the 16th October 2010.
This is a new one day event which will be based at the QinetiQ site close to Throckmorton village near Pershore.

The competition is open to vehicles manufactured before the 31st December 1983 so there should be an eclectic mix of vehicles to be seen.
An interesting feature of the event is that there will be tests tailor made for classic 4x4 vehicles utilising the ‘off-road’ areas at the QinetiQ venue.

The format for the event will be 18 tests, all at the QinetiQ site, interspersed by a handful of regularities around the lanes close to the central test venue.

The event format will allow marshals to be in amongst the action from the ‘off’ rather than chasing around the countryside trying to get ahead of the game.

I obviously require marshals for the tests and for the regularities. Hopefully there will be scope to ring the changes so that marshals have chance to work on the tests and the regularities.

For further details please follow the link: www.heroevents.eu/Events/thethrockmortonchallenge/

The second event is the well established and respected Le Jog from the 4th to the 7th December 2010.
For the hardy marshal this event is the epitome of what it is to be a marshal. For the competitor this is four days of hard work and keen concentration in, sometimes, less than sunny weather!

The event is a mixture of regularities and tests with the emphasis on the regularities due to the linear nature of the competition.

Last year there were in excess of 450 marshals assisting with the event, many covering more than one control point and/or test.
This year is likely to be little different. Coordination of this marshalling force does take some time but it is made easier by marshals volunteering early.

If you want to assist with either of the above or better still both of the above events please let me know either by email at chrys@heroevents.eu or ring me on 01132 868651 or 07808 596092

Chrys Worboys
Chief Marshal

Last Updated 10th May, 2010 - 11am

I would have already written a blog relating to the 2010 Icelandic Saga but as you know mother nature had other plans for Iceland. Having just seen a television programme looking at the effects of the eruption on the island, Peter made the correct decision in postponing the event. The main road which runs around the south of the island has all but disappeared in the local area to the volcano being cut through by numerous new rivers.

As the focus is now on HERO’s next event I can tell you that the event organisation of the 2010 Summer Trial is well in hand and we are hoping that the route will be finalised this week, this will then allow me to plan the PR schedule with a view to it commencing as soon as possible.

As usual details of the route are secret and obviously must remain so, but if you want a sneak preview, I need assistance with the PR work which will provide you with pre-knowledge of some of the route, albeit on a confidential basis. PR will be time critical and will need to be completed well before the event starts.

This years’ Summer Trial once again offers a compact route with Worcester at its centre, with each daily route of the three days of competition forming a clover leaf design.

A coup this year is that documentation and scrutineering will take place at the legendary Morgan factory in Malvern Link.

I think we can safely say that we will not be troubled by the cold conditions of Le Jog or the ash storms on Iceland but I am hoping that the recent spell of warm sunny weather will be prevalent throughout the event itself so that competitors and marshals can enjoy the splendour of the Cotswolds.

As usual the event will consist of regularity sections and special tests at interesting venues and I am looking for volunteers to marshal the various controls and tests along the route.

I will again be utilising travelling marshals supplemented by marshals who can spare one or two days to assist on the event.

It is my intention to distribute as much information as possible via email well before the event in order that those who are assisting on the event are fully aware of the controls and duties allocated to them.

There will be a marshals briefing prior to the event start. Marshalling equipment will be issued at this meeting. Those marshals who are unable to attend will receive their equipment from a course car on the event itself.

Please check the website for the details of the event and if you can help please email me @ chrys@heroevents.eu 

Last Updated: Dec 30, 2009 - 1:00:00 PM

To everyone who braved the elements and marshaled during this year’s Le Jog - THANK YOU.

Although the weather, in places, was not as bad as 2008 I think the night through Wales proved that Reliability Trial marshals are a hardy bunch who are dedicated to the sport.

My first Le Jog as Chief Marshal was not a baptism of fire, rather a trial by water however with the help of David McIntyre and Geoff Gibson it got of to a good start with all control locations and tests being manned prior to the start.

This good start continued through the event and it gives me great pleasure to say that of all the 289 control locations only five marshals did not appear and off these Judith and I managed to fill three of the gaps. To those of you who tried to contact me during the event, please accept my apologies. Orange is not the best service provider if you are travelling outside the main conurbations of this country.

Again as a testament to your diligence the results team applauded the fact that very few errors were made notwithstanding the very wet conditions. Plus, where difficulties had been experienced by marshals, notes had been made on the check sheets which allowed the results team to quickly resolve any problems.

The crew of CC1 sought me out at one rest halt to comment on the fact that nearly all marshals were in place, in time and had smiles on their faces, brilliant.  

Due to the linear nature of the event it was intentional to send out as much information as possible by email. I acknowledge that some of you may have experienced a delay in receiving this. I think this was due to the amount of information I was sending as attachments to the email. My task for next year is to try and ensure you get the information earlier, if possible, and in full.

Everyone who was involved with the event contributed towards its success but few of us marshaled on every day and travelled the length of the country without the benefit or shelter or their own transport - well done Sarah & Lisa.

Also thank you to John Sluman and his team who, despite not receiving the test equipment through the post, still managed to sign, arrow and operate the test at Werrington.

At the prize presentation the Clerk of the Course, Peter Nedin, made special mention of the efforts all marshals went to get to and remain at their locations. Competitors receiving their awards were also very appreciative of the lengths marshals went to.

It was my intention to visit every control and personally thank you but it quickly became apparent that I was being 'optimistic' so my apologies to those of you I did not manage to see.

This years Le Jog was perhaps the hardest yet on competitors but they all enjoyed the challenge and rated the event a success - a success attributable to the team organising and presenting the event of which you are all members.

Providing you have signed on and I therefore have your address, a 2009 Le Jog badge will follow shortly.

Thank you and best wishes of the season and for 2010.

Chrys Worboys – HERO Chief Marshal