Howlin' Wolf Challenge

Hello all

Didn't realise you had a dedicated forum!

I posted recently on the devon forum saying i wanted to get involved in challenge events, at the moment on the marshall etc side. I got a reply from najw, saying that you guys are always happy for more volunteers with willing hands!

When and where is your first event? Im oxfordshire but obviously don't mind travelling abit. Also here tell your running a sister event at a more clubman level?

Cheers

Nick

Hi Nick and welcome!

This isn't the busiest forum around but it does pick up when the season gets underway.

The calendar has now been updated on the main website with all dates and venues except the September one where we are still looking for a new venue.

As far as marshalling is concerned there are two sides to it - setting up and running the event. Setting up generally starts at 10:oo am on the Saturday and involved laying out all the Cyberpoints (punches) and roping off the sections to them. Normally the site will have been recced beforehand so we know where everything is and there is a high res aerial photo as a map.

Most marshals camp over Sat night and if we can we try and have a fire and a bit of a social get together.

On the day of the event your job is to roam the site and observe what is going on. Issue penalties if ncessary and repair sections etc. On most sites you can drive around if you have a 4x4 or you can wlak, its up to you. There is a rota so at certain times you will need to help run one of the Special Stages, the rest of the time you can float as necessary.

Come 4:00pm the most important thoing is to help collect all the course furniture in. Again you will have a rota so you know what you have to collect. Once everything is in it all needs to be packed away in the Control Unit. Usually we manage to get away from site by around 5:30 latest.

We have an excllent group of regular marshals who work really well as a team and this is usually supplemented by extra local helpers at each venue. The marshals really enjoy the events (I hope) and are quite happy to keep coming back.

I hope this gives you an idea, if you want to get more involved we also have recce weekends where we check out the sites and plan the sections etc., If you are really committed then we could entertain you for 12-16 weekends a year.

Any more you need to know, just ask

Neil

Yeah that sounds ideal, though i don't know if i'l be able to make all of those weekends. Got to leave sometime to have a play in my bobtail after all!

Hopefully see you at Wellington in March though. Think i pm'ed my details to you on the devon forum

Cheers

Nick

Sometimes the marshals job can seem a bit worthless on times when your standing around in the pouring rain waiting for a car to come to your section but we couldnt compete with out all the help that every one does for free

but the other side is that you see us making fools of ourselves

Nobby

I have just the coat for standing outside in the rain, might have to get a new leather hat though (either mines shrunk or my head grew!). Shame i can't afford to drive the range rover to these sites, tailgate makes excellent marshall's seat, complete with canopy!

But i do expect plenty of foolishness in return!

Nick