VHI 2004 Relays Planner's Report
I was aiming for about 40 minutes for each leg on the winning team. Course lengths were planned using the results of previous events in the area especially those of the Senior Home International relays in September 1997. I was therefore surprised by the faster times shown on all courses in the relays. The winning time was about 32 minutes per leg. This puzzled me until someone pointed out that the hill was shrouded in thick mist for most of the 1997 relays. However no one complained about the shorter courses and I hope it did not take away from the enjoyment of the event.
My thanks are due to many people, more than I can mention here. However a special thanks to controller Raymond. Not content with controlling duties he also assisted in many other ways before and during the event. I must also mention Nigel and his team working with the SportIdent equipment. They spent many patient hours coaxing the most from equipment that disappointed me anyway with its unreliability. My thanks also to the competitors. Your enjoyment of an event is always the best satisfaction a planner can get. A pity about the weather, the whole area deserves to be seen in better conditions.
Ted McGrath