News and events around the Network this week (03/10/08)

[Bob Hatcher]

A fairly busy time for several teamsthis week





Saturday 27th Sept - Humber Yorks provided 5 marshals for Trackrod Rally Yorkshire, a round of the numerous championships including the main British (BRC) and the British Historic Rally Championship. An early start, most left home around 4.30am, began a glorious day of action and sunshine in Cropton forest, just North of Pickering. A fairly uneventful day, with no incidents on their corner; bar asking the odd spectator to move to a more sensible (read safe) viewing point.



Sunday 28th Sept - HY provided 2 vehicles to assist West Yorks Raynet with comms for the Scouts Six Dales Walk. The vehicles assembled at Kilnsey Village Hall from 8am. Most things ran smoothly though for a while Peter Vincent was left to man the radio relaying walker number etc to the preceding and following check points. Pete qualified with a number of HY members sometime ago but has never really used his license but no one semed to notice his inexperience and infact the when told some of the Raynet operators said they could never have guessed. Leter in the afternoon the work turned back to the original logistical assistance as the HY members ferried equipment and operators forward to leap frog the walkers to be used further east.



HY secretary Simon Bentley who attended both events had a particulary busy weekend, after leaving Cropton forest on the saturday he returned home briefly to feed, bath and put to bed his 21month old girl Amy befor eleaving again to navigate in an overnight road rally, which started near Blackburn. A good early run came to nought when the mini, of driver Chris Day, engine let go (suspected con rod), this left Simon struggling to get back to his vehicle in time to get to the Six Dales walk, although he did manage in the end.



Sandringham 10k Run



Breckland Rover Rescue attended with 2 vehicles on Saturday 27th Sept to set up the course and put out road signs.



On Sunday 6 vehicles attended and were used as transport for St Johns ambulance staff and marshals as well as lead and follow up vehicles for the runners and mobile comms. To fit in with the other radio systems on site we borrowed PMR radios from our local EPU and operated on UK General band 5.



There was good co-operation between the organisers, St Johns and the Cadets who were marshalling and the event was well run.



St Johns were set up within 10m of the finish line with a First Aid tent, road Ambulance and Community Paramedic, they also had a 4X4 Ambulance around the course and our follow up vehicle had a nurse with defibrillator and oxygen on board.



Unfortunately despite all these facilities one of the runners had a heart attack on the finish line and despite receiving prompt attention was DOA at the hospital. Our condolences go to the family of the unfortunate competitor.



Rover Rescue were not immediately involved but were tasked with clearing the exit route from the site and provided an escort through to the local Hospital 5 miles away.



The Organisers (Cancer Research UK) were very impressed with Rover Rescue and I have given them details of 4X4 Response and they may well contact other groups for support in the future.



On Thursday 02/10/08, 5 members of Wessex 4x4 Response provided support to Avon & Somerset Police running club, both as marshals and general transport on Burnham Beach. This is now pretty much an annual event in their calendar.



26th & 27th SeptemberTasked with providing help setting up on the Saturday and marshalling the run on the Sunday alongside volunteers from RAF Lakenheath. Suffolk Rover Rescue and SLROC members provided our own comms net with CB and PMR while using the event net to maintain comms with the course controller. after the run finished we helped tidy up, removing stakes, tape and signage back to the control area.

14 personnel with 11 vehicles had a great time and hope to be invited to help out again.

Thanks to all who gve their time.



Finally and most importantly 4x4 Response is now a registered charity We hope that this will lead to National recognition from other agencies both voluntary & statutory.