Due to logging activities at our usual venue, Cropton forest, the rally this year was moved to the much larger Dalby forest. Based around a plateaux in the middle of Dalby, the area is much flatter and gave us the opportunity to offer 4 different course lengths. 4.9 miles for the A & B classes, 4.2 miles for the C class, 3.6 miles for the E, D & D2 classes and 1.2 miles for the J1 and J2.

We were really pleased with an entry of nearly 80 when there were several other events on. By far the largest class supported was the D class, with a lot of new faces and names coming into the sport. We also offered junior classes this year, for the first time, to help provide the next generation with the chances to race. Even though the classes were not supported very well, we feel it was, and will be in the future, well worth offering the classes again. I personally feel it is great to see these youngsters running their dogs like seasoned pro's.

Unfortunately, the dry cold weather arrived a couple of days too late. Saturday saw the occasional shower to help keep things really wet and muddy on the trail which proved to be hard work in places. Being the first man out and back, I could see peoples faces drop as this grey muddy mass headed back to the van. Sorry folks for the muddy trail. Those of you who were in the E and D class had it clean compared to those in the C, B & A's who had 'the mud run' to do. At least on Sunday it stayed dry all day, but not enough for the course to dry out much. Temperatures both days hovered around 8 degrees and humidity varied from 100 to 75%.

We also tried a different way of marshalling the event this year. Instead of the long morning and afternoon system for the few, we have used in the past, we split the marshals into classes to have 5 groups of marshals. It does take a lot more organising with a lot more people having to marshal, but the stints were far shorter and we feel more pleasurable for those who volunteered or were press ganged into it. We thank you all for your doing your bit. The rally could not happen without you.

A special thanks to Mad Max Clift for all his help with marking and clearing the course.

By all accounts the rally appears to have gone quite well according to my moanometer. Everyone appeared to be happy (at least I hope so anyway). I did notice Andy Noble has been trying to feed his dogs on pork, without much success! I assure those who don't know him, he does not normally smell quite that bad! Shout 'Haw' next time Andy!

Hopefully see you all again next year?

Alistair & Nicky Spowart

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Author: Alistair Spowart