Langer Park 1998 - Quotes From The Notes

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Langer Park 1998
Quotes From The Notes

Andrew Crocombe (M6) ‘First impressions of routecards were of bemusement, that’s how I came to answer them in reverse order….. Overall a balanced event, but far from easy (which I like), with some new viewpoints to old problems… Thanks for another good event, sorry to see it’s the last, but at least you will know where it is should you wish to dig it up in the future.’ Don Clarke (M3) ‘This was a great swan song. ….What on earth will I do to keep out of mischief next year? …Thanks for this and all the past years – I shall miss LP.’ Brian Vallis (E10) ‘For me, this rally contained some interesting ideas and the event once again proved to be quite a challenge. …Well done to the organisers. Farewell. And thanks.’ Philip Senior (B7) ‘Lack of time (& skill!!) have prevented me from trying to do more. Thanks.’ [GW: If my records serve me well, Philip has entered just about every National t-t in the Championship series but this is the first time that he has submitted a route. I was beginning to think that he was building a NTT library- perhaps he is!] Peter George (SE7) ‘Sorry about the demise of the LP. If there should be a resurrection at some time, do please let me know. In the interim many thanks to the organisers for their efforts. I’ve found this year’s to be the most enjoyable of those I’ve entered.’ Don Bradbury (M2) ‘Sorry that you are finishing LP. It was always the fairest and most enjoyable. Thank you for all your past efforts.’ Mike Gardner (E3) ‘Thanks for the competition. I enjoyed it but couldn’t sort out sections 9 & 12.’ Glynn Hayward (M12) ‘Brilliant event as usual and a good challenge, though I failed to complete sections 18 & 25 which looked easy. Would have liked to complete last section of the final LP, but felt the best event of the calendar is too good to end in a cemetery, (put it in a museum). Sorry to see you go.’ Alfred Winter (E11) ‘A most welcome and enjoyable break from Christmas pudding and mince tarts. I suppose all good things must come to an end, many thanks to each and every one who have given their spare time in order that I might enjoy mine…’ John Evans (M8) ‘As ever, an excellent event. I’m sorry to see you go. Many thanks for your efforts.’ Sue Laver (B6) ‘I am very rusty at navigating, especially tt’s, not having done any navigating since 1975. I wonder if a can of Duckhams would solve my problems. Looking forward to the next one but Crow informs me this is to be the last – still I am not surprised, it must take you at least a year to devise those sneaky routecards….’ [GW: Sue used to be West Essex’s Autocross Secertary but now lives in South Africa. Now that’s what I call off-roading!] Alan Crabtree (M5) ‘Well, it looks as though we’ve travelled along the Highways and Byways of LP for the last time. I must say that I’ve enjoyed your company over the years – I’ve learned a lot, and it’s been fun. I’ll always be interested if there are any more tt’s to compete in… Section 7 …using ‘local’ knowledge, and noting the abbreviated Public Houses!. Section 25 – A neat finish, but such a pity that LP ran itself into the ground! …Once again, thanks a lot for some mind-bending puzzles over the years. I do hope that we meet up again somewhere, someday. [GW: Almost a song there…] Doreen Fisher (SE6) ‘Thank you for the fun(???) and frustration, for the two years that I have attempted LP. Wishing you all a long and happy retirement.’ Mitch Fielding (M9) ‘Thanks. Sorry about the state of roadbook. Those people who can send back books in the same pristine condition probably have unnatural powers.’ [GW: Well, as the roadbook was received in virtually pristine condition (plus the marked route of course!) It must have reincarnated itself whilst being beamed here by the Post Office! Can I have a pint of what you’re on?] Doug Kingsley (E12) ‘Apologies for my lack of effort, I just couldn’t find the time. Thanks.’ Martin Moore (N14) ‘Good table-top – really enjoyed it. Some novel plotting techniques and so easy one to get going.’ Godfrey Nunn (E6) ‘Thanks for all your efforts in the past, your innovative ideas and in particular the introduction of the roadbook. Good health and luck in your deserved ‘retirement’.’ Peter Compton (N5) ‘I very much enjoyed this year’s LP, although I have not entered for a while, I feel it a shame this is your last. Managed a go at all (but 9 & 24) with a bit of guesswork thrown in! Well done.’ Stuart Lawrie (M17) ‘You will be missed. I only wish I had been introduced to LP earlier. It has been lots of fun over the years, some easier, some harder, and some just right like this one (I sound like Goldilocks).’ Christine Rodgers (SE14) ‘Pity I didn’t have time to do this justice. It has been fun… Thanks for the helpful clues although I don’t understand all of them.’ Allan Collyer (M4) ‘Many thanks for another challenging and interesting tt. You obviously put a lot of effort into it. It’s shame that you’ve decided to discontinue such a good event. I shall miss the excellent format; much better for you to see what’s been plotted rather than me picking up penalties for poor counting of features along an otherwise correct route. Still, all good things must come to an end. Thanks again. [GW: Couldn’t agree more! The last time I plotted correctly and got three wrongs answers followed by guessing four answers and got three right(!) was the last time I competed on that type of event. And will be!] Dave Collins (N4) ‘Thanks for a very enjoyable event. Felt a bit rusty as this is my first tt for 6 years, however once I got into the swing it didn’t seem too bad. I expect I will be hard pushed to come anywhere close to previous LP results. Thanks for all your hard work in putting together an excellent event.’ Ted Manktelow (M18) ‘Well done, you maintained the standard to the end. As usual, this year’s LP was well thought out and a challenge. In my opinion, you got the standard about right – some sections are easy to understand, but with a difficult route and others with an easy route once the logic has been grasped. For a change, I can do all sections, so I suppose the ideas were somewhat easier this year. …I first competed on the LP in the eighties when I was still working and was unable to give it my full attention and so I gave up. Since I took early retirement at the of end 1990, I have competed every year and usually consider it the best of the series. It’s even been enjoyable when I haven’t done very well. I’m very sorry that this is the last ever LP, but I understand why, so thank you for all the hard work over the years and enjoy your retirement.’ Ken Cushen (N6) ‘Thanks very much’ [GW: Somehow I’d managed to assemble the last third of Ken’s roadbook upside down! Despite this handicap (you really should have complained to the management!) a worthy effort was submitted.] ‘Crow’ (M7) ‘Absolutely first class event – as usual. There is no way this should be the last LP. I do however, have a more than usual number of queries, alternatives and other interpretations which I hope you take note of. [GW: Don’t we always? From the results it appears that you also made some uncharacteristic unforced errors!] PS - If you won’t run the LP again, would you run one of my mini-internet tt’s during the summer?’ Henry Carr (SE2) ‘Well done, another enjoyable event. Unfortunately could not spend the time it deserves on it. Sorry!’ Peter Robertson (M22) ‘Really quite upset that I could not make it to the end of the final clue.’ Francis Tindall (E8) ‘Although I have only taken part in the LP for the last three years I have thoroughly enjoyd the experience. The amount of work that you must put into devising the route and marking the answers makes the hours I have spent on it pale into insignificance. Thank you for the experience. What will you be doing with all your spare time?’ Cath Woodman (M25) ‘Unfortunately I didn’t have time to do this justice – ended up rushing last night & couldn’t crack (section) 9. Seemed to be a lot of ‘shortest route’ type sections – I hate these! – and surely it makes your job harder as well? Thank you so much for all the hard work you’ve put in yet again – perhaps someone will be able to tempt you out of retirement….please???!’ [GW: With a 4^th place finish one wonders what the result may have been if you’d really tried!] Tony Mason (E5) ‘Really like the roadbook format. Makes life a lot easier having clues opposite the route.’ [GW: Whilst checking out something else I noticed that Tony had entered the 1987 LP. Knowing that he hadn’t entered in recent years I should imagine the roadbook was quite a (pleasant) shock to his system!] Nick Owen (SE13) ‘Thanks again for providing my traditional Christmas entertainment. It will be a strange feeling passing the festive season with no LP! It’s with a mixture of relief and sorrow that I return my last submission – relief at never again having to find the shortest route through 27 chapels, sorrow at the loss of the exquisite pleasure that can arise upon discovering that the seemingless meaningless string of numbers in the navigation is in fact the number of times the letter ‘q’ appears in each grid square on the route! …Thanks for all you’ve done over the years, and farewell! [GW: Going out with a bang! Was it good for you or what? Into the top ten for your best ever finish – well done!] Colin Hensman (M14) ‘Very good event. Good mixture of clues, some variations on previous themes. Good standard again. …Is this really the end? Well done.’ Howard Simpson (E7) ‘Many thanks for another fascinating set of problems. I can appreciate your difficulty in finding new ways of defining routes, particularly as I find enough difficulty in solving the old ones.’ Jeremy Rodgers (M23) ‘Brilliant! Definitely the best format TTR I’ve taken part in. What do you mean you’re stopping, I’ve only just started! Enjoyed all the sections (except 9 which is an utter swine!). I like the gentle run in with the 1^st six sections, great idea. …Can’t wait for the results! If you decide to change your mind and run an event next year, you can count on my support. Excellent!’ [GW: Your enthusiasm obviously permeated through to your plotting with an excellent 3^rd overall on your first LP outting]