Round 2 - The Panglossian Rally

There was lots of fine-tuning of the model answers due to the convincing arguments and alternatives that many put forward. Each class was closely fought with time taken having to decide many places.

Remarkably two Masters scored a jackpot, with Iain Tullie's blitzing of the Route Cards edging out the more considered approach from Robert Owen. The TTR World number 1 - Gavin Rogers - had to be content with third scoring a mere 99! On the way Iain scored five "stage" wins; Gavin three; Robert, Philip Robbins, Glynn Hayward and Steve Barber one each.
Gavin Rogers just heads the Masters' Championship from Iain Tullie, with Peter Smith in third.

In the Experts, Nigel Parish eventually emerged as winner for the second time running. Nigel's maximum score was equalled by Philip King and Peter Harbord, who took over one and four hours longer for their plotting. (Philip will be the prize winner as Nigel collected a map magnifier on the last event).
Nigel's two wins gives him a clear Championship lead, but half way through the season many are still in contention most prominently the other Panglossian Rally podiumees.

The Novices was even tighter with just one point separating the top 15 competitors. Julian Challis was quick enough on his best five answers to beat Mark Dunkerley and Jo White by 10 and 57 minutes respectively.
Chris Bean - the Nearest FarAway Place Rally winner - heads the Championship table, but there are five tied on points behind him.

The 'Crow' will now slide into the background as Gavin Rogers and "Chick" conjure up Route Cards for next two rounds. I've asked Gavin to make the Schoolfrenz Rally just a shade more difficult so that we don't have so many 100% scores. Keep your pencils and map magnifiers handy for June 4 when the next event begins.

As ever, many thanks for your support and comments on what has become the most well supported Table-Top Rallying Championship to-date.

BTW, take a fresh look at the Regulations. I've tidied up a few rules to overcome some of the ambiguities that occurred in the first two rounds.

"Crow"

May 13, 2008 @ 01:50

Round 1 - The Nearest FarAway Place Rally

Well, despite the automated marking, I've spent considerable time going through your comments and you should have received credit where it was due. If you asked questions, I'm afraid time prohibits answering you individually - I hope the solutions provide you with the necessary insight.

Because of the huge volume of work involved it's quite possible I may have overlooked something; that's why the current results are Provisional. You have until midnight March 9 to raise any queries and then the amended results will become Final. Send your queries to ttr@CROWtable-top-rallying.org.uk (omitting the CROW before you send) stating your competition number, route card number and problem.

You'll find the solutions, solution maps, and each competitor's answers at Route Cards & Solutions.

I'll hold back my congratulations to the apparent winners until after March 9, but well done to those Masters with > 90 points, Experts > 45 and Novices > 20.

PLEASE study the solutions in preparation for Round 2. In the past many new competitors have been discouraged by their first performance.
Treat the silly mistakes and misunderstandings from Round 1 as part of your learning curve and come back fighting for the Panglossian Rally in April.
Take heart from the possible winner of the Novices section, Chris Bean, a USA competitor who had never seen an OS map before January and was totally unfamiliar with this British rallying - I think he did his homework before starting.

Many thanks, again, for your charitable support, and also for your generous and useful feedback.

"Crow"

March 2, 2008 @ 00:01