02/10/2005 - EMU TROPHY 2006

Event Location:

Flimwell Site

Event Format:

Team challenge With Punches and Sections

Organisers:

Chris, Si and Stoo

Winner:

Everyone's a winner baby!

Setup Day (Saturday 02/10/2005)
Full of energy and enthusiasm we set off for the Flimwell site at around 1pm arriving on site for around 1:30, we began a quick survey before Chris arrived to see the lie of the land. Shortly after Chris arrived and we began setting up, the first job was to guage the depth of water around the site, so Si dived in - literally, in his 90. One and a half hours, 2 double lined 8274's, 3 cars, a ground anchor and 4 rather wet and tired bodies later we got him out! So why wasn't that section wasn't included on Sunday, I hear you say - well the back of the 90 was a foot underwater. Anyways the rest of the setting out was rather uneventful, lots of deforestation and a few bits of winching and it was done. We return tired, wet and exhausted, but happy in what we had achieved.

EMU TROPHY DAY (Sunday 03/10/2005)
The day had finally arrived, Chris, Si and I had been looking forward to this for a while so whilst Si and Chris shot off to finalise setting up (and find my lost waffle) I collected some kit and stragglers and set off. The event was explained by Chris and everyone seemed anxious to get started. It was said that you may use any items found around the site to make sections possible and that the idea was to help each other.

Section one involved a steep winch up a near vertical bank, Bunny went first, followed by Karl, Adam, Si (with Andy attached) and then me. Then down the other side of the bank and up the next, this next bank encouraged some, how should I say...enthusiastic driving. Resulting in a broken halfshaft for my fellow Suzuki owner Andy, a disappointing day for him, but he did tell me he still enjoyed it.

After some more winching, the next section involved a river crossing, now whilst only a short crossing, the water was known to be 3 feet deep (ask me how I know that) and the surrounding ground is soft too. On Bunny's instruction the team went to work to find some bridging materials that could be employed to cross the ditch. Behold some railway sleepers...perfect says Bunny lifting it up (under 1 arm!!!) and hoisting it over to the crossing. With the bridge carefully made everyone watched hopefully as Bunny began to cross, well we figured if it could take his weight a Land Rover would be a no problem :-P Anyway Bunny drove across first nice and slowly and the rest of the group followed, expertly guided by Mick. The bridge was the adjusted to Suzuki track and I drove across, Andy tried to, but with rear wheel drive only it was difficult so we attached my winch and I pulled him across.

The sections then took us into the wood, and through the notorious bog-hole, plenty of winching ensued, except for myself who drove all the way (yes I know I'm great :-) ) Next was lunch, expert cooking by Chris with thanks I'm sure also to Mandy (and Kelly for cutting the onions should anyone forget) we didn't let the fact that Chris had enough food for twice the number stop us from devouring it all ( well done mate).

After a hearty man-lunch of BBQ (sorry girls), we headed off to the afternoon sections, the first being a winch through a bog and out a steep hill out of the woods, some further cutting of trees was required from Saturday, after we realised a Land Rover 110 is bigger than a Suzuki, but all in all it went well. Top marks to Bunny for entering it with a known front drivetrain failure.

The rest of the day was filled by a fun drive around of the more common Fliwmwell sections.

All in all a great day - shame about a few breakages but I hope everyone enjoyed themselves.