Maypole 2010
Maypole Car Navigation Event 2010
Maypole defies its critics.
The Maypole is a competition incorporating three sections of the Scout Movement. It has always been intended to improve and challenge the navigational skills of competitors. To quote the promotional leaflet “The purpose of this event is for you to compete against others to show your navigation skills. The vehicle you travel in is simply to get you to the place where your navigation tells you the code board lies. Noting the words of the code board in your road book confirms your navigation, not the driver’s skill in getting there.”
Teams were presented with a series of clues. Most had assumed that plotting a six figure reference was to be the highlight of the evening, and some of the challenges set were more difficult. This apparently daunting task was approached with relish by the teams, and within a few minutes there were smiles of satisfaction from team members who had successfully identified a location on their map by picking out clues in a photograph or by decoding a numeric clue.
Some people have the wrong idea of a Car Navigation Event – they think it involves driving at top speed with little care for other road users. I have to say that this approach is totally contrary to the whole concept of Maypole – and always has been. Those critics would have appreciated the preparation teams made before departure, and may well have learned something about mapping and navigation.
Car Navigation with a difference
Traditionally teams were given a list of “possible” search locations, and then each team was allocated three or four confirmed locations. Teams would then move around the countryside developing their own route by success at finding code boards. This could produce an unfair advantage for some teams depending on their original given locations. It also meant that teams not able to find their first board would continue to struggle for the whole event. This year, every team started with exactly the same information, so advantage only went to the teams with the navigation and problem solving skills.
Clues varied from straight forward grid references (six figure plus fractions/decimals) to complex mathematical exercises and extraction of information from a google earth image. At the start some teams were apprehensive when asked to sit at a table. Maps were spread out, compasses, romers and rulers appeared (those that had remembered to bring them) and pencils were put to good use. Within forty minutes most teams had plotted their route with at least ten (out of the possible 16) locations plotted. Teams then departed in a quiet controlled way to gather information.
During the evening, teams were required to visit two different marshal locations. At each place, the marshals who had given up their TV armchairs to wait in the rapidly cooling evening, handed teams further instructions and watched with amusement the participants struggle to find code boards using simple bearings and distances. It’s quite amusing to watch four youngsters walking across a field on a bearing in the dark, using the light from their phone to guide them. Imagine how easy it must have been, to then note down what appeared on the code board using their phone (which was providing the only illumination available to them). Most teams did come prepared with the specified “essentials”, map, compass, torch and pencil, but some did not!
A full evening
Just before 1am I was very pleased to hear the approach of finishing teams. Firstly because the approach was quiet and sedate, and secondly because they had found their way and got back to the finish! Ten teams entered, ten started and all finished, though one team did over-run and finished OTL (Over the Time Limit).
We had entrants in each of the classes and two all ladies teams. This meant that we were able to present each of the four trophies. Unfortunately, one trophy was not available, and a thorough investigation revealed that this trophy had never been presented before (in fact we are not sure that it exists!). However, a cunning cardboard copy was quickly mocked up so that the successful team was not too disappointed. This year we decided to stick to the main trophies and not award individuals to drivers and navigators.
And at the End
Commiserations to the Edgware team who had gathered a score to put them in equal first place in their class, but unfortunately arrived at the finish during the presentations. Congratulations to each class winner, but especially to the Explorer team from Enfield for taking the overall crown as “Best Navigators”.
The results were as follows:
Overall Class Position Points Team Group/District
Position in class
1 Exp 1st 410 Bowler Hats Enfield
2 Net 1st 390 Team 4 Barnet
3 Net 2nd 360 Team Dave Barnet
4 Net 3rd 320 Micra Turbo Barnet
5 Vet 1st 300 Acorn B Islington
6 Vet 2nd 285 Capuccino Crew Finchley
Ladies 1st
7 Net 4th 270 It’s a little bit nippy Barnet
Ladies 2nd
8 Net 5th 200 The Unit Barnet
9 Vet 3rd 175 Acorn A Islington
OTL Vet 300 2/3rd Edgware
Thanks to the teams who turned up on the night and all performed really well. I hope you enjoyed a taster of what a real “Navigational Scatter Event” is about. Thanks also to Ian and Nick my two marshals, and a special thanks to Chris Brunning the GSL of the 5th Potters Bar Scout Group for allowing us to use their HQ on the night. The only thing that I feel may have improved the evening would have been some more teams. Participants – let me know your thoughts. The event will run again in 2011 year on the 7th May.
I still have the clues and answers saved on disc, so anyone wishing to use them as part of a training evening, (or for practice for next time) let me know and I can email them to you.
Chris Feakes
Maypole 2010