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Mud running

Last Updated on Thursday, 28 October 2010 16:29 Written by Peter Barker Thursday, 28 October 2010 10:29

Mud running

Always game for something a bit different Claire and Amanda were quick to take up the challenge of entering the Eastnor Castle Mud Run 2010 on 17th October. The race (slosh) is over 10kms of track normally used by Land Rover for their offroad 'experience' but with the benefit of added water to make the course even more enjoyable!

I'm not sure if their positions were particularly important but both finished the course saying it was the best fun they had had in a long time. If you ask me, it makes a magnetometer survey over a ploughed field in January seem like a picnic.

If you fancy having a go yourself you can find more details at http://www.eastnorcastle.com/mud_runner.htm

More badgers

Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 August 2010 11:56 Written by Peter Barker Friday, 20 August 2010 16:02

Over the last few months we noticed a marked depression in the road next to our neighbours farm here at Stratascan. This came to a head recently when a hole appeared in the edge of the road. The county council came out to patch the hole and realised that the depression was right next to the entrance of a badger sett under the adjacent hedge. The temptation was too much to resist - we just had to have a look at it the depression in the road with GPR.

images/stories/badgers at clives.jpg

The depression in the road is some 300mm deep suggesting the badger tunnels have collapsed under the weight of traffic

GPR of badgers at clives.jpg

This radargram across the middle of the depression shows no sign of a void associated with a tunnel or nest site though the area of collapse is clearly seen between 0.5m and 2.0m from the start

Work experience

Last Updated on Friday, 20 August 2010 16:02 Written by Peter Barker Tuesday, 20 July 2010 09:21

Stratascan takes work experience students from local schools

During the summer we have continued providing local schools with places for their students to experience a week out in business.

In June we had Emily who is studying at The King's School in Worcester who settled very quickly helping out in the project office with Autocad work. She also spent one day out on site supporting a team doing a radar survey in a church.

In July two students from Hanley Castle High School, Will and Austin, joined us for week. Here you see Adam showing them some of the equipement we use. They also worked in the project office as well as getting out on site to see how the data is collected. Work experience

TSA President's Award

Last Updated on Friday, 07 May 2010 11:38 Written by Peter Barker Thursday, 22 April 2010 09:03

I am very pleased to report that The Survey Association have decided to presented me with this year's President's Award.

PPB_with_award

The award, donated by TSA insurer's Lockton, is given for an outstanding contribution to the TSA which this year was for my work on the development of TSA guidance note on utility survey.

Lockton's associate director, Jonathan Bogan, is also giving £150 to a charity of my choice. As I am organising a charity walk this summer in aid of Brain Tumour UK I have elected that the money should go to them. Anyone interested in sponsoring me for this walk can find out more on this link. RandB Walk

Upton Triathlon

Last Updated on Tuesday, 20 July 2010 09:49 Written by Peter Barker Tuesday, 13 April 2010 11:59

Stratascan women take men's scalp in Upton Triathlon

Well what can I say?

The fast women of Stratascan beating the cream of Stratascan's men!

The women's team of Clare (swimming) Amanda (cycling) and Claire (running) beat the men's team by nearly 2 minutes and this was after the women 'loaned' Maggie to the men to do the swimming leg. David (cycling) and Simon (running) put up stern defence of their honour but the anchor leg from Claire decided the final outcome.

For those who are interested the event was made up of a 1500m swim, 40km cycle and a 10km run. The women did this in 3hr 4mins and 47 sec with the men turning in 3hrs 6mins and 38sec

Well done to you all.

Quote of the day from Clare 'Never again!'

Photographs courtesy of Anna.

Upton Triathlon