Oh dear, I ought to have been responding to this sooner, but thanks to family commitments I have't seen the Message Board for a week.

As a keen hillwalker, but one who couldn't find an opportunity for the Challenge at all until just before retirement (I used to read about it & dream), from the first time in 2004 I LOVED the business of planning a route. That year, being instructed as a Challenge novice to stay low, I started where my parents grew up (Plockton) and passed through where I grew up (Portsoy) to finish in Fraserburgh....a very lonely hike, in the event. Almost unconsciously thereafter, I gradually fell into the habit of finding some sort of theme: but also in nine Challenges I've never duplicated more than a few miles of route in total (although sometimes I can see bits of one from another!) And I tried to find places I hadn't been, and to find interesting bits where initially the map didn't seem to promise much.

Last year, someone who heard I was on an "ancient history" theme said I was obviously aiming for the RoTY award: I wasn't. My efforts to make it interesting predated the award by years, and the pleasure in planning is part of the "return" John wants from the event. And I agree with Phil about the reading: and this year I found lots of new music, too!

As for competition - Mr Grumpy assures us it is not so, and anyway the final details always announce the first to finish, and it used to be that the greatest tally of Munros was announced at the dinner..... it's all very light-hearted, surely? Sure, it's encouragement in the presentation - I understand to try to reduce the workload of the vetters, which must be good. The point about not seeing the "ideal" route-sheet is valid; we used to get a sample completed route-sheet sent out with the details - perhaps that could be restarted?

I can sympathise totally with Stuart & Maria's policy - I often feel that the chaos in Montrose doesn't allow me long enough to reinforce friendships I've made en route. If I survive to my magic 10th next year, it will not be only post-Braemar that I'll be planning the most sociable route I can find!

Finally, I WILL write up 2012 eventually, I promise, but in the meantime (if anyone has read this far), I've collected all my route sheets into one compressed folder (about 16MB because the earlier ones had to be scanned), and I'm happy to e-mail this to anyone who asks for it. (This includes two versions of 2009, where I got in from Reserves two days before a long trip abroad and had to do a rush-job, and got a well-deserved rap over the proverbial knuckles.....so you have an example of a bad route presentation, too!) I have the vetters' comments too but I guess they are copyright of the vetters.

And thank you, Catherine and Jane, for your support, which alleviated the guilt feelings from some earlier posts

I know some Challengers do unspeakable things with the comments, including hanging them from a nail in the outhouse. I can't speak for fellow vetters, but I have no objectons to passing on my notes; just tidy up the grammar and spelling and take out the sweerie words.

Thank you for lightening it up, JD! Next time we meet I'll try to bring your favourite dehydrated food (to share, of course).

Despite my general thoughts about the RoTY award I do add my congratulations for your efforts this year! The theme for your crossing sounds inspired and inspiring!
I hope you enjoyed it and I hope we'll bump into each other on future Challenges.

Thank you, Laura. Seems I'm too late adding to this thread for anyone to take up my offer (I mean those who said they wanted to see the winning route sheet) - perhaps I'll have to make it again on a new thread, although I confess I'm reluctant to prolong the controversy!

I don't blame you - things did seem to get over-heated for a while!

Certainly my comment was in no way meant to be a criticism of anyone who had ever been given the award. My apologies if it seemed to read that way.

No, Laura, it didn't read that way - in fact I didn't take any of the individual comments that way.....I just began to feel a trifle guilty about the award! And I think it's true that they no longer send out a "sample" route sheet (or perhaps that was only for first-timers?), so I have sympathy with that comment.

I think we all have headaches fitting it in the space!

You certainly shouldn't feel guilty Jean.
It was an inspired and very worthy route.