That's not to say the experience wasn't terrifically satisfying. It is rather like when you complete a Billygoat: it hurts a lot, but you get out of it what you put into it, and eventually you feel very good about what you accomplished. And not unlike a lot people's Billygoat experiences, I did a lot of "following." First I had Bill Jameson, who set the courses. Then I had JJ and Jon who encouraged me and gave me a lot of pointers, while the Trysons (registration), Jensons (site planning), and Dentinos (food & shirts) covered major aspects of preparing for the event. And then I had Peter Gagarin and Pat Dunlavey who pulled me through the finish and results. Along the way there were many others who helped, and without whose help the event would have crashed down around all of us.

But it didn't! And everyone was great, and understanding, and appreciative. Thanks to you all.

And finally, a few final notes. I'll leave it up to others to decide what to say about the job Peter Goodwin did as Peter-in-charge-of-the-weather. Depending somewhat on how long you took, the weather for the race itself was great, if not beautiful: cloudy, cool, and breezy. The occasional light sprinkle may have even felt refreshing, and wasn't enough to make wearing glasses a big problem. Later, however, it got progressively worse. Perhaps it was because Peter Gagarin felt his name's job was not being properly upheld that he so purposefully pushed us though the awards. Or maybe he was just cold, like everyone else.

The Club Award is, according to the "Billygoat Meet Director's Guide", awarded solely at the discretion of the Meet Director. I actually did find a moment or two to think about this, and my thoughts have varied somewhat, but by now I am resolved. Bribery counts for a lot, and I certainly don't want to say or do anything to keep future Directors from getting their fair share of bribes. And in particular, the GHO (a/k/a HKF) bribe will forever hold a place of honor on my dresser. But the Canadians won too much anyway (1st Male, 1st Female), so they are out. The Divinely Appointed Billygoat Steering Committee helped me out a lot, which is certainly the kind of bribery I really needed. But as Divine Appointees, what more recognition can they desire (or deserve)? I came close to awarding it to NEOC. From Liz Kotowski on through many members, some of whom I've mentioned, they gave me a lot of help and encouragement. But they've won this award a zillion times, so why give it to them again? So in the end I'm awarding it to EMPO, my own club. There aren't many of us, but of those who have ever previously attended more than a local meet, we had better than 80% working or running at the Goat. And more importantly, we never win anything, even when we win (like when we won at the 1996 US Ski-O Champs, except they were supposed to have been in '95, they weren't held in the US, and they never awarded the trophy). So, the 1998 20th Annual Billygoat Club Award goes to Empire Orienteering Club. Maybe we should get the Compass Needle to make special patches for our new O-Suits.

-Phil Hawkes-Teeter

Place	First Name	Last Name	Female	Age	Club	@#6	@#13	Total	Skip	Fork
1	Mike	Waddington		31	GHO	0:31:39	1:04:12	1:27:39	10	R
2	Peter	Andersen			UNO	0:34:34	1:13:22	1:37:40	10	R
3	Greg	Balter		35	HVO	0:36:58	1:15:19	1:38:23	10	R
4	Ted	Good		34	QOC	0:36:52	1:15:07	1:38:45	10	R
5	Vladimir	Gusiatnikov		25	OCIN	0:37:33	1:15:10	1:38:50	10	R
6	Scott	Pleban		33	AOK	0:36:35	1:15:07	1:38:55	10	L
7	Pete	Nelson		22	USMA	0:40:04	1:16:32	1:42:09	10	L
8	Jeremy	McKnight		22	USMA	0:40:52	1:18:25	1:43:19	10	R
9	Quay	Barnett		20	USMA	0:40:51	1:18:26	1:43:20	10	R
10	Ernst	Linder		1st >40	UNO	0:40:02	1:18:49	1:45:49	10	R
11	Peter	Gagarin		1st >50	NEOC-WM	0:40:01	1:19:06	1:46:35	10	R
12	Bob	Lux		52	UNO	0:40:28	1:22:13	1:49:01	10	R
13	Pam	James	1	32	Hustlers	0:41:01	1:22:10	1:49:09	10	R
14	Robert	Michaels		43	NEOC	0:40:36	1:22:12	1:49:11	10	R
15	Alar	Ruutopold		38	UNO	0:37:01	1:21:25	1:49:12	10	R
16	Chris	Alff		22	USMA	0:37:58	1:22:25	1:49:55	10	R
17	J-J	Cote		37	DABSC	0:40:08	1:21:21	1:50:10	10	R
18	Dave	McGraw		42	UNO	0:42:55	1:23:13	1:51:03	--	L
19	Mihai	Veres		37	SVO	0:39:30	1:24:57	1:51:45	5	R
20	Jeffrey	Saeger		49	NEOC	0:42:54	1:24:36	1:54:35	10	R
21	Alex	Rudlof		24	USMA	0:36:39	1:25:22	1:56:01	4	R
22	Matt	Stuckey		21	USMA	0:41:56	1:29:40	1:56:25	16	R
23	Joe	Brautigam		36	WCOC	0:43:00	1:26:00	1:56:53	--	L
24	Clint	Morse		36	NEOC-WM	0:40:12	1:21:22	1:57:28	10	R
25	Pete	Rachal		19	USMA	0:37:08	1:30:51	1:58:49	19	R
26	Bryan	Hallberg		24	USMA	0:40:05	1:30:33	1:58:55	19	R
27	Steve	Tarry		48	UNO	0:41:38	1:28:18	1:59:30	10	L
28	Mike	Derrick			USMA	0:36:57	1:30:45	1:59:38	19	R
29	Chuck	Lyda				0:41:02	1:23:23	2:02:50	10	R
30	Pete	Bundschuh		43	UNO	0:43:52	1:32:49	2:07:51	10	R
31	John	Hawbaker		21	USMA	0:43:38	1:33:34	2:11:39	10	R
32	Mark	Dominie		38	CNYO	0:44:21	1:39:37	2:11:43	10	R
33	Pavlina	Brautigam	2	37	WCOC	0:44:15	1:39:57	2:11:50	2	L
34	Steve	Dentino		42	NEOC-MQ	0:46:19	1:40:00	2:11:53	10	R
35	Charlie	DeWeese		51	NEOC-WM	0:41:22	1:39:52	2:11:57	10	R
36	Charlie	Leonard		42	CNYO	0:44:24	1:39:34	2:12:01	10	R
37	Jim	Baker		34	UNO	0:43:34	1:33:31	2:12:08	10	R
38	Jim	Eagleton		44	DVOA	0:44:23	1:38:19	2:12:14	10	R
39	Nicole	Hunt	3	21	USMA	0:44:05	1:39:17	2:12:17	10	R
40	Sven	Myrberg		19	USMA	0:37:20	1:33:55	2:13:51	10	R
41	Joe	Mokszycki		42	HVO	0:48:03	1:41:59	2:18:21	10	L
42	Peggy	Dickison	4	38	OK	0:51:40	1:44:53	2:18:48	10	L
43	Rich	Kelly		41	RMOC	0:48:05	1:42:30	2:22:18	10	L
44	Nancy	Koehler	5	39	UNO	0:51:47	1:50:12	2:26:40	10	L
45	Terry	Keegan		59	NEOC-RI	0:48:00	1:45:30	2:26:58	10	R
46	Mairead	O'Keeffe	6	31	HVO	0:52:15	1:50:21	2:27:34	10	L
47	Paul	Bennett		41	HVO	0:51:46	1:50:03	2:27:35	10	L
48	Tim	Good		38	QOC	~53:00	1:50:27	2:27:42	10	L
49	Stephen	Stibler		36	HVO	0:52:30	1:50:47	2:29:19	10	L
50	Glen	Tryson		45	EMPO	0:51:53	1:51:45	2:30:07	10	L
51	Ed	Williams		22	USMA		1:56:50	2:31:57	6	R
52	Erin	Olafsen	7	1st <18	UNO	0:53:44	1:46:07	2:35:44	10	R
53	Jessica	Rykken	8	33	none	0:54:00	1:45:37	2:35:52	10	R
54	Steve	Olafsen		42	UNO	0:53:33	1:45:39	2:36:21	10	R
55	Sharon	Crawford	9	1st F >40	RMOC	0:58:10	1:54:18	2:36:45	10	R
56	Scott	Turner		50	NEOC	0:51:42	1:59:56	2:37:30	8	R
57	Susan	DeWitt	10	32	WCOC	0:47:01	1:46:14	2:38:20	10	R
58	Donna	Fluegel	11	39	WCOC	0:52:31	1:50:25	2:39:41	10	R
59	Peter	Dady		47	CNYO	0:48:08	1:45:10	2:39:53	10	R
60	Doug	DiCenzo		22	USMA	0:43:22	1:58:52	2:41:20	8	R
61	Dave	Webber		39	HVO	1:00:07	2:02:06	2:41:47	10	L
62	Eric	Smith		55	CNYO	0:52:20	2:05:00	2:42:20	19	R
63	Steven	Bartok		55	NEOC	0:54:42	1:58:39	2:42:59	10	R
64	Jim	Henderson		51	WCOC	0:52:29	1:56:19	2:43:01	10	L
65	Rob	Freeberg		42	HVO	1:00:04	2:00:47	2:43:16	10	L
66	Mark	Gardner		25	USMA	0:47:45	2:06:22	2:45:57	2	L
67	Dave	Dyrenforth		21	USMA	1:11:48	2:10:40	2:46:06	4	L
68	Sam	Levitin		35	NEOC	0:58:40	2:05:25	2:48:52	8	R
69	Francis	Hogle III		54	QOC	1:02:36	2:03:45	2:48:59	10	L
70	Steve	Curley		39	UNO	0:49:28	1:53:43	2:49:06	10	R
71	Bob	Walsh		47	UNO	0:58:33	2:05:37	2:49:17	8	R
72	Pierre	Brassard		48	GHO	1:00:12	2:00:53	2:49:20	10	R
72	Dave	Grant		41	GHO	0:47:57	2:05:10	2:49:20	9	R
74	Jim	Waddington		56	GHO	0:53:41	1:58:31	2:49:30	10	R
74	Nina	Waddington	12	27	GHO	0:53:38	1:58:16	2:49:30	10	R
76	Allmuth	Perzel	13	57	NEOC	1:03:25	2:02:40	2:49:37	10	L
77	Rich	Nietupski		50	WCOC	1:03:26	2:02:48	2:49:42	10	L
78	Paul	Regan		39	HVO	1:00:10	2:02:56	2:50:32	10	L
79	Jon	Nash		43	HVO	1:00:49	2:03:02	2:50:34	10	L
80	Bruno	Deville		24	USMA	0:49:56	1:55:39	2:51:19	9	R
80	Mike	Jackson		20	USMA	0:50:04	1:55:33	2:51:19	9	R
82	Doug	Bergman		31	WCOC	1:01:14	2:02:28	2:52:20	10	R
83	Peter	Goodwin		47	WCOC		2:10:44	2:53:52	14	R
84	John	Hansman		43	NEOC	0:40:13	2:02:04	2:53:56	--	R
85	Ellen	O'Keeffe	14	31	HVO	1:00:52	2:09:22	2:54:36	10	R
85	Craig	Weber		43	HVO	1:00:53	2:09:26	2:54:36	--	R
87	Steve	Willman		52	RMOC	1:01:50	2:15:04	3:01:47	10	R
88	Trisha	Underwood	15	> 40	NEOC	1:00:35	2:17:07	3:03:51	10	R
89	Bob	Bullions		55	HVO	1:07:29	2:11:53	3:04:32	10	R
89	George	Hawes		1st >60	HVO	1:07:30	2:11:48	3:04:32	10	R
91	Michael	Hughes		36	NEOC	1:21:28	2:23:28	3:04:43	10	R
91	Paige	Williams	16	37	none	1:21:27	2:23:30	3:04:43	10	R
93	Hans	Bengtsson		60	NEOC		2:10:57	3:11:55	--	L
94	Shawn	Leonard		1st M<18	CNYO	1:00:01	2:16:20	3:13:27	10	R
95	Tora	Olafsen	17	15	UNO	1:02:28	2:24:05	3:13:36	10	R
95	Tracy	Olafsen	18	43	UNO	1:02:26	2:24:05	3:13:36	10	R
97	Tom	Randall		35		1:02:37	2:17:21	3:16:01	6	R
98	Phil	Bricker		44	SMAC	1:11:52	2:25:14	3:17:52	8	R
99	Greg	Tryson		15	EMPO	1:03:16	2:21:09	3:20:11	10	R
99	George	Walker		55	WCOC	0:54:22	2:10:26	3:20:11	7	R
99	Lynn	Walker	19	58	WCOC	0:54:29	2:10:17	3:20:11	7	R
102	Bill	Bryant		37	NEOC	0:53:50		3:20:30	--	R
103	Lex	Bundschuh	20	41	UNO	1:22:08	2:32:34	3:21:21	10	R
103	Eva	Ruutopold	21	34	UNO	1:22:29	2:32:55	3:21:21	10	R
105	Ross	Smith		15	CNYO	0:59:57	2:16:18	3:22:22	10	R
106	Dan	Kahn		31	none	1:28:11	2:30:35	3:23:05	--	R
107	Judy	Dickinson	22	57	HVO	1:10:16	2:29:29	3:25:17	10	L
108	Ann	Leonard	23	42	CNYO	1:20:42	2:39:55	3:26:26	10	R
109	Barb	Dominie	24	43	CNYO	1:20:36	2:40:02	3:27:54	10	R
	John	Potter			none	0:45:46	2:49:55	3:34:35	--	R
	Jessica	Cosmus		13	NEOC-WM	1:27:51	2:44:52	3:35:16	10	L
	Rhonda	DeWeese		45	NEOC-WM	1:27:50	2:44:52	3:35:16	10	L
	Gail	Gagarin		50	NEOC-WM	1:27:52	2:44:52	3:35:16	10	R
	Janet	Tryson		45	EMPO	1:22:36	2:33:35	3:36:34	10	R
	Liz	Kotowski		46	NEOC	1:31:31	2:57:03	3:48:19	10	L
	Barbara	Bryant		36	NEOC	1:32:33	2:35:00	4:42:16	10	R
	Dave	Yee		35	NEOC	1:32:36	2:35:00	4:42:16	10	R
	Malin	Bengtsson				1:41:50		5:01:30	10	R
	Stroker	Rogovin				1:41:50		5:01:30	10	R
	Carol	Schick				1:31:40		5:09:32	10	R
	Mark	Earley				1:41:50		DNF		R
	Roland	Ouelette		34	UNO	1:25:21		DNF		R
	Candice	Raines		47	UNO		2:24:05	DNF		R
	Chris	Reed		31	none	1:31:40		DNF		R
	Kevin	Turner		14	NEOC	1:41:28	2:55:00	DNF		R

• 125 Starters
• 109 Official Finishers (87.2%)
• 11 Additional Finishers
• 5 DNF's

-Phil Hawkes-Teeter

Now, a "Tail of the Goat":

At about 10:15 Sunday morning, John Beatty and I helped load up the Murray's VW van with the food & drink for Aid Station 1 (Control 6). We all drove down in the van to unload & set up the Station (and hang the actual flag), and then Valerie was to stay while Cameron drove John & I back so he could pick up a final start list & get synched to the Start time when I exclaimed "GO." At 10:35 we were back in the van and set to return. And it wouldn't start. I'm sure it was really only a minute or maybe even less, but it seemed like eons while the starter made grinding noises and Cameron said "It does this sometimes, but usually not for this long." There was enough time for crystal clear visions of attempting to flag a car, to run all the way back up the hill, to simply die in the back of the van, all to pass through my mind, before the engine finally sputtered to life. I swallowed my heart, we lurched out into Bachelor Street, and the 139 maps did not remain forever hidden under a pile of stuff in the back of my car, unused.

-Phil Hawkes-Teeter

Just a brief note from the Peter in charge of weather. I think that I did a heck of a job. I kept the rain to the south (for the most part). It rained all day in Hartford and points to the west (like Kent, Ct.). It was raining quite hard as I drove through Holyoke. Those in charge of weather have to do the best we can.

Note: It is a fact that it rained to the south and west all day. Rumors indicate that it did everywhere in New England except for a small area near the "Notch" where there were only sprinkles and showers.

- Peter in Charge of Weather

During the past year, my 3 children (ages 10-16) have paid no attention to orienteering newsletters or to Jeff Saeger's junior team announcements, so it came as a surprise when my 14-year-old son Kevin smiled to mention that he had received an email message, and was considering doing the Billygoat. I felt it my duty to quell any ideas of his earning a Billygoat T-shirt, based on my knowledge of his running abilities. I added that he would not have Dad to lead him around the course, as I had my own pace to keep. Though Kevin voiced no doubts about whether he could take on this challenge, my decision not to forbid it outright was based on a lot more knowledge of his temperament and abilities than just his routine success with Yellow O-courses. He was going to decide, I had given sufficent discouragement, and I had every expectation of another great event -- on my own.

Then while we were at the Deja Blue, Kevin made up his mind to enter the Billygoat. This was a shock. I spent the week establishing a few strict guidelines for safety's sake. With 3 days to go, it dawned on me that I had a distinct wish to be able to share the experience, as when watching kids play soccer from the sidelines. But by then it was too late to suggest a collaboration -- Kevin allowed as how I could go with him to the first control, but after that he "wouldn't want to slow me down".

Preparing Kevin during the week prior to the Billygoat doubled my anticipation. We wished each other luck when leaving the first control. Later I had the double satisfaction first of finishing my race, and after a few minutes of seeing Kevin trot in to the finish area proud after 3 hours and 10 controls.

- Scott Turner

Do you have a "Tail of the Goat"? Send it to me. E-mail is nice, but I can handle actual handwriting and the US Postal Service. If I get a few I'll post them on the web site, put them in our EMPO newsletter, and maybe even share them with ONA. Along those lines, Clinton Morse is again going to collect splits and "Goat Leg" descriptions at his Web site. ( I was asked to announce this at the Briefing, and forgot. Sorry.) While you already have your copy, EMPO plans to add the course map to our Web site, as a possible discussion aid for those unfortunates who didn't participate in the race. That will be announced on the O-Net also.

-Phil Hawkes-Teeter