I got there well on time this year, despite a major diversion caused by the M40 being closed, helped mainly by leaving before 6:30am.

My army this year was the Knights of Simba, which, despite their name, are a combination of six beasts (including the general) and six warband. The beasts are converted Tabletop Miniatures Centalons (lion centaurs) and the warband are Tabletop Miniatures were-monkeys, representing the Knights' Piltdown Man allies.

The first game of the day saw me face Tim Sharrock, who was using his League of Ratburg cheese army. I defended, and laid plenty of bad going, including some woods in order to hamper his airboats. Tim responded by sending a hero around my flank, brushing aside feeble resistance from a couple of beasts, and the airboats over my line, and launching an attack on my stronghold. Meanwhile I made a mad dash at his shooter general with every beast I could muster. Either of us could have won at any time; I got several rolls at his general with reasonable odds, and Tim failed to capture the stronghold on his first couple of attempts. But his third one saw success, whilst hi general lived, and I lost 7-41.

At one point we were in the position of a possible draw caused by both of us losing on the same bound; Tim could have lost his general at the same time I lost my stronghold.

Game 2 was against HOTT newcomer Andy Fox, who was using an undead army. I attacked, exposed my beast general after stupidly forgetting to cover his flank, and lost him to a hero. 0-48 to Andy.

A friendly game followed with the same armies. I put up more of a fight, and the game was much closer, but I still lost.

Game 3, and the Knights of Simba had yet to taste victory. I drew Eddy Richards, and attacked more ratmen. The battle was fought on both flanks, as Eddy's warband tried to drive some of my beasts into impassable terrain on my left, and I used my right to try and turn his left flank. We both saw some success, and the game was close, but I lost once again. I can't remember whether I lost my general or lost 12AP, but lose I did 8-40.

Lunchtime followed, then game 4. This game saw me up against eventual wooden spoon winner Ian Edwards, who was using Elves. Once again I attacked. Ian laid plenty of marsh, indicating a water lurker, but I decided to throw caution to the winds and attack swiftly through them anyway. The beasts surged forward in a block, sweeping away a couple of shooters. Lurkers popped out of the marsh, but the Knights saw the off as well, and soon they were attacking the Elven stronghold. With a crash the gates were rent asunder, and the Knights recorded their first victory, 40-8.

The last game of the day was against Jez Gurney, who chose to use Techno Dwarves. Supporting a core of blades were a couple of airboats and a couple of pieces of artillery. I attacked and went for a subtle plan - charge the artillery with the beasts. One beast died on the approach, but the others cut down the Dwarven gunners and collapsed their left flank. The Knights of Simba turned on the Dwarf general, whilst Jez brought up airboats in support. The general held off the first attack, and the battle then hung on a knife-edge as both of us ended up with our generals in a position where they died if they lost. I won, and scored a 44-4 victory, to finish 9th overall with 99 points.

There was just time for a friendly game against Tony Horobin, and I finally managed to fight his Snow Queen army, using my new Dracci (four blades, four warband and four spears). My one flank was overwhelmed by beasts, but the centre held off, and killed, a couple of behemoths, whilst the warband swept away enough of the Queen's hordes to win the battle. However Tony did kill my general, but my losses weren't enough for it to cost me the game.

Back into the car and off to Birmingham where I was staying with my brother for the night. I was too tired for any more games, but Sunday saw us playing Chrononauts ( a time travel card game), Jedi Duels and Carcassonne, before I headed home.

Many thanks to Jez and the Macclesfield crowd for arranging another grand day out, and congratulations to the Sharrock family, for winning first and second prize, and Steve who got the third place I had last year :-) And thanks to Philip and Param for accommodating and feeding me on Saturday and Sunday. Pilau rice .... mmmmmmmmmm.

Despite the rather poor finishing position I had some great games, two of which saw fallen strongholds and all bar one of which were real nail-biters. In addition I played four games against people I had never played before, and that's what these things are all about, really.

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