These worthies, ensconced on ramble-rally day at the most comfortable table in the chosen pub, have over the past few weeks put together today's event. They have pored over their Pathfinder maps and endeavoured to plot a challenging course, traditionally between five and seven-and-a-half miles, paying particular attention to the hosting pub with its capacious car-park; an interesting route with (ideally) varied terrain - here a hill and there a wood, a village or two, at least one pub on route if possible; and most importantly, a goodly crop of clues.
The picture clues they will have photographed for later copying using the Club's enlarger or some other means of reproduction. They will have garnered and honed their cryptic clues, devised an anagram or two, set traps for the unwary. Over many a pint, they will have put together a formidable mix of clues designed to test eye and mind; plotted points on copy maps between which teams must navigate to get round the set course; and set a time for teams to complete the route or else incur penalty points for lateness.
They will also have produced some general instructions which may warn of hazards such as fast roads, or late information such as slippery sections, or maybe offering navigational hints at particularly difficult points. There will be set down the rules concerning points scored for clues spotted etc. Starting instructions will have been circulated to each participating team, giving the starting venue(s) with map reference, start time etc. A closing date for entries will have been set some days before ramble-rally day.
Occasionally Organisers will slip in a quiz to supplement the traditional ramble-rally clues; or else invite the teams to submit lines of verse appropriate to the occasion!