Dave, I didn't notice you having much problem on the Howgills meet ... and for all their gentle-rollingness they are STEEP!
(One of the many reasons I would NEVER recommend anyone to bother with them
)
And I think you demonstrated that steep and rounded hill descents are best tackled by using rounded parts of the anatomy....
On the subject of groups and pacing - the principle of the group going at the pace of the slowest is time-honoured and safe, but there can be problems in cold conditions when there's too big a difference between the extremes of a group. The hares then get too cold waiting around for the slower folks, and you get that morale-sapping scenario where the fast ones are needing to crack on as soon as the slower ones catch up!!
I guess there may be times when it's better to split into two groups, as long as there are experienced people with each group.
There are some famous names on here that seem to have a reputation for ultra-speed - I've made a note to be very cautious about going out with some of them!
Agree with Fleegle that Naismith seems pretty unrealistic sometimes.
I feel a poetic moment coming on! Here's one I learnt earlier .... actually at Primary School!!!!
Leisure, by W H Davies. WHAT is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?— No time to stand beneath the boughs,
And stare as long as sheep and cows: No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass: No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night: No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance: No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began? A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare. Whitethroat in full voice, Pennington Flash, Leigh, May 2011.