Fixtures Genius

[mharky]

Feb 23rd, British Night Championships

Feb 23rd, Scottish Night Championships

Good one.

[LostAgain]

Obviously we have missed the Scottish separation from not only the United Kingdom but also the British Isles
When will the Scottish MP's head back?

[Gross]

According to BOF Fixtures list the British Nights is not fully registered yet. So full registration should NOT be accepted for that date. It is a total nonsense for such a clash to happen (maybe if it was a clash of meetings on child protection & equality policy it wouldn't happen:))

[EddieH]

Well spotted Gross. For once a really serious entry from you.

Someone has to give on this surely, otherwise the British Nights can hardly be taken seriously.

[pyrat]

If you win tonight http://www.oentries.com/event/details/4 ... into-twin-
you dont get to keep the trophy for very long!

[JEP]

British Nights was in the Fixtures List well ahead of the Scottish. When Scottish put forward their event they were informed of the clash but refused to change. There were three Scottish winners of BNC last year I am told - which they go for?

[Duncan]

According to BOF Fixtures list the British Nights is not fully registered yet. So full registration should NOT be accepted for that date.

A comment by someone who evidently has no idea how fixtures are allocated in the UK. "Full registration" is not the be all and end all (it isn't like I can register a district event down the road from JK at easter before the JK is registered, and then claim the JK can't go ahead because it is a clash). Not entirely your fault Gross, since how fixtures allocation works isn't widely publicized to the average man on the street. But the fixtures group are currently working on producing such a document that does just that and will hopefully be available shortly.

But anyway, is this really that big a deal? How many people would want to go to both events? Less than 10? Balance that with the fact that, although you can look at the fixtures list and say the clash is stupid, there are undoubtedly local reasons why other dates are not suitable (as evidenced by SOA not moving the scottish nights despite knowing about the clash).

[EddieH]

I do NOT believe that it is impossible for the SOA to have fixed a different date - in fact that is clearly so.

I cannot understand the decision to have them on the same night quite apart from gusessing how many or few people would go to both. It devalues both events, particularly the Scottish.

How can ou expect night O to be taken seriously if this sort of nonsense happens?

In my view there should be a rethink and the SNC should move.

[Guest88]

Well yes it is a nonsense, but the British Night Champs is very devalued anyway judging by the number of top M21s and W21s turning up - I can't imagine many people other than the winners and (friends pretending) take it seriously that they have become British Night Champion.

Try scaling down the regularity of both events to every two years / every four years...then maybe it will become a serious event. At the moment it isn't, and doesn't really have any value to be devalued... this would also lessen the problems with clashes in an over-congested fixture schedule.

[Adventure Racer]

Try scaling down the regularity of both events to every two years / every four years...then maybe it will become a serious event. At the moment it isn't, and doesn't really have any value to be devalued... this would also lessen the problems with clashes in an over-congested fixture schedule.

Don't understand how it taking place less regularly is likely to make people take it more seriously. Can you explain the reasoning?

[EddieH]

I also don't see a problem with fixture congestion during all suitable times for the event. I do however think it important that the organisers, or at least the region make sure that there is a ecent event on the Sunday to mae travel feel worthwhile.

[IanD]

the British Night Champs is very devalued anyway judging by the number of top M21s and W21s turning up

You could make that case for the Open class, some years for the day champs as well as the night, but one of the strengths of orienteering is competition through the age classes. I certainly don't feel that the M50 class is normally devalued by non-attendance.

Returning to the topic of the thread, it's the Scottish Night Champs which is devaluing itself by clashing with the British. Certainly true that anyone winning a class at that while another Scot competes in the British is no champion.

[Guest88]

Yes, well I was going to put a caveat on my original post for the Mens veteran classes but I didn't in the end.

AR, by cutting down the frequency of a championships, you cut the potential number of winners from any generation of M21s / W21s by a factor of 2 or 4. This then makes the title of British Night Champion a more exclusive title to own, and therefore of higher status. This then in turn again *may* attract more top elite orienteers, as the status of the event rises, and this makes it yet more exclusive and high status event.

[NeilC]

Try scaling down the regularity of both events to every two years / every four years...then maybe it will become a serious event. At the moment it isn't, and doesn't really have any value to be devalued... this would also lessen the problems with clashes in an over-congested fixture schedule.

Interesting how there has been support on this forum for all age-class championships at (the still relatively poorly attended) British Sprints and Middles and now a suggestion to only hold M/W 16/18 night championships every four years. No longer would prospective parents of juniors orienteers have to plan for a January birth but also get the year right as well.

[Guest88]

I don't think they need to bother trying that hard to get the year right. In M20L last year, all that you had to do was turn up and complete the course to win. In W20L, there were no participants at all, and W18L only one.