JK2013

[DJM]

andypat wrote:

Now thats why punters get peed off. The word should definitely does not emphasise there is no "rule" to any sane minded person. It pretty clearly means "do this". If organisers are encouraged to put drinks there why not just say organisers are encouraged to put drinks there! Sheesh - where's the Plain English Society when you need them...

"Sane minded" people will wonder why some of the test in the WRE Guidelines is in bold and some not, so they will consult the start of the document which says (in bold):

Text in bold which follows has mandatory status and shall be followed by event officials. Other content refers to material provided for guidance and for information. These Guidelines shall be read in conjunction with the IOF Competition Rules and have the same authority. They shall be considered as their extension.

The bit about drink at the Finish is not emboldened so is for "guidance and information".

And the Plain English Society will be delighted to see the following clarification (also in the document Foreward):

Some definitions:
• “shall” refers to statements which are mandatory, i.e. must be followed
• “should” refers to statements where it is strongly advised that they are followed

[andypat]

I know the difference between "should" and "shall" becasue I've had it drummed into me on here, but as I said any sane minded person would asume "should" meant you had to do it.

There should be drinks (water being the minimum standard) available at the Finish for all (WRE) competitors.

And there's clearly a contradiction in the above statement which "should" tm read

There should be drinks (no water being the minimum standard) available at the Finish for all (WRE) competitors.

[mappingmum]

IOF ruling

Oh, thank you for the clarification
It all makes sense now.

[sketchweppers]

Does anyone have their car park permits yet?

The final details suggest that they should have been emailed by the end of yesterday; I haven't recieved mine yet. I am in two minds about hassling the entries secretary if there are loads of enquiries about this issue, as I assume I am not the only one.

[Mrs H]

It says on the website they will be issued this weekend.

[ChristineV]

Does anyone have their car park permits yet?

The final details suggest that they should have been emailed by the end of yesterday; I haven't recieved mine yet. I am in two minds about hassling the entries secretary if there are loads of enquiries about this issue, as I assume I am not the only one.

Well, this is the reply you'll get:

"I’m working on the parking permits – they’re pdf files and hopefully will go out this weekend. (We’re going to bussing on Day 3 which has caused a small delay.)"

[sketchweppers]

Thanks for the clarification.
The item on the website is not on the NEWS page, so I missed it - despite being in bold on the home page - but I only looked at it on my phone this morning.
I just wanted to know which car park I was in on Friday, but hopefully it will come soon.

[ER]

ChristineV wrote
Well, this is the reply you'll get:

"I’m working on the parking permits – they’re pdf files and hopefully will go out this weekend. (We’re going to bussing on Day 3 which has caused a small delay.)"

Not surprising with the weather and it now it seems inevitable that an organiser's load is increased by making contingency plans for unusable car parking fields

[Roger]

Not surprising with the weather and it now it seems inevitable that an organiser's load is increased by making contingency plans for unusable car parking fields

It's particularly irritating that there's some superb parking very nearby, at Newbury Showground. The back-up plan of bussing from there was investigated months ago but it's hosting several events on 31 March so couldn't accommodate us. Other options are much more tricky so when people with experience of the proposed parking fields said that in March they would be firm enough, contingency bussing was parked as 'too difficult'.

However, we haven't had merely a 'wet' winter: water's coming up from the drains round here whenever it rains hard. So with the fields unusable, what was previously 'too difficult' has now been explored.

I've just been on the periphery of this. Spare a thought for the organiser.

[RS]

Motorway services area for parking?

[ER]

I definitely do empathise with the organiser and give my wholehearted support to their predicament and whatever decisions they make. There were numerous fell races cancelled over the weekend including the Edale, a championship race. It is just the consequences of living with the vagaries of weather. Two years ago there were forests fires in Northern Ireland the week after the JK was held there, because of the dry and hot weather. I don't think I will be packing my bikini for this weekend - weather forecast looks dryish but remaining very cold!

[King Penguin]

or Vodafone ?

[Mrs H]

Spare a thought for the organiser.

I guess some of the load must be shouldered by the BOF event managers as this is a partnership event.

[DavidJ]

Spare a thought for the organiser.

I guess some of the load must be shouldered by the BOF event managers as this is a partnership event.

Are you sparing a thought for the BOF event managers, Mrs H ?

[Meat Market]

Just read the last 3/4 pages - my goodness orienteering in Britain sounds like a right hassle at the moment! Booklets and punching systems and bottled water, it all sounds terribly important.

Spare a thought then for the Number 1 female orienteer in romania who i drove back from Bulgaria with yesterday. Her federation sent 3 men to the last world champs but no women and due to the same budget for finland it looks like the same will happen again, probanly with some politics involved. As an over 30 her time is running out.

You would think she would be pretty irked by this subject and her coach certainly had a few words to say at the event. Despite this we spent 10 minutes of our 7 hour car journey back from her nearest event this weekend discussing this and the other 6hr 50 mins discussing our favourite areas, me describing the WOC in Switzerland (which she wasnt able to attend) and the world championships in 2015.

Anyway I've just thought of a few solutions:

Booklets - I'm sorry but if you are able to spend 1 hour crafting replies on this forum, then you have enough time on your hands to go and buy a printer or ask someone who does to help.

Water - Leave a bottle at the finish.

Punching system - I am not a massive fan of EMIT either but if it gets to the point where you would miss an event just for the punching system then you really have to ask yourself if orienteering is the sport for you.

All other problems: Email the organiser and if you think its a bigger problem raise it on here or at the AGM. But first consider: If you didnt have a gripe with this one issue do you think you would have a gripe with something else instead? If the answer is yes then I think you have your solution already.

I am going to an event in Hungary this weekend. I dont know what time I'm starting, I dont know if there will be water at the finish and they wont be posting me the final details. I do know that i will be having a bloody ace time and I suggest you all do the same.

Good day.