Shock! Horror!

[madmike]

Not sure what Mharky feels about these comments! At least he was injured when he commentated?

Tatty - those comments definitely not aimed at Mharkey

[graeme]

Well that's because the commentators are mainly broken and run short courses themselves.

Tatty - those comments definitely not aimed at Mharkey

Witty and well informed commentator...
Frequently injured...
Outstanding over shorter distances...

[Tatty]

I know Mike - just trying to wind you up!

[madmike]

In which case you got me

[aiming off]

Entries have closed, and we know the outcome.

Less than 1000 entered on Championship Courses

Neither elite nor popular.

We can, and should, do better than that.

[Duncan]

Maybe. Although...

• ~1100 is around about what was expected from the budget for BOC 2014.
• ~1100 is not unreasonable compared to ~1500 runs at BOC 2013, which was in the south of England, closer to much larger centres of population (and even from the north of Scotland it is probably easier to fly to London, than drive to Northumberland).
• The JK and 6-days attract many more (3000+), but they are multi-day holiday style events, which are completely different. They appeal to many more people, including foreigners (who realistically are never going to come to the British Championships for one individual - where they aren't allowed to win the trophy - and a relay).

So are these numbers really that surprising in the grand scheme of things, and do you really think we can and should do better?

[SeanC]

How do the totals for this NEOA BOC compare with the previous NEOA BOC?

[aiming off]

1352

[King Penguin]

Maybe. Although...
So are these numbers really that surprising in the grand scheme of things, and do you really think we can and should do better?

surprising - no
can and should do better - yes

None of this is your fault Duncan, or of any of the other volunteers from the clubs and region who have puts lots of hard work and effort into making the event happen, and I hold none of this against any of you.

I believe we should be aiming to maximise attendance at the major national championships, to "fly the flag" for the sport through numbers attending.
One way to help this is to keep entry fees low, not hike them up to maximise the profit from each individual. I know you are constrained by the BOF agreement.
BOF should be looking to achieve their income target by getting less from more individuals not more from less. 1000 x £15 gives the same total "profit" as 2000 x £7.50, and I for one would far rather see the latter.

[DJM]

1000 x £15 gives the same total "profit" as 2000 x £7.50

Er ... no! Same income from entries, yes. But same profit, absolutely not - for one thing, 1000 more maps are needed and they are not free. And lots of other overheads cost more too.

[Freefall]

Let's hope this aspect is not the same as BOC 2003

[greywolf]

Does anyone keep accurate records of competitor numbers at BOC etc? when was the last time there were less than 1000 entries (disregarding CC courses) for a mainland BOC?
I can't find the results online but IIRC there were 1400+ at BOC 2008, and Culbin is considerably more remote than Northumberland. (which is more or less in the middle of the country )
And if these entries are in line with projections, is there anyone from BOF willing to say what an unacceptably low entry figure would be?

[Simon E]

Does anyone keep accurate records of competitor numbers at BOC etc?

Start here and filter as necessary. Scroll to the bottom of the page for a graph. Only goes back 16 years, but a full BOC has never been below 1162 in that period.

Note also that Arbor shows runners, not entries, and I'd usually expect about 10% of pre-entries not to run.

[King Penguin]

1000 x £15 gives the same total "profit" as 2000 x £7.50

Er ... no! Same income from entries, yes. But same profit, absolutely not - for one thing, 1000 more maps are needed and they are not free. And lots of other overheads cost more too.

My somewhat arbitrary £15 and £7.50 were intended as "profit" per person not entry fee.
Had I been attempting to quote entry fees I would have had to use £25 / £30 as the starting point, not £15.
I do not have access to the budget or accounts, but if it helps to make the point clearer :

£10 profit from 1,000 competitors = £10,000 profit
£5 profit from 2,000 competitors = £10,000 profit
£2.50 profit from 4,000 competitors = £10,000 profit

Which of these would show the sport in the better light ?

With entry fees at £25 or £30 this leaves quite a bit to cover the cost of a map each, extra toilets, PA hire etc. etc.

[DaveK]

Entries have closed, and we know the outcome.

Less than 1000 entered on Championship Courses

Neither elite nor popular.

We can, and should, do better than that.

And we can/should therefore ........?