2011 Long O Events

[pigweed]

Doesn't look like Devon will be putting on a Dartmoor Long-O this year which is a shame. Perhaps because they're also doing the Caddihoe Chase? Hope it comes back next year.

[binman]

GMC is likely to return next year - we're looking for an earlier date,- maybe three weeks before the OMM (early Oct) but given the congestion in the calendar at that time of the year we might be lucky to slot it in.

As last year proved, mid-November can be a pretty serious time on the hills; we've taken on board some very well informed feedback and are a bit concerned about being able to run the event safely but I'm sure the attraction of live music, hot food and beer at the overnight camp would encourage folk not to be benighted.

[Scott]

Anybody know anything about the Gritstone Tryal? In particular, whether the navigation is "interesting"?

[King Penguin]

It clashes with S6D....

[AndyC]

Just to let everyone know that I (along with a big circulation list) have just received an email confirming that as suspected there will be no Phoenix Long-O this year

[frog]

I saw Phoenix said no Long O as lack of interest and was surprised that there is an event calling itself the phoenix happening in Osmotherley. That is oversubscribed with a full waiting list. The distances are 33, 26 and 17 miles though largely following the Cleveland way so minimal navigation required by the sounds of things.
As our Long O has fewer than half the entries we had last year I wonder why we are struggling with long o entries. There is obviously an appetite for long distance routes, but perhaps people want them either longer with easy navigation like the Osmotherley Phoenix or as a 2 day MM with intensive organisation and lots of prizes.
We might start running ours every 2 or 3 years as it is alot of work for very little money which is only really worthwhile if alot of people seem to want to do it. Very few club members are into Long Os.

[Kitch]

There is a huge appetite for long distance events
But I thibk you are right the navigational challenge will put off alot of the market that is out there -
Fell runners are a big chunk of that market and by and large they are hopeless navigators.
Another big chunk is the long distance walkers. I did an LDWA event for the first time in March. These events attract fit and fast walkers and the fact that fell runners turn up in decent numebrs and run the route raises no eyebrows at all. For most they want to get round as quick as they can, though ts not a race. This is not the boots, pullys and expedition sack brigade, its inov-8s, ice-braeakers and camelbaks - walkers included.
How would you tap into this ?
With a set of carefully sited controls you could have easy track routes for fell runners and walkers with orienteers having to take route choices across open terrain.
Have a Flell runner class, a Walker's class and an Orienteer's class

[frog]

It then turns into a "why am I organising this?" question though. In general I don't organise events because I'm at a loose end or as a money making venture. If I wanted to get more money I'd do extra sessions of my day job.
I see the long O as an extension of the orienteering club commitment. Putting on events for people who enjoy long distance walking is maybe best left to the walkers or professional event organisers. I'd hoped some of the hill runners who do the long o events might come to some other o events but that doesn't seem to happen.
Perhaps as a minority end of a minority sport long os are always going to be poorly attended. Perhaps time is better spent drawing up urban o courses which are growing in popularity.
I don't really understand the LDWA mentality. If I'm going to do a long walk I'd rather do it on a day when there won't be hoards of people doing the same walk frightening all the wildlife away. Paying £6 to walk the Cleveland way with a load of other people seems a waste of money to me. Suspect many orienteers are similarly antisocial.

[andypat]

Suspect many orienteers are similarly antisocial.

Ask any non-Orienteering partner if you want confirmation!!

[AndyC]

Despite the fact that I'm not on the NATO committee (I just sleep with the treasurer) I can confirm that this Phoenix is nothing to do with us.
One reason for that is the departure of Colin Matheson to SOA and the preoccupation of Adrian Barnes with preparing for climbing Machu Pichu for "Breast Cancer Care" when he is not finalising (blatant plug warning) my map for the 3rd July event at Druridge & Chibburn links.
I believe Adrian was a founder of the Harvester and has been around for longer than he would admit as an official and commitee member of NATO (as well as having a good line in insults and advice for those less competent than him -always good natured).
So if you'd like to support him (I already have) in this good cause why not donate at [url]http://www.justgiving.com/Adrian-Barnes0
[/url]?

[Toreador]

GMC is likely to return next year - we're looking for an earlier date,- maybe three weeks before the OMM (early Oct) but given the congestion in the calendar at that time of the year we might be lucky to slot it in.

Three weeks before the OMM is just 1 week after the RAB, which could reduce numbers.

[Toreador]

There is a huge appetite for long distance events
But I thibk you are right the navigational challenge will put off alot of the market that is out there

On the other hand, adventure racing events (Open 5 etc) are immensely popular and always over-subscribed.

I think the main reason many long-O events are poorly attended is that nobody knows about them outside orienteering circles. Some fell runners would be interested (FRA orienteering events like the New Chew and Kinder Trial are always popular). And long O provides good training for all those adventure racers and mountain-marathoners, but unless they are orienteers anyway then they never know they're on.

If organisers plugged them on the FRA or OMM forums then they might get more interest.

[frog]

I circulated our details to local hill running clubs, there was a popular local hill race the day before plus there was the Lairig Ghru on the same day that probably had an effect. I wondered about putting it on entry central for future years as alot of adventure sports seem to use that for online entry. What is the main forum used by MMers that I would need to advertise it on?

[slang]

You could try advertising it in the FRA calendar. The event does not need to be registered with FRA. But you need to provide plenty of notice to get it in to the annual booklet.

[SeanC]

Do you use Runners World event listing? It's free and it always brings in a few runners to Trail Challenges down in Kent.