10 pet hates about orienteering

[madmike]

Andypat - so true, unfortuntely.

Although as I am currently only racing against complete beginners and other people unable to get a medical certificate for competitive racing in what is called the "Open" (read limp, lame, lazy and hopeless) Class has allowed me to win my last 5 races and even stand on a podium once or twice.

I think the bloke who won M21E last week was a bit miffed at getting the same bottle of wine as I did (finishing before a 13 year old girl, 6 x W50+ and the M85) as aforementioned 21E had beaten 3 people who had run at WOC

[andypat]

Seriously - those W50 are top athletes!

Course 11 at Scottish Champs

1st Hazel Dean FVO W50L 45:07
...
26th Andy Paterson CLYDE M45S 60:29

[madmike]

Seriously - those W50 are top athletes!

Course 11 at Scottish Champs

1st Hazel Dean FVO W50L 45:07
...
26th Andy Paterson CLYDE M45S 60:29

Not in Hazel's class over here on the "Open" mainly non-orienteering mums whose kids are running the competitive classes. It is surely only under the Italian "burocrazia" where you can have prizes in a non-competitive class

Looking at the result I recommend some interval and hill training for you my lad - try some long Kenyan Intervals and you will be beating Mrs D (or dying ) in no time at all.

[SeanC]

The maps. Specifically maps designed for experienced adults but given to young juniors and beginners. Far too much information.

Slightly serious point: Is it possible in any of the mapping software to have a "produce map suitable for beginners" button/option that strips out all the detail that confuses beginners? I know you can take out details in OCAD etc, but this seems rather like creating a new map, which would be too much work for a random local event in a country park etc.

[greywolf]

you can hide symbols (e.g. contours) in OCAD - takes seconds

[Steve]

Control description sheets that are printed so small I can't read them properly without stopping. An ageing-eyesight effect for sure, but if we recognise this physical effect in defining larger map scales for the over-45s we should enlarge the control descriptions too.

The rules allow a range of 5mm to 7mm boxes, and I can read descriptions with box size and associated font towards the top end of the range just fine on the run.

Or maybe it's just me with sweat in my contact lenses.

[AndyC]

One local club put the Control Descriptions on their website a few days before their events (something I want my club to replicate) -so that would allow you to print them in a larger size to suit your vision.

[Sloop]

Personally, I don't agree with control descriptions being available before the start lanes.
What size they might be is a different matter.

[Gnitworp]

Control description sheets that are printed so small I can't read them properly without stopping.

My priority is to have them fit a standard wrap-round wrist holder, and a lot push this limit without me ever running Blacks, except of course in Middle Races, in which I'd gladly tolerate boxes small enough to get a manageable length sheet.

[mharky]

Shouldn't control description holders be designed to fit the expected sizes of descriptions, and not the other way round?

And the size of the boxes on control descriptions should be 5-7mm and square, according to the IOF.

[Gnitworp]

5mm is pretty small, and I can't find a course I've run that goes below this below this. 5-7mm is a large range allowing a lot of scope to limit length.

I do however remember on very rare occasions getting very small sheets, probably less than half the length of my holder, produced, I suspect, to get more copies out of a sheet of A4 paper. This is not acceptable.

[SeanC]

you can hide symbols (e.g. contours) in OCAD - takes seconds

That's good. Do clubs do this (for beginners/juniors courses)? Is this considered "good practice"? If we don't do this why not (now the technology is there)?

Looking at Saturday's yellow course map the stuff that is redundant/confusing for white/yellow course competitors is:

- all the brown earth features and contours
- runnability variations (so all the forest should be white, though for a beginner perhaps light green would be less confusing)?
- boulders, crags

That leaves a map with paths, all the blue features, fences, buildings, clearings and fences.

How long would that take an OCAD expert to do?

(incidentally that means the key can be smaller, leaving more room for "beginners help/information/publicity/next event info).

[Spookster]

How long would that take an OCAD expert to do?

Less than 5 minutes. If you wanted to edit the key you'd spend another 5 minutes shifting things around, but it's still less than 10.

[mharky]

Less than 1 minute. Select symbols, export by symbols, done.

[roadrunner]

you can hide symbols (e.g. contours) in OCAD - takes seconds

That's good. Do clubs do this (for beginners/juniors courses)? Is this considered "good practice"? If we don't do this why not (now the technology is there)?

Looking at Saturday's yellow course map the stuff that is redundant/confusing for white/yellow course competitors is:

- all the brown earth features and contours
- runnability variations (so all the forest should be white, though for a beginner perhaps light green would be less confusing)?
- boulders, crags

That leaves a map with paths, all the blue features, fences, buildings, clearings and fences.

How long would that take an OCAD expert to do?

(incidentally that means the key can be smaller, leaving more room for "beginners help/information/publicity/next event info).

Not sure if you were talking about a specific event here, but I can think of situations where some of these would be required for a yellow course. BOF rules specifically mention routes following very distinct vegetation boundaries and large ditches (which could include gullies), while controls are allowed to be on obvious features like knolls and boulders close to (and visible from) the line feature. So, in general, I'd say that you can't leave much off at all, although of course there will be many events where paths and rides would be all you'd need.