Are you looking forward to a Wilf's veggie chilli?

[Roger]

If the caterers are genuinely bidding, rather than paying a pre-set price, can't Onosh etc bid say £1? Would then be in the hands of BOF, whose excellent coaches would tell them what sort of post-race nutrition was required for the competing athletes. Or am I living in cloud-cuckoo land?

[denbydale]

It looks like a money making exercise for BO rather than providing what "we" have always had.

We have only discussed food traders here but I would expect this contract to apply to compasspoint and ultrasport, which will hit the average O'er harder in the pocket, if rick and Ian have to pay for a pitch then they will want to recoup that outlay and the only way to do that is to increase prices on the kit they sell or not turn up..

As far as I am aware o traders have always paid for a pitch -certainly one was charged in the late 80s & early 90s - cost was based on amount of space one's shop occupied

[plain lazy]

I actually think that in there somewhere is a very good idea, but very very badly executed. Having things like this managed centrally will increase continuity/professionalism and make orienteering look better to non-orienteers. However good idea it might be/have been, BOF need to recognise the amazing effort the caterers put in. A lot of them are orienteers and are very passionate about what they do, so why didn't they work with those caterers to come to a solution that was best for everyone

Very badly executed indeed. These places are social hubs before and after the races. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

I wonder if anyone will start a protest - BOYCOTT THE BURGER VANS!!
(I can't though as I'll not be at either event)

[PhilJ]

I stand corrected if traders, food and O, have paid for pitches in the past, and I see that it can be a good idea with regard to continuity, and taking away the organising of caterers etc from the already hardworking Organiser, but there will still need to be engagement from BO and the Organiser of who the trader will be and what size pitch is required. If the assembly field is of limited size then O Nosh and their little trailer over a big food trailer taking up 3 times the pitch size is a consideration.
Basic question who benefits from the pitch fee? Does it go into the budget/income for the event or directly paid to BO?
There is no information about how much the pitches are so depending on the cost will determine who will be able to afford to attend. It's a tough environment to make a profit so extra costs will only drive down choice for us.

[Tatty]

Phil - as far as I am aware, speaking to one of the food traders concerned,- the event have not had to spend time sorting him out as he always approaches them! I already have my excellent caterer booked in for the November Classic. This does not help him having booked for and paid for somewhere to stay and then to be told he can't come If he is barred from coming one can only hope that there are excellent caterers who offer similar type of food for equivalent prices. Otherwise I can see people voting with their feet and boycotting those offered.

[PhilJ]

I agree tatty, many of the traders are proactive and look at the fixtures and approach an event, makes good business sense as they understand their overheads, I was relating back to croeso where we had a good idea of who would come but as it was such a large event wanted everybody nailed down so we had enough traders and choice.

[Mrs H]

The really big problem with this is that the small traders rely on the big events to make their operation worthwhile for the rest of the year. BOF's decision on this will have far reaching effects way beyond the major events.

Don't expect to see food at middle to small scale events in a few years' time. It won't be worth the traders' while to carry on.

......and what happens if the equipment traders go the same way squeezed out by Decathalon style supplier of general running stuff at the JK and BOC - you'll be buggered when your O shoes break just before the next ordinary event.

[RanaldMacdonald]

I hope this thread isn't going to fizzle out without a commitment to real action.

A boycott of the burger vans will achieve little - they will just go on to the next county show or large festival whilst O Nosh, Podium Catering and others who have served us well in the past may struggle to stay in business. Let's not forget how Wilf's, Ultrasport and CompassSport have stayed with us through thick and thin. During foot and mouth in 2001 they all suffered badly and somehow managed to survive to continue to serve us. They were seen as part of our community and we remained loyal to them. Similarly, local community groups have been an important part of many events, of whatever size. Are they also part of this arrangement?

It's perhaps time that we now showed further loyalty by pushing for a different arrangement for those who not only supply us with good, wholesome food, but take time out to compete in our events or turn up when there is little chance of them making a significant profit.

I urge everyone to go back to their clubs and associations and get them to lobby the Board to show some common sense by giving Co-ordinators/Organisers of major events some leeway in bringing in traders to meet the needs/wishes of competitors and not just the fee they are prepared to pay.

As Mrs H implies, waiting to see what happens in a year's may be too late for the smaller traders for whom we are their core business. The bottom line is not everything ...

[awk]

So who do we lobby? And who is the person responsible for the central contract or perhaps more relevant, who is responsible for the policy?

[Mrs H]

Now I'm beginning to wish I hadn't retired from CompassSport

[aiming off]

I would imagine the Major Events Manager should have some responsibility for ensuring an acceptable outcome here.

i do hope some sense prevails and the situation is quickly rectified by Head Office. If not the membership does have avenues open to it.

[DaveK]

Now I'm beginning to wish I hadn't retired from CompassSport

So am I Mrs. H. Not sure which I'll miss the most, your incisive contributions in CompassSport or the Wilf's veggie chillie?

[RanaldMacdonald]

I understand that it is probably too late for the JK as the contract has been signed with Taste of Wales on the basis that it is the sole caterer. This may have been done without heeding the advice of the Day Organisers who could have explained the culture of the sport and expectations of orienteers.

However, the Major Events Manager has a remit to increase revenue and enhance the experience of major events. We'll have to see the extent to which this backfires but it would be nice to think that she had visited other major orienteering events to get a sense of what we have been offered by Onosh and others.

Perhaps the only way out of this is to ensure that we keep inviting Onosh, Podium Catering and other local traders to as many events as we can and buying their food. DVO has given vouchers to helpers at some events which can be exchanged with the traders present which can boost their takings.

We should then instruct the Board - perhaps through a motion at the AGM - to ensure that the wishes of the membership are a key criterion when it comes to awarding contracts for future major events.

[RS]

Perhaps the AGM is the way to go but not under AOB but a motion as Ranald suggests. Any suggestions how to go about this and who would be good to do it?

[PhilJ]

A bit of clarification but does this "ruling" only apply to level A events? If so that would cover the JK and all the British champs vagaries, though I do note that the scottish, Northern and midland champs champs and compasssport cup are level A events. The southern champs have already been, I did not go, was tom's burger van there? Compasssport cup is in aldershot so again good for any southern based caterer and midlands champ would appeal to Podium.

Has there been a change to the rules/guidelines for organising clubs not to organise their traders.

One final note does this extend to a) the regional junior squad doing a cake stall and b) the local church/WI etc as at last years british long, so doing their bit for either topping up the junior squad fund for overseas trips etc or fixing the church roof and showing inclusiveness to the local community?
I am sure the junior squads see any major event in their region as a huge opportunity to raise squad funds.