FCC Format

[Peter B]

I don't think any junior should be expected to choose between commitment to education and commitment to orienteering. Orienteering should fit around their education it should not be a matter of choosing - causing stress.

A thread about the poor attendance at the Junior British Middle Champs is probably explained by the fact that juniors have been asked to travel to opposite ends of the country on consecutive weekends in the run up to exams. Forest of Dean last weekend Oban next weekend - most have chosen Oban (nice choice).

I think when juniors become more senior (i.e. post GCSEs) then they are certainly given more choice - the academics focus on learning and fit orienteering around it, and vice versa for others.

For the former, having to make sacrifices such as choosing between two events at opposite ends of the country on back to back weekends is totally understandable. Personally, I know that my current commitment is towards sport for various reasons and as such I can allow myself to travel - from the BOC to the Harvester there is only one weekend when I'm not orienteering - but this is purely a matter of choice - for those who commit themselves to thier education at this time can't afford to be travelling the length and breadth of the country to events.

I am in favour of extending the FCC season - I can understand why BOF would plan all the FCC races in the 'peak' season because it just adds to the 'peak' races - but I think for those studying it does add to the pressure. As somebody said, because of the FCC title juniors are encouraged to attend the events - extending the season would provide more events with the same kind of social scene as major races in the spring, but so that they were outside this peak period. It may also take the pressure off students to have to take time out from studying to race and travel - but as you said Helen - would probably disrupt the 'training' season - the solution is not a 'one size fits all.'

[Becks]

I guess another problem with regionalising would be how to select how many go through to a final from each region. Surely it would be a leaky and slightly unfair format if say, five juniors from each region got through, with those in the stronger regions with greater numbers finding it much harder to qualify than those with fewer numbers. I guess the solution would be something more elastic than a set number, but goodness knows who'd be brave (or mad!) enough to try and suggest a system. How did it work before? Ruth's point is also an important one, the great thing about FCC was that you got to travel to the best areas to compete in during the season - I'd have gone mad stuck in Yorkshire and the North East as a W18!

[guest]

To add to what AWK and Becks have said about regional qualifying, which existed when the FCC started - it was unfair to anyone from a region where there were many good runners in a particular age class as it was only 2 or 3 from each region to qualify - can't remember how many but those from the YOB 1979 ish era may remember?

One of the main reasons for bringing in the FCC was to stimulate the competition between the older juniors and get them out of their 'comfort zone' of their part of the country (that said tongue in cheek) and to get the buzz of competition going between them. Before FCC the good juniors from widely spread regions rarely competed against each other except at JK and BOC perhaps. Greater competition has pushed up standards maybe?

Why put the FCC into such a limited time frame? Well, exams have been mentioned ( and yes the Scots are adament that if JIRC goes into early July they will all be on holiday - hard to believe but that's what they say)and then there is the long summer gap/break in competitions, bracken and other nasties in forests still well into the autumn. Possibly the overwhelming fact that if the FCC is in the spring along with JK, BOC etc that forms a neat 'Competitive season' leading to peaking for JWOC, Summer tours etc followed by an autumn which is slightly less frenetic and which leans more (for juniors) to the lower key club and school competition season leading up to BSOC, Yvette Baker Final (in England) etc.

ECG has always tried to spread the FCC races out geographically so as to be fair to all, which is why it was such a shame that 2 northern races were 'lost' this year. Also the dates question was raised - in recent years, thanks to Mr G's efforts, the scheduling has tried to have FCC races at least 2 weeks apart so as to avoid travelling every weekend - in any case no-one has ever said that you have to to to all the races, though I know that some people do and those who didn't bank some early points this year were caught out.

At ECG I have always tried to bear these 'junior friendly' points in mind when FCC dates are chosen - I do remember taking one of my children to a JWOC selection race straight after A Level Chemistry and that year Allan Bogle could not compete because he couldn't travel from Northern Ireland for JWOC selection races as he had exams - it hasn't happened since to my knowledge.

My view is that the FCC series is to find the best juniors whereas the YBT, Peter Palmer Relays etc are more geared to the club developmental, mass participation level (whilst catering for all levels of athlete)and it is good to have the two types of competition in separate parts of the year. I think the club and school competitions could suffer if the FCC was in the same part of the year.

HP