British Middle and Sprint Championships - who's it for?

[NeilC]

I thought these events were Championships with selection required if numbers reach an unmanageable level and no events that were 'open to anyone'

Competitors in the "final" race are selected by either heats or ranking. Other races (including the heats) within the event are open.

[Gross]

Competitors in the "final" race are selected by either heats or ranking. Other races (including the heats) within the event are open.

From BOF Guidelines;

Selection Policy: The selection policy shall be the responsibility of the Elite
Entry may be restricted, but at least 60 places on each of M21E
and W21E, and at least 30 places on each of M20E and W20E
should be available. Selection for all classes should only be used

[Toni]

I dread to think how many hours of a start field you would need if they were completely open events for all age categories... although I do think that there is a market for this kind of thing

[mharky]

Don't be so narrow minded. Say the British Elite Sprints is for 60 people only, then you have to make that top 60 to run. How do you make that top 60? Go to some UK Cup races, which are very very very rarely resticed due to numbers. If you are good enough, you will get enough points to warrent selection to the finals. If not, you aint good enough so can't run. Every country in the world is allowed to take part, it's just that not all of them can make it to the finals...

[SJC]

Nine hundred competitors.
A ninety minute start interval.
Ten parallel heats for the qualifiers.
First and second in each heat through to the final.

It would be nice to have that many competitors to worry about.

[mharky]

Sounds good, but the area would be absolutely packed, 10 courses of the same length on the same area?...

[Gross]

Naw... make them all the same & don't tell anyone.... most elite are numpties and wouldn't notice anyhow

[tim sleepless]

I'd like to make a terribly insightful contribution here, but don't even understand why it's complicated.

Why is offering a range of courses and classes any harder than at any other of the events that go on every week up and down the country.

We had the North American champs all in one weekend, 4 sprint courses, 9 Medium, and 9 Long, covering all classes (slightly broader bands than the UK). The Canadian champs were broadly the same format. Easy peasy, job done.

[rocky]

Nine hundred competitors.
A ninety minute start interval.
Ten parallel heats for the qualifiers.
First and second in each heat through to the final.

It would be nice to have that many competitors to worry about.

sounds like the finnish middle distance champs - think it's ten heats with top 6 through in each heat. you usually have to be within 30s of the heat winner to qualify - thats 30s behind pasi, jani, tero etc etc!

and theres only one b-final for everyone who doesn't make it. start interval is something like 5s!

[Axel]

[b]NeilC wrote]
I hadn't realised that we were the most disorganised orienteering nation in Europe.

I didn't say we were most disorganised the point I'm trying to make is that most other nations have clear cut Championships for all styles of Orienteering. We phaff around, elite this, non elite that and theres no clear picture, no wonder joe orienteer gets a bit pissed off.

I'm sure the French this year held their Sprint, Middle and Classic Champs over a 5 day period during August and to boot I think they also ran another of couple of events during this period.

The problem is that in Brit Oing a lot of hot air is expended about how things can be improved but in reality we never see an end result. The people making decision should get off their arses and start making them, be bold for once!!

[tim sleepless]

The problem is that in Brit Oing a lot of hot air is expended about how things can be improved but in reality we never see an end result. The people making decision should get off their arses and start making them, be bold for once!!

Didn't you listen...?

the rules group will be looking at this next year..... after the 2007 championships...

what more do you want?

We could easily have something in place by 2009

[NeilC]

The problem is that in Brit Oing a lot of hot air is expended about how things can be improved but in reality we never see an end result. The people making decision should get off their arses and start making them, be bold for once!!

Yes there certainly is a lot of hot air expended, especially on nopesport. Have a look at the committee minutes on the BOF webpage - surprisingly quite a few decisions are being made. Along with many others I "got off my arse" a couple of Saturdays ago and contributed to some decsions being made on a good number of competition related matters. I won't start a list of changes that have been introduced in recent years but could mention the change in format of the CompassSport Cup and junior badge courses as an example. Of course people moaned about the changed format just as others had moaned about the original formats.

Personally I'm not in favour of knee-jerk reactions to the vocal few. However if a matter is raised with your association representative (on any committee) it will most likely be discussed further.

[Axel]

Tim wrote:

Didn't you listen...?

the rules group will be looking at this next year..... after the 2007 championships...

what more do you want?

We could easily have something in place by 2009

Absolutely!!!
However, Tim you also mentioned that the USA and Canada had Champs that combined all disciplines within a multiday period. Therefore this backs up my belief that we are not ahead of the game when it comes to the planning of major championships, their format and annual events calendars. I not asking for knee jerk reaction, I'm asking for action, so again be bold and sort it out early next year and lets have the new format in place by next years champs??

[Marco Polo]

I'm not sure that I would want championships for all disciplines within the same multiday period (if that it what is being suggested). I thought that a separate weekend for sprints and middle distance worked well this year. The format might need a rethink to get the balance between providing an elite competition and opening up and popularising the disciplines for all comers.

Reasons for that are that it would be lot of work for one region to take on and also that most regions can find reasonable sprint and middle distance venues but not all have extensive options for good classic distance terrain.

Mark

[tim sleepless]

Tim wrote:

Didn't you listen...?

the rules group will be looking at this next year..... after the 2007 championships...

what more do you want?

We could easily have something in place by 2009

Absolutely!!!
However, Tim you also mentioned that the USA and Canada had Champs that combined all disciplines within a multiday period. Therefore this backs up my belief that we are not ahead of the game when it comes to the planning of major championships, their format and annual events calendars. I not asking for knee jerk reaction, I'm asking for action, so again be bold and sort it out early next year and lets have the new format in place by next years champs??

I was agreeing with you on the need for speed! And there should be no reason why the extra classes and courses couldn't be in place for 2008. There are enough lessons learned from other countries in terms of course lengths and combinations to make the required pondering relatively limited.