EUOC Big Weekend 2013

[graeme]

I wasn't involved in either day except as a competitor. I thought it was brilliant, especially the gaffled section in the sprint. Not only is this excellent practice for the new IOF discipline of sprint relay, but it is also a superb way of making the race fairer. The planner obviously went to great lengths to ensure that the gaffles were balanced.

As we saw in the recent WOC in New Zealand, chases can become an exercise in follow-and-kick. This meant the fastest orienteer got to win.

This wasn't me. I had to run the prologue in teeming freezing rain with thorny undergrowth guarding the controls. I lost time at a control where an unmapped path led through "fight" to the flag, and missed the small gap in the gorse when nobody was going in or out. I mention this not as a complaint, but to illustrate the level of unfairness normally encountered in orienteering. The contrast with the well-balanced gaffles in the chase show how fatuous the objections to them really are.

[Spookster]

well-balanced gaffles in the chase show how fatuous the objections to them really are.

No objections from me, just a comment that it was unusual, and of course came as a surprise to the runners. I followed Linnea to an incorrect control when I should have read my descriptions, and it cost me. At least I went to all the controls on my course today...

[AndyC]

I followed Linnea to an incorrect control when I should have read my descriptions, and it cost me.

All that needs to be said

[dustytoo]

Graeme's footnote about objections to 'unfair' controls reminded me that when I reached control 124 (7 on course D) I had to fight my way through a pack of oriental tourists who were all crowded round the control box, prodding it, photographing, and (as far as I could tell) animatedly discussing it. Strictly speaking, unfair on me (and everybody else caught by the crowd), but quite frankly my dears...

[awk]

I'm not yet convinced by gaffles on an individual race. Yes, there will always be 'unfairnesses' in orienteering, especially urban, but I can't see how deliberately building them in improves the competition - there will always be the element 'what if' left hanging in the air, especially if it comes to a sprint finish. There are ways of doing it, as, for instance, tried successfully by Chris Burden at the Fat Rascal Chasing Sprint where he used butterflies to great effect.

However, it was, and is, worth trying and maybe persisting with to see if it can be made to work, so thanks to Kirsten for trying out something new. I certainly enjoyed my course!

Indeed, many thanks and congratulations to EUOC on putting on an outstanding weekend - three such good races (effectively four, given the different areas yesterday) in two days was an impressive achievement. Definitely worth the fight with the snow travelling north on Friday night!

[graeme]

It's not about introducing unfairness, it's about trading one sort of unfairness for another.

Here's how the winner, Jerker Lysell, described his victory in the most recent world cup.
Lundanes did the orienteering. I run behind and tried to save as much energy as possible for the sprint finish"

It only takes a tiny bit of gaffling, or even the threat of it, to introduce the uncertainty
needed to bring these races back to fairness. We have accepted for years that is a step too far in forest terrain with sensible course length. But when the routes are on identical surfaces with no unmapped obstacles it can be made fair, and now we embrace formats where the course is too short to build a gap by orienteering, it may be the lesser unfairness.

[CrawfordL]

I enjoyed the weekend (apart from stupidly missing out control 22 on Course D on Saturday ).

Sunday's chasing sprint was excellent and I didn't know it was gaffled; I just went to the correct controls .

Here are some photos from Saturday.

https://picasaweb.google.com/108744356399445848928/EdinburghCityRace2013

[spur]

I enjoyed all of the weekend, many thanks to all the planners, organisers and helpers.

I also visited all the right controls!

I see the BOF results are already up, SI man efficient as ever. Was wondering why the prologue does not qualify for rankings points, it wasn 't gaffled at all was it? I know the chase part can't be used.

[Mrs P]

A great weekend of events. Thanks to EUOC.

Thanks especially for moving our class (WUV) to join the Supervets on Course E. I think everyone in our class appreciated this. We certainly got our money's worth

I did see a Junior map and it looked a very good course, with some real urban legs, but I still think putting us with the younger women is preferable to putting us with the juniors.

I also loved the chasing sprint yesterday. Made a welcome change from the SoSOL. The new map of Whinny Hill is excellent - never enjoyed Arthur's Seat so much!

[SIman]

We are working on getting points for the prologue. Something has gone wrong.
Routegadget for the Chase has also proved not quite straightforward (like the courses?)

[awk]

It's not about introducing unfairness, it's about trading one sort of unfairness for another.
Here's how the winner, Jerker Lysell, described his victory in the most recent world cup.
Lundanes did the orienteering. I run behind and tried to save as much energy as possible for the sprint finish"

Well, if they will use the chasing sprint format for anything other than a fun alternative......
There are other ways of splitting runners up, one of which I cited, which mean that competitors still do the same course, rather than different ones.

It can be made fair.

That's the bit that needs working on, and to be made convincing. After all, what other sport says to competitors that you are running againgst somebody else, but on a different course, especially as it's not just physical but one with different decisions? But, as I said earlier, I agree it is worth trying, and it's right to try it out at races like the Big Weekend. I certainly enjoyed the entertainment it all provided.

[graeme]

After all, what other sport says to competitors that you are running against somebody else, but on a different course,

The London marathon. (Do I win a coconut?)

[greywolf]

After all, what other sport says to competitors that you are running againgst somebody else, but on a different course, especially as it's not just physical but one with different decisions?

Orienteering: when the first starters are faced with a "virgin" forest and the last starters get to run in a forest with tracks between the controls.

[RS]

Another great weekend in Edinburgh. Thanks to all concerned.
Loved the gaffled sprint, only downside was the huge map and the constant refolding to check control descriptions.

[Sunlit Forres]

Excellent weekend, thoroughly enjoyable despite the result at Easter Road so thanks EUOC!

If anyone was wondering why the swans were so exciteable on St Margaret's Loch, here's why... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-21230655 and there was me thinking it was a MRT reunion weekend.