Nopesport Urban League 2013 (speculation & griping)

[Caz]

With the various regional leagues being finalised or almost (SEOUL has 14 races, will be published soon but I have known about all these since before Xmas), and all these races are conforming to the Nopesport scoring, so there should have an amply supply of races already out there to select from.
Does NZ not have internet or email capabilities to enable the organisers to keep us informed?

[Angry Haggis]

I think some of the organisers have been slow to respond and the team don't want to release a list until all definite.

Fair enough, but we've reached a point where we are less than one week away from what it has been suggested (but not formally) is the first round, and we still have had not a word, other than an informal posting that the calendar would be published as a 'Christmas present', i.e. some weeks ago.

I'm intrigued that it matters to some people so much. I don't go to races because they are part of a league, I go because they are in interesting cities, have a renowned planner, an interesting map and/or complex areas, and that it's likely I'll know quite a lot of people going (& also don't cost a fortune either to travel to or enter). If they are part of the league that's a bonus, but the inclusion (or not) in NUL would be a curious deciding factor over whether or not to go to a race. Don't we know by now that Edinburgh's a fantastic area (even if the pros go too fast to enjoy the view from Carlton Hill) and always worth going to regardless of any league points?

Also last year's NUL list wasn't announced until mid Jan so this year is not exceptional.

I can tell you now - go to Edinburgh, go to Bristol, go to Hampstead and go to St Ives (Cornwall). They will all be brilliant, regardless of their league inclusion, because they are all in great urban areas.

If anyone's really really keen to have each race they go to on a league, they could make their own and publicise that? All you need is a spreadsheet and a blog, a bit of effort with the viral marketing, and a small fund for prizes. A bonus is that because you get to pick them, you can pick the ones that you want go to. I'm not sure you even really need to get the sign-off from the organisers of these events before publicising your list either - all you need from them is a commitment to supply the results in a suitable format, and structure the classes appropriately - but you can get around both of these obstacles by just running it off the BOF points.

In fact I might just do that now.

I hope Edinburgh's race doesn't get too messed up by the snowpocalyse heading that way. It's always been ironic that the normally most northerly "major" urban race has been held in the iciest time of the year, but they've been lucky for five years running now...

[brooner]

moan moan moan.

Enjoy your orienteering people.

[mikey]

moan moan moan.

Enjoy your orienteering people.

That is a great list of events! Can't wait!

[Tatty]

Thank you. Some great events. Shame we're away for a double header weekend! Bring it on - Edinburgh this coming weekend. Good job number 3 son lives there!

[graeme]

I hope Edinburgh's race doesn't get too messed up by the snowpocalyse heading that way. It's always been ironic that the normally most northerly "major" urban race has been held in the iciest time of the year, but they've been lucky for five years running now...

Fingers crossed - it's snowing at the moment. Holyrood park is OK, but It would be marginal racing on icy streets and stair. Safely moving to October for 2014.

[andy]

Fingers crossed - it's snowing at the moment. Holyrood park is OK, but It would be marginal racing on icy streets and stair. Safely moving to October for 2014.

Snow in the new town has gone pretty much 100%, hopefully with not a lot more snowfall it'll be perfect conditions on Saturday!

[IanD]

Salisbury City Race - 02 November 2013

Query: should 2 November be SOC Southampton City Race?
The SARUM Salisbury City Race appears to be on 15 June, for when Salford/Manchester has been selected for the Nopesport League.

[Barny]

Ian

SARUM have moved from 15th June to 2nd November

[awk]

I'm intrigued that it matters to some people so much.

It would be lovely to pick events purely and simply on the quality of the orienteering being offered, but sadly, the real world isn't quite like that, and some of us have to factor in things like travel, time, finance, family, work commitments etc

Now it may seem odd, but one (and it is just one) factor that enhances my enjoyment of those urban races I go to is whether it's part of the NUL or YUL - I enjoy the extra competition these provide. So, of the wide range of attractive races available, I do like to include sufficient NUL/YUL races to count. But to do that needs a bit of planning, which in turn needs a calendar a reasonable distance in advance.

As you say, the NUL calendar wasn't published until fairly late last year. It's one of the reasons why I wasn't able to get to enough NUL races to count last year - weekends had already booked up by the time the calendar was published. I had hoped to avoid that this year.

Tatty, mikey, I concur, it looks a great programme, and thank you brooner, in spite of my queries, to you and the rest of Nopesport for organising.

[Jayne]

Great to see some new places on the list. Particularly looking forward to hampstead and Salford, also hull - cos I don't really know what to expect.

Don't forget these aren't the only great-looking urban races this year tho. Only a selection can be included in the list.

[Steve]

Classic NUL this year lads. Well worth waiting for

[seabird]

Interesting to see that not all of the events this discussion has told us will be in NUL - have turned out to be.

Particularly good geographical spread of events this year.

[Spookster]

Ian

SARUM have moved from 15th June to 2nd November

I assume you're right, though you wouldn't know it from the BO Fixture List or Sarum Fixture List.

[seabird]

I assume you're right, though you wouldn't know it from the BO Fixture List or Sarum Fixture List.

Spookster we have read this way back
by MAPS » Mon Dec 03, 2012 8:12 pm

19th May SYO event will now be in Sheffield, Walkley
1st Sept SYO event will be in the Don Valley area of Sheffield

It's not what BOF Fixtures says.

Can you clarify please.