Mini Relays

[Stodgetta]

Just spotted on the BOF website, there's been a draft review of BOC rules & guidelines http://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/images/uploaded/downloads/events_competition_rules_british_champs_2014_pdf.pdf, and the mini-relay has gone to be replaced by a M/W12, TD3 relay.
There goes my fun & inclusive for dinkies, & the majority of the juniors & their families I managed to encourage down for a weekend of O won't have a chance of running TD3, so won't come next time
All that's going to do is restrict further the number of clubs that can raise a team...

JK is set to retain it's mini relay that's TD2...

[Mrs H]

Yep that's a whole TD hike on the current guidelines here
who actually conducted the review and what is the rationale behind it?

[andypat]

Top notch M12s normally run TD3 courses so the mini relay is a level easier than they are used to running.

No longer!
And presumably for non-top notch M/W12s it'll now be a tad harder! Interesting its got a 12min winning time. I wonder what time they expect the M/W10B crowd to get round in - or should they just all go home on Saturday night?
At least its only a consultation document - hopefully someone who's actually got kids in BOF will see the fuss people are making on here!

[Mrs H]

hopefully someone who's actually got kids in BOF will see the fuss people are making on here!

Err............I'm not sure that there actually is anyone

[daffdy]

This paragraph from the Rules Consultation is quite important:

Because so much has been reworded and moved around, it is quite possible that inadvertently something has been left out or there has been an unforseen change of meaning, therefore we want competitors and Event Officials to check them over before they are published. In addition, we need comments on whether they are as user friendly as such a set of rules can be.

I think the TD3 issue you've found is actually a typo, as the same document also has the M/W12s running a TD2 relay (see table in rule 7.2.1). Probably all that needs to happen is an email to Helen Errington (link) and all will be well. Good spot!

(Sorry if that disappoints any conspiracy theorists)

At least its only a consultation document - hopefully someone who's actually got kids in BOF will see the fuss people are making on here!

If you want to be sure it gets heard, you can make sure someone in British Orienteering hears about any issues you may have by responding to the consultation!

[pete.owens]

Presumably it is a typo - if you look further down the same page at the table of courses to be planned it is back to TD2.

[awk]

Err............I'm not sure that there actually is anyone

Probably all that needs to happen is an email to Helen Errington (link) ......

Helen's one.

[andypat]

If you want to be sure it gets heard, you can make sure someone in British Orienteering hears about any issues you may have by responding to the consultation!

That's probably a fair point, but I suspect I wasn't the only one who didn't know about this, and I know I'm not the only one who hasn't the time/indepth rules knowledge to go through that doc with a fine tooth comb!

I don't think its unreasonable to expect someone from BOF to cast an eye on the UK's most vociferous O forum from time to time to gauge public opinion (and to be honest I know that they/you do).
I understand the SOA also has one or two moles hereabouts

[Mrs H]

Helen's one.

Yes but she's not a director, she's staff, presumably she has to do what she is told to do, not make up policy

[NeilC]

That's probably a fair point, but I suspect I wasn't the only one who didn't know about this.....I don't think its unreasonable to expect someone from BOF to cast an eye on the UK's most vociferous O forum from time to time

Nor perhaps for those vociferous posters to cast an eye on the National Federation's website?
http://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/index.php?pg=15

[sketchweppers]

Presumably it is a typo - if you look further down the same page at the table of courses to be planned it is back to TD2.

Just spotted another 'typo' perhaps:
The M14 relay has TD5 courses and the W14 has TD3!

Is this a bit of a gender issue?

[madmike]

Helen's one.

Yes but she's not a director, she's staff, presumably she has to do what she is told to do, not make up policy

Her role is more ilkely to be to draft the policy for director approval methinks rather than just do what she is told

[Mrs H]

Looks like she needs to make a policy of getting in a good proof reader then

[andypat]

Nor perhaps for those vociferous posters to cast an eye on the National Federation's website?
http://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/index.php?pg=15

At 145 pages in total, I doubt there's many of us who have the time. And that's assuming I'd spot a TD3 to TD2 transcription error in any case! Maybe if we all took a page each...

I'm mighty pleased that the should/shall debate will now be consigned to the dustbin though. Maybe someone has been listening...

[graeme]

I wrote to Helen last week, quoting my letter upthread.

The existing 2013 rules are ambiguous, talking both about "M/W12" and "minirelay". Like most on here, the name "mini-relay" suggests to me something different from other "age class championship". Clearly there are two different interpretations here of what it should be, and I suggested she clear up which it is meant to be.

I was only invited to proofread, not make up the rules. For what its worth (i.e. nothiing), I think they've jumped the wrong way.