Should under 16's be on the ranking list

[SeanC]

That's an interesting perspective.

The optional membership thing sounds like another database flag "I don't want to be ranked" and could be applied to any age.

I wonder if it's a wider issue though, are some juniors and beginners being put off by being in the results at all? The club's results are more visible. If clubs offered a "I started and I finished and it's none of your business how long I took or whether I got them all"* course then competitors could just be listed as taking part and would never make the ranking list.... It might appeal more to recreational/non-competitive types and those looking for training/coaching.

* or just how many controls the competitors found, this might have wider appeal to those looking for a challenge, if there are lots of controls to find.