Whistles and Cagoules

[andy]

Was there not a big uproar about a winner of a fell race not wearing a bib recently? Sure I read about that somewhere but can't find it now.
Let's try to avoid going there with carrying a whistle, especially at WOC

[Freefall]

I wouldn't run around the WOC area without a whistle

[Dave]

I thought it sensible to mandate carrying a whistle (and if conditions are bad a waterproof) for the Long Distance in Affric (not Darnaway).

Hahaha, I do hope this is a twisted joke.

You realise WOC is different to a badge event?

[Freefall]

You realise WOC is different to a badge event?[/quote]

A broken leg is a broken leg no matter what level of event you run in.

[Dave]

A broken leg is a broken leg no matter what level of event you run in.

That it is but in a badge event you don't have live gps tracking of every runner or tv and radio controls confirming their position every X minutes. Mharky was unfortunate to get injured at POM, but you could tell what had happened from watching his GPS and the organisers got out to him and saw he was taken care of.

If you try to make whistles compulsory, all you will get is a confused laughter and rage, as you did with the timed out road crossing at Euromeeting.

[Freefall]

Getting organisers out to the area we are using is also quite challenging- no easy pick up of injured competitors.

[ifor]

The whistle want make much difference for picking them up will it....

[DJM]

IOF Rule 21.1 As long as the rules of the organising Federation do not specify otherwise, the choice of clothing and footwear shall be free.

The fact that the appropriate section in the BOF Rules is headed clothing and equipment would seem to be irrelevant as the IOF rule clearly refers to clothing and footwear only.

Thus, the WOC organisers could insist on "The carrying of a lightweight waterproof hooded top or similar waterproof clothing" (clothing) but not on "The carrying of a whistle" (not clothing or footwear). NB quotes are from BOF Rule 10.2.

[denbydale]

I'd be interested to know how many orienteers have been saved through carrying a whistle (in real life situations, not make-believe controller course set-ups).
Any one got any numbers?

Appears as if a whistle was used to good effect at the DVO race yesterday on Carsington Pastures.

Any details as opposed to a suggestion that a whistle was used?

From DVO website
I am pleased to confirm that X-ray’s show Tracy has not broken her ankle, the swelling and pain was due to ligament damage. A few days on crutches and plenty of rest will help. Tracy would like to thank all those who came to her assistance. When she fell she saw no one around (there were few competitors still on course) but use of the whistle had runners coming from all directions. Thanks also to those who provided the transport off the moor.
Regards
Steve and Tracy

MikeGodfree | June 21st, 2014 | Leave a comment

[Freefall]

Advisory only for whistles

[eddie]

Interestingly there is no mobile coverage over large parts of Affric and unless we suddenly attract major sponsorship and provision of a temporary mast there may well be no live tracking at the Long Distance Final.

Is live tracking not a provision of hosting WOC?

[graeme]

Just get the runners to blow their whistles frequently: then we'll know where they are. Sorted

[Big Jon]

From DVO website
I am pleased to confirm that X-ray’s show Tracy has not broken her ankle, the swelling and pain was due to ligament damage. A few days on crutches and plenty of rest will help. Tracy would like to thank all those who came to her assistance. When she fell she saw no one around (there were few competitors still on course) but use of the whistle had runners coming from all directions. Thanks also to those who provided the transport off the moor.
Regards
Steve and Tracy

MikeGodfree | June 21st, 2014 | Leave a comment

Would she have died without a whistle?

[nooomember]

Firstly, what narks me is that if an event states that whistles or cagoules are compulsory is that they are then hardly ever checked.
Plus I have never been asked if my whistle actually worked!
Just simply having some sort of cagoule is ineffective as some cagoules are no use in any case, and no one ever checks that a person Finishes with it, or they discarded it after the check (and collected it later).

[iainwp]

Would she have died without a whistle?

That's a bit extreme. How about: Was the rescue quicker? did the casualty have to lie alone on the moors for a long time in the sun? Was the injured runner found quickly or only after not downloading? was it a big search across the whole course, or isolated to where a noise was coming from?

This was a level C event, most of us are there for fun and would like to think that our well being was as as important as the competition ...