Start Time Allocations

[King Penguin]

Incidently, the November Classic, which is what was being referred to was NOT a National standard event. It was just a Regional event. We were not informed it was a selection race for anyone, and to have complaints with just a few days to go meant that the Entries people did not have the time to do anything at that late stage. they too go out to work. This would have all been avoided IF the Selectors had had the decency to ask/inform us at an early stage of the event.

I totally agree that event organisers should be eplicitly advised as soon as possible if their event is being used as selection for anything. However, irrespective of this I think those running the events should always aim to do the best they can.
The November Classic was actually a Junior Selection event for Interland (one of four). I can't be positive but I'm pretty certain I learnt this from Focus about 4-6 months ago.

[King Penguin]

You can set the allocation gap in Mike Napiers software so you can have 'x' minute gaps on the same course or 'x' minute gaps for runners marked as seeds etc.

To return to a point I raised in another thread some months ago, how can you apply seeding for junior classes when the official line is that it is inappropriate to produce ranking lists for people until they are M/W20 ? On what basis do you seed ?

[Tatty]

KIg Penguin - My point was we were not asked or approached by the selectors. We should not be expected to remember what appeared in focus several months prior to the event. I'm sorry, but I didn't take note of that when I was appopinted Organiser back in February which was probably before any announcement in Focus.

[RJ]

It has been mentioned before.....

Wouldn't it be so much easier if BOF had a central on line entry system. Payments would be collected by debit card, levy paid at entry time. Clubs paid weekly on the balance.

Start times would be allocated on screen, and split times sorted out for the very small number of this very important section of the membership.

Seeding can be arranged by those involved in the various competitions that require constraints for selection processes.

Everything would be on screen and you would have an instant response to your requests, depending on the allowance being made to start time choice.

Link to the membership database so that INDs can be charged the extra. Link to the ranking list so that any general seeding can be performed, perhaps avoiding having competitors with close ranking positions starting within ten minutes of each other.

No envelopes, one single web address for all entries; enter more than one event at a time.

Why is it taking so long to set a system up. Come on guys.....

[gross2006]

Agree 100% with RJ.

Here in Lithuania the LOSF have an online entry system

http://www.dbtopas.lt/takas/varzybos.php

OK it doesn't have a payment system this still has to be done manually. But it's easy to enter competitions & you can do almost instant bank transfers to pay.

BOF handles best part of £1 million per year... LOSF will be lucky if it handles 5% of BOF funds

[FatBoy]

100% with you RJ. Of course it should send the start lists to the clubs using IOF XML

While obviously I'd be one of the first to complain if software for results was forced on all clubs I very firmly believe that entries, results, rankings should be done in one system centrally.

[stodge]

Agree about the online entry system ....
Yes please

one similar to the ace race system would be good

[distracted]

not to say the hours of time it will save hundreds of entries secretaries across the country!

A very good idea, and with today's technology very attainable. I guess you still have to consider those who are not as internet-savvy, but this number must be quite small nowadays. Is this in the pipeline anyway or just something that has been talked about for a while? There are likely to be plenty of tech-peoples in the 'O' world who would be willing to spend some of their time helping to set such a system up.

[LostAgain]

Totally agree with RJ and perfect type of service to be offered by the coordinating organisation.

Roll on online entry.

[King Penguin]

KIg Penguin - My point was we were not asked or approached by the selectors. We should not be expected to remember what appeared in focus several months prior to the event. I'm sorry, but I didn't take note of that when I was appopinted Organiser back in February which was probably before any announcement in Focus.

Tatty - I totally agree with you, which is why I said in the first sentence of my previous post that organisers should be explicitly advised of such circumstances.

[Tatty]

Thanks King Penguin.
Online entry seems an excellent idea. However, we were charge 65p per competitor, having had hard negotiations to get it down from £1. If it was done centrally hopefully the fees for doing so would be smaller.
When Mharky was in Sweden entry could only be done through your club and that had to be online. I believe you were jsut sent a bill at the end of the season!!

[Gandralf]

To Gandralph
The British got the seeding all to pot on all the junior courses I wonder if no one let them know about junior seedings. The Welsh Champs would not have had to apply any seedings so its upto your parents on their entry to request something like please start 4 mins from any competitor in his class if poss.

Maybe they dont seed our courses at the British or JK becasue they dont think we are that serious?

What is the first age group that gets seeded?

[Guest]

Seeding lists for juniors are sent to clubs which are staging Future Champions Cup and GB summer tour selection races. I believe that this information was not passed on to the correct person in the club for the BOC2005.

[rob f]

Ralph some M/W14s are seeded. In M/W16/18 Start Runners Tend to be seeded.

[mikey]

It'll be interesting to see how the start time allocations work at Ash Ranges. No start time, just a start block, some of which are pretty full ( Course 3 10-45 to 11.30 has 45 runners allocated to the block!). I forsee some queuing!

Not quite sure why this has been done, and personally I would prefer having a definite start time, but we'll see how it works.