BOC & BRC 2010.

[buzz]

I thught the individual courses were the best planned of the year (I ran M45 and saw a couple of others) - very well done Ray, excellent use of an area which is lovely to run on but largely struggles to offer navigational challenges.

The relay planning however was rather disappointing, and, although well gaffled, offered almost no navigational challenges with most of the controls visible from way off. Several people have commented that this is what relays are supposed to be like, but if this course reflects BOF policy on the subject then I for one would like to see the guidelines changed. For me relays should offer similar challenges to individual events plus head to head racing- otherwise call it something else other than orienteering.

I actually ran much better in the relay and really enjoyed the event. I suspect that the choice of area and planning was deemed appropriate by the organisers - I'd just like to see more navigational challenge put back into relays generally.

[King Penguin]

I agree - some elements in the quarry area were not as I expected from the map. However, I cannot blame the map for my big mistake in that area, which was entirely my own fault in trying to go too fast. The information on the map was such that I should have been able to get it right, despite the fact that I failed to relate stoney carpark on the ground to orange open on the map (expecting grass).

[Mrs H]

Enjoyable weekend of ups and downs for me - felt strange commuting from home. Nice social atmosphere - outstandingly good road signs!

My one sadness was the sight of junior B class winners being physically turned away from the prize tent - would it have hurt so very much to have welcomed them in and given them a little something?

[awk]

The relay planning however was rather disappointing, and, although well gaffled, offered almost no navigational challenges with most of the controls visible from way off.

Some of mine were visible from a distance, but not a majority by any means - good use of landshape etc ensured that. Relay planning has to take into account that, more than individual races, there is the factor of bodies giving control sites away. If you hide them (which is what effectively you would have to do in such an open forest), then they are more likely to be given away by people punching at them. This is why the other elements (e.g. gaffling, constant changes of direction etc) are so important. There were plenty of mistakes being made out there, even if some of them were only a matter of seconds rather than minutes. I thought the planners did a really good job.

I don't think any of this is 'BOF policy', other than the policy is to use good planning practice!

[buzz]

Some of mine were visible from a distance, but not a majority by any means - good use of landshape etc ensured that....
.... I don't think any of this is 'BOF policy', other than the policy is to use good planning practice!

To be fare planning gaffled courses is always going to impact on technical issues and I was perhaps unlucky to have all the easy legs with large visible control features, but I don't think that the area used for the relay was suitable for a British Championships on its own.

I think awk is right that its not BOF Policy to offer technically easy courses for relays - but there seems to be an unofficial understanding that a 'good relay area' needs to be easy orienteering with fast running.

[The mole]

My one sadness was the sight of junior B class winners being physically turned away from the prize tent - would it have hurt so very much to have welcomed them in and given them a little something?

Which prizegiving were you at Mrs H ?

All the B and Short class winners were presented with BOC 2010 water bottles.

[Mrs H]

Yes I know that - I got one myself - but did you not see them trooping towards the tent in the wake of the podium party only to be fended off by the unfortunate lady who got the short straw when it came to handing out the jobs - there was a visible slumping of shoulders - perhaps you don't notice these things

I don't know what was being given out in the tent - but surely they could have been let in and given something.

[The mole]

I don't know what was being given out in the tent

Water bottles.

[awk]

but there seems to be an unofficial understanding that a 'good relay area' needs to be easy orienteering with fast running.

My last BRC was 2 years ago, at Culbin. I think the good relay area bit is the fast running, or at least an area that maximises the head to head racing. I don't think anybody goes for a good relay area being easy technically. Yesterday's area wasn't per se difficult, but as I said, there were plenty of mistakes being induced, just that most of them were more subtle than just getting lost (although that happened to some). Personally, I thought it made a great venue for the BRC.

[Mrs H]

Mole - You're not getting my point are you? It was the act of being turned away and excluded from the proceedings which was significant. I think we are talking about a maximum of 8 children here - a few BOF pens would have sufficed

[SJC]

Mrs H, do you always have to find something to complain about.

The organisation of the whole weekend was great.
The parking and assembly area layout couldn't have been better.
The prizegivings started on time and were as well organised as any I have seen.
and despite the weather forecasts the rain even held off.

Every volunteer there was doing there best.
Comments such as your's only serve to put people off taking on these tasks.

[Paul Frost]

RouteGadget for the relay is now available.
It is grouped by course/gaffle ie. A-ABC.
You can compare other individuals on a different gaffle by selecting "All classes" at the bottom of the list, this lists all those competitors who have plotted a route.
Select the ones you want to compare and click "View routes".
You can find out who was on what gaffle from the results page.

Processing relays in RouteGadget is always a challenge, as there are often planned differently and the variations in results software output.

[Garnon]

Firstly, I'd like to say how much I enjoyed the British Individual and Relays, the area was nice and the planner managed to get some great route choice decisions out of it. The organisation was brilliant, thanks to WHC for making it such a great weekend.

Secondly, is it common policy at BOC and JK relays that those who manage to achieve podium positions on the Ad-Hoc courses aren't awarded medals when all the other relay classes are?

My team were elated when we found out that we had made it onto the podium, but we and the other juniors were a bit disappointed when we found out that that the ad-hoc classes (both senior and junior) were not to be awarded a medal for our achievement, when the other relays classes were. If it is a cost saving measure it seems a bit daft because a few more medals wouldn't have cost that much in comparison to the cost of the whole event.

We did get a water bottle and the winners got a trophy. I don't want to sound ungrateful, but I'm just wondering why this is the case, it seems a bit unfair.

[Oldman]

... is it common policy at BOC and JK relays that those who manage to achieve podium positions on the Ad-Hoc courses aren't awarded medals when all the other relay classes are?

I don't know about the JK, but at the British, I believe that medals (presumably engraved as "British Championships winner", etc) should be reserved for those who win the premier classes open to all, or Championship races with limitations by age.

Not that I'm ever likely to win one, but if I did, I would then continue to value such a medal.

My thanks to WCH for all their hard work.

[Mrs H]

Every volunteer there was doing there (sic) best.

you mean like this one

I didn't think I was complaining I thought I was making a suggestion - there is a world of difference