BOF road shows

[Gnitworp]

The 1974 Southern Championship was Open. It was a real high profile prestige event. It had an M21A field of 108 with nearly all the best people running. The first 3 (Wells-Cole,Thornley, Murray) had been or would be British Champion. The British Champion that year (Wood) came 13th. The 1978 Champion (Bullen) was 8th . There were 5 WOC competitors in the first 8.

[mharky]

I think there is some confusion over the word open.

I don't think anyone would want regional championships to be closed, surely the debate is whether a northerner can win a trophy at the prestigious southern championships...

I think club/region membership or heritage would suffice.

[awk]

I think there is some confusion over the word open.

As I see it, there are 4 models:

1. The whole championship is open - all those running* are eligible for all awards/titles.

2. The championship remains open as above (e.g. "The Scottish Open") with awards/titles for all, but there are additional awards available for those eligible for that area (e.g. "Scottish Native")

3. The race is open, but awards and/or titles available are only available to those eligible for that area.

4. The race is only open to those eligible from the area.

Personally, I prefer model 2, with option 1 marginally second best in front of option 3.

*All British Orienteering national members, or literally anyone? I'd go for the latter.

[Gnitworp]

Most 'Regional' Championships in the early 70s seemed to have matched 'Model One' including the 1974 Southerns, which is the point: the Trophies were prestigious and coveted attracting the best competitors in the UK to come to try to win them.

It was, however, a very different scenario then with a much less developed international scene etc to lessen the interest of top competitors in parochial events. These Regional Championships were often WOC selection events.

[Homer]

This thread has developed into one about the Regional Champs. Perhaps it should be split off?

I, for one, am strongly in favour of making all the Regional Champs truely open as they were back in the 70's and 80's. However this appeared to be a minority view at the time National events were scrapped.

I'm hoping that when the newly propsed UK Veterans Cup (or League) is up and running all regional champs will be part of that and hence will regain some of their prestige.

[Big Jon]

Awk - "Scottish Native" - means what it says, have to be born in Scotland to win it.

[ryeland of doom]

Plym Forest 1974


St Gwynno 1974

[Freefall]

Awk - "Scottish Native" - means what it says, have to be born in Scotland to win it.

What about people like me who were born in Malaysia to Scottish parents then but largely brought up in Scotland? I have a good chance of winning the Malaysian Championships I reckon (if held in the GB).

[Red Adder]

Surely we should go the football way - ellibility through grandparents (or ownership of an Irish Setter / West Highland terriier etc).

[Red Adder]

Lovely to see a map nicely obscured by corrections again. I used never to put them (or the lines between controls) on my map so I could still read it - at my lace I doubt whether it really made much difference.

[awk]

Awk - "Scottish Native" - means what it says, have to be born in Scotland to win it.

Thanks Jon - my mistake. I thought it included at least Scottish parentage. Nice to know there's at least one eligibility definition that sticks to what it means!