Harvester Relays

[redkite]

Route gadget now up and running for Clydach Terrace

http://www.swoc.routegadget.co.uk/cgi-bin/reitti.cgi

[JennyJ]

I completely agree with Mark (can't believe it!).

[graeme]

There's no date or season for the Harvester, I'm sure its been in the autumn before, which would be good for fixture congestion.

Problem with "a quality area suitable for night orienteering in late autumn" is that there are very few.

Finishing with a party is a great idea, but the problem with finishing at night is the weaker teams end up spending more time in the dark, with uncertainty for most runners whether they're getting a day leg.

I'd like to have a mass-participation relay just like Mharky suggests, but finish at ~7pm, + mass start to make sure everyone is done by nightfall. Not really the Harvester I know - maybe we could start even earlier and do it on Easter Monday, perhaps with a Scandinavian sounding name?

[Ravinous]

I'd like to see the Harvester get more publicity. It doesnt help that organisers are often found late and time runs short.
If SAX/Eridge next year is definite for 9th May 2010, which I believe we now have permissions (!?), I shall use my Saxons connections to make sure we publicise well. I will be aiming to run a series of Ads in CompassSport but I also feel we need to be getting others in from abroad - especially if it is in SE England, close to major airports and ferry/chunnel to France, etc.
In the last year I have come across info for the obvious, TioMila, Junior TioMila (Sweden) and Jukola (Finland) but also the Danish Harvester style team event (was at end of May) and both the French and Belgium Team relay events which have night elements.
It would be good to see Harvester fliers being spread at all the major multidays this summer and see if we can increase the numbers and quality!? of the field. I think if we got some serious (as well as non-serious) foreign competition, then more of our GB Elite would take it more seriously!?
I think we have to think big - all too often the Harvester is a last minute afterthought and then people are disappointed in the lack of teams/response. A concerted effort each year should see the Harvester be built up again....

[Scott]

There were flyers for the 2010 Harvester at the event this weekend, which is a good start (and an improvement on recent years, as far as I'm aware).

[mharky]

Finishing with a party is a great idea, but the problem with finishing at night is the weaker teams end up spending more time in the dark, with uncertainty for most runners whether they're getting a day leg

Good point. Maybe having it so the day legs are run early enough that even the slow people are in day, then have a break like them Swedish races GG & I have mentioned, then start up again at night.

There really are not enough relays in Britain.

BOC, JK, Scottish, Harvester are the 4 big ones. But even the Harvester isn't that big anymore. I've seen results with 80 teams on the A.

The White Rose relay, but now that is one of those silly army style ones with the spine + score event, so it's not a relay at all.

11 manna in Scotland. Awesome race but small, more English people should come up to it.

Any more (open to clubs, obviously the home internatinoals and JIRC)

How about having open regional relay champs, e.g. Scottish + Welsh, Northern, Midlands, Southern.

These don't have to be the 100 different classes type nonsense you get at BOC, but something with good team spirit and head-to-head racing. Join them up with events, have em on the Saturday. Or just have it as the main race and a middle or sprint race on the saturday.

We could have more than one night relay as well. One in Spring and one in Autumn.

I'd devide the year in two, because that's basically how our season works. We have all our big races in Spring, a summer break with Internationals and holiday events, then we have the Autumn with many good badge and national events. Why not throw in some relays there too.

JK, BOC, Harvester, Scottish, Welsh, Northern, Midlands, Welsh, some memorial ones too. Relays are way more fun than just going to another district event and running another green...

[mharky]

There were flyers for the 2010 Harvester at the event this weekend, which is a good start (and an improvement on recent years, as far as I'm aware).

The event got off to a bad start though, by being held on Eridge Park.

That doesn't fill me with excitement about night orienteering...

[gg]

i think eridge will be quite nice actually, and should be a few deer around?

[EddieH]

One point worth making about autumn relays. Unlike in an individual with interval starts, as all teams start together undergrowth effects are fair across the board.

[distracted]

It would be nice to see more true 'club-based' relays like the 11-manna in Scotland and the Swedish 25-manna, and even the Jukola for many teams, where the emphasis is on participation. Maybe a UK club relay with a single class and an encouragement for clubs to put out as many teams as possible?

As an example, you could have a 7-person day relay with courses of approx 2k (yellow), 3k (orange), 4k (light green), 5k, 6k, 7k, 8k (all maximum difficulty). Teams would need to include a minimum number of women, juniors and vets/super-vets to make it a 'club' relay.

Surely every club could put out at least 2 teams and you'd have a really decent size field with competition all the way down?

[LostAgain]

As an example, you could have a 7-person day relay with courses of approx 2k (yellow), 3k (orange), 4k (light green), 5k, 6k, 7k, 8k (all maximum difficulty). Teams would need to include a minimum number of women, juniors and vets/super-vets to make it a 'club' relay.

The EBOR Relays are a 6 leg relay, W, Y, O, LG, Green and Long Green for teams of 3 (handicap system operates). Good fun, 11.00 am start. Good fun, but attracts only local teams.

Handicap system ensures inclusivity. Look out for it next June.
This year it was held on Cawthorne, superb area with minimal undergrowth and TD5.

[mharky]

Surely every club could put out at least 2 teams and you'd have a really decent size field with competition all the way down?

Except EUOC & ShUOC, two of the most successful clubs this millenium...

An all club relay is a good idea, basically take the compass-sport cup and run it as a relay rather than a colour-coded

[andy]

11 manna in Scotland. Awesome race but small, more English people should come up to it.

19th/20th of September

Pitlochry Area

11man relay (Saturday)
Sprint race in Pitlochry (Saturday eve)
Scottish O League (Sunday)

Going to be an awesome weekend!

[RS]

Can anyone give me a link to the results or an idea when they may be out please?

[SeanC]

GG wrote "i think eridge will be quite nice actually, and should be a few deer around?"

In case you haven't been to Eridge you can see the map on routegadget. On the SAXONS website look for results, then scroll down to the Jan 4th regional.

If you don't fancy camping you should have no problem finding somewhere nice to stay in Tunbridge Wells.