Controversial? Maybe - but I think that if you are in the GB squad, then it should be mandatory to run in beoc, only a doctors note will do if you miss it.
Why? Because this race should be the one that every GB orienteer wants to win. Why do you want to run the Swedish/Norwgian champs? We are British.
I want to win it - and I'm not happy that I didn't this weekend - Ed did - so he is the best.
OK, so if you live overseas then it is expensive to come back for it. So make it a selection race. Make it a tough 90 minute race where everyone turns up. Hold it with boc, so there are people and an atmosphere.
Make all these things happen if you want it to be a big race.
But it shouldn't it be a big race anyway - it the British Championships, for goodness sake.
Cocks on blocks. Ed & Helen are the best. If you don't think they are, turn up next year & beat them.
JD
beoc should be mandatory
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I concur. But as you said it's expensive to come back from abroad over and over again so the British Champs should be a selection race whenever possible. Selection races tend to be on terrain relevant for the upcoming major championships but that's still valid for a British Champs race. The problem is there are so many different committees deciding things you end up with lots of events. ie one committee decides BOC will be in X place at X time. Then the Elite Competitions Steering Group decides that is not appropriate for the elites because of the terrain/closeness to exams whatever. So they stick another event in the calendar. The Junior selectors want something else so it's another separate event. People are probably prepared to come back to the UK a couple of times but it's inevitable they'll come to the selection race ones. When it comes to selection it's what you do in the right races that counts. JK was a great event, spectacle etc but counted for nothing at the EOC selectors meeting.
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harry - addict
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I want to run the Swedish Champs because it's like a major championships with qualifiers, it's even tough to get in the final for a developing orienteer like me. With the British team getting stronger and stronger soon it will be the case that the whole team for stuff like EOCs and WOCs will be capable of top tens. For young seniors Swedish Champs and World University Champs is good experience of major championships, the qualifiers, not seeing the finish before your run, hanging around in a waiting area before your start surrounded by the best in the world.
Then when you do get to WOC or whatever you're not intimidated by it all. And the first time you start you can get a top result. I read Jenny Johansson has had six starts at WOC and never been lower than 4th or something. I guess WOC didn't initimidate her because it was just like an SM which she'd been running for years, plus she's really good.
I know I'm British and normally I would want to run British Champs and have a crack at being British Champ. but this year it's an opportunity to run SM for a good reason (above) and you're not allowed to do both.
Then when you do get to WOC or whatever you're not intimidated by it all. And the first time you start you can get a top result. I read Jenny Johansson has had six starts at WOC and never been lower than 4th or something. I guess WOC didn't initimidate her because it was just like an SM which she'd been running for years, plus she's really good.
I know I'm British and normally I would want to run British Champs and have a crack at being British Champ. but this year it's an opportunity to run SM for a good reason (above) and you're not allowed to do both.
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harry - addict
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gg wrote:having two exams on the day of one of the races makes it slightly tricky...
Yes that's a little awkward. Hopefully next year it shouldn't clash and hopefully for ever more.
Agree though that all top Brits should turn up and fight to be British chamption. Particularly if organisers are going to the effort of having a separate elite champs.
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FatBoy - addict
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FatBoy wrote:gg wrote:having two exams on the day of one of the races makes it slightly tricky...
Yes that's a little awkward. Hopefully next year it shouldn't clash and hopefully for ever more.
Nah! GG would much rather be running the West Midlands relays than BEOC
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Mrs H. - nope godmother
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I wouldn't dream of dissing GG - I have far too much repect for his achievements both out on the course and as a facilitator of the sport - i know he would far rather have been at BEOC - i was merely pointing out that despite exams he put his time to good use locally and more humbly by helping OD win the relays and we all had a lot of fun.
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Mrs H. - nope godmother
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I agree 100% with JD. BEOC should always be a selection race and If elites choose not to run at BEOC out of preference for other european races the event will die. The domestic title is something to respect and strive for.
Elites competing elsewhere are essentially hiding and pretending you are better than you really are!
Elites competing elsewhere are essentially hiding and pretending you are better than you really are!
- JEZ
Can someone explain to me how GB got into the rule that athletes are not allowed run in more than one national championship? has BOF enforced this rule? Can they get out of it or is it an IOF rule? Is the British champs a closed race (selected people only) so can that have different rules?
I see this as the only way of improving the quality of the field - I don't think you will ever persuade athletes who live in Scandinavia (and are really good) that they should come back for British Champs if it means they will have to forfeit a really competitive race later in the year!
I have run in both British and Irish for quite a few years - If I could only run 1 then I'm not sure it would always be the Irish - I know of 2 other Irish people who have run 3 different national championships in 1 year! I live in GB but am Irish so I feel I should be eligible for both - I know the Irish/British thing is more difficult to resolve because of the N.Ire clubs who are members of BOF and IOA and I believe it would be wrong to set such a rule for Irish British champs because of that - but why is there a need to set it elsewhere?
Maybe nopesport can challenge the IOF on this one if they are to blame!
I see this as the only way of improving the quality of the field - I don't think you will ever persuade athletes who live in Scandinavia (and are really good) that they should come back for British Champs if it means they will have to forfeit a really competitive race later in the year!
I have run in both British and Irish for quite a few years - If I could only run 1 then I'm not sure it would always be the Irish - I know of 2 other Irish people who have run 3 different national championships in 1 year! I live in GB but am Irish so I feel I should be eligible for both - I know the Irish/British thing is more difficult to resolve because of the N.Ire clubs who are members of BOF and IOA and I believe it would be wrong to set such a rule for Irish British champs because of that - but why is there a need to set it elsewhere?
Maybe nopesport can challenge the IOF on this one if they are to blame!
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Toni - light green
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my understanding is that it's the Scandinavian federations who impose the rule on their own national championships that you can't run them if you've run in another national champs. IOF and BOF have nothing to do in it, and I guess no say in the matter. I think it's mainly so that Scandis can't all run all the Scandi champs (or e.g. a Finn living in Norway has to choose which to run).
Didn't the Swedes try and stop any non-Swedes, even those resident full-time in Sweden, running their champs at all at some point? I'm sure I remember something along those lines... I guess it would at least mean no incentive not to run in your own national champs.
Didn't the Swedes try and stop any non-Swedes, even those resident full-time in Sweden, running their champs at all at some point? I'm sure I remember something along those lines... I guess it would at least mean no incentive not to run in your own national champs.
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Ed - diehard
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