Cancellation - Was it my fault?

[MacMan]

During the cricket season of 2012 on many a rain soden Sunday I sat looking longingly across the white line willing the rain to stop and looking forward to the start of the O season thinking ... "ah rain would not stop us Orienteering"

I'm so sorry now for those bad thoughts ...

[mikey]

Must have been a really hard decison for the organiser and controller of the November Classic, but safety should always take priority.

That wind walking to the start cut through the body like a knife..so cold..and the rain didn't look like easing up.

Hopefully, the race will be re-organised for a beautiful, sunny winter morning!

[drobin]

The rain and wind did stop and the sun came out, but the streams remained swollen and the adjacent areas flooded, making some courses dangerous. The unofficial rumour is a rerun on March 17 (replacing or upgrading the booked event)

[Vidalos]

So why no warning last night then ? If the area was already not good and with the forecast of more rain why not warn of the possibility. Or did it all only go wrong this morning ?

[Tatty]

A lot of very heavy rain - not forecast - overnight

[Arnold]

I'm sorry but I have to strongly disagree with the cancellation.

Yes it rained hard overnight but it had stopped by the first start. By 10.30 the weather was fab - sunny and quite warm. It's the New Forest in November and we've had much worse in previous years.

There was only one stream that seemed to cause concern and from what I heard only for a few courses eg light green. I went out for a jog to look at it and it was fine to cross in many places - certainly not a raging stream. Ok I'm an M35 not a W60 but even so it really wasn't that bad.

Plus, quite a few people including all the Swedes were allowed to run before it was cancelled.

Before cancelling there are a number of other options that should have been used:
- point out the difficult situation at the start and offer refunds to those who don't want to run or who give up halfway
- shorten the affected courses or only cancel some
- use a roped crossing
- delay the start by an hour

There were 1000 people waiting to run many of whom had come a long way. If we're going to cancel at the first sign of bad weather we might as well stop orienteering altogether. In the Lake District maybe, but in the New Forest..!

[mikey]

Plus, quite a few people including all the Swedes were allowed to run before it was cancelled.

I don't think that is accurate. I had a very early start time and as far as I could see no-one was allowed to start (unless some helpers went off very early). There was a large group of Swedes who kept us entertained with their 'keeping warm songs'. They were allowed to collect their maps once the cancellation was confirmed at just after 9.55 but I saw none run off into the woods.

A cancellation is always going to be contentious, and I was one of those who had travelled a long way, but I don't imagine it was a decision that was taken lightly.

[Arnold]

I saw quite a few Swedes return from the forest with their maps, and when I asked for a map I was told No. But it doesn't really matter to the overall decision.

And I have no doubt the decision wasn't taken lightly. I just think it was the wrong decision.

[oo_wrong_way]

Although I wasn't involved in the decision making I was on the periphery and I can say that all the options were considered. The decision did not come easily but I do believe it was the right one. At the time it was made the wind was biting, the stream (which was crossed twice by most courses - not as stated on a previous post) was dangerous to cross. There was no way of knowing if the weather would worsen or not.

The forecast (yesterday) was for light showers and strong southerly winds. The courses were runnable yesterday.

We did our best to get the cancellation posted on Facebook, Twitter, the SOC website and the Event hotline as quickly as we could.

Those who took advantage of a free run on the Wayfarers course had a good run - although many came back understanding why the decision had been taken on the main event.

[Arnold]

The forecast I saw last night both on the BBC and weather.com was for rain until 9am then clearing up, which is exactly what happened...

Also I know the stream was crossed by many courses but it would only have been a problem (if any) for a few of them. And if it's so dangerous why not put a safe crossing point eg wooden bridge in from the outset??

And for "the wind was biting"..it's orienteering, there is wind. You put on some warm clothes, start running and it's not so much a problem especially as most of the courses were in forest where there is little wind.

Anyway, not much point arguing the toss now. I'm just concerned orienteering will also turn into a wimpy health and safety driven sport. At least in the South - I'm sure had this been a Deeside Night Cup it would have gone ahead no worries

[drobin]

If it were only that simple. The stream had turned into a lake.

[SeanC]

My sympathies to organisers and competitors.

Out of interest, when there's a cancellation like this, do the entries systems have the ability to text a warning to all pre-entered competitors? That would save a lake or two of fuel for a big event like this.

[Vidalos]

I have to agree with Arnold here , the weather forecast did exactly what the BBC said it would do. And don't SOC have a BBC weather man as a member , I think they do !

It when the decision was made knowing the forecast and the knowledge people must have had putting out controls yesterday. So again why no prior warning ? And seemingly no contingency arrangements for what must have been known about the area !

[HarryO]

My sympathies too are with the organisers. It must have been a difficult decision - after all their hard work to put the event on. As a parent of a 13 year old who would have been on an affected course - a part of me is grateful that they didn't have to cross the swollen river.
However - as one of many who travelled great distances to attend this Interland Selection Race - I wonder what will happen now. There are only three junior selection races - of which this was one. Juniors need to attend two of these races. We missed the first one (too far north), so technically my juniors cannot be considered.
Rumour today was that selectors will use the BOC and JK results - but again we weren't there (even further north!)
So we are waiting to hear how this will be resolved.

[batty]

I do know of an M14 who ran his course. I think there was some confusion as his dad said it was off then some were allowed to run then it was definitely cancelled.