Punters only competition?

[SeanC]

Down in Kent, local runners have the excellent* Kent Fitness League cross-country series. One of the rules is that elite men and women (sub 32 10k men, sub 38 women) are barred from the competition (though I think they are very welcome to run non-competitively).

It got me thinking, would our bigger events, say regionals right up to national events, benefit from competitions restricted by ranking position**. Say 500-1000's, 1000-1500, 1500-2000 etc. It would give punter orienteers something to aim at and a chance of winning. Could it re-invigorate this tier of orienteering?

*Excellent for lots of reasons.

**In addition to open classes for all.

[graeme]

If you use the ranking list, it's more likely the prizes will go to relative novices (which is probably an even better reason to do it).

I do think we should try to find a way to direct the prizes at people who actually ran well (by their own lights), as opposed to happening to be the best/only M/Wxx agegrouper to run the "right" course.

[Tim]

I don't think restricting entry is a way to increase participation, but I’m not sure that is what you meant.

Two thoughts regarding rankings:

Could not your ranking position be shown in results – this would give people a quick way of judging their run.

Given that rankings produce points from times, could this not the reverse occur and individuals be given ideal times based on their ranking points. There could be prizes for the runners who did best relative to their ideal time. Err… like a handicap.

Hang on. Prizes? Orienteering? Now there’s a really novel idea.

[SeanC]

I don't think restricting entry is a way to increase participation, but I’m not sure that is what you meant.

It is kind of what I meant. Restricting entry to sub-competitions, not the whole event. We do that all the time now, eg M45A at a regional champs.

So for example, instead of M45B, M50B, M55B where anyone can enter (so long as they are aged 44-59) and probably use the same course, you could have a vetsB course where the restriction is (picking a number out of thin air) you must be ranked 700+ and aged 44-59 (though you could run non-competitively otherwise).

[AndyC]

Why 700+? I have/had a club colleague who stated that there was no point in promoting the sport as one of "mass participation" because there are only 3000 orienteers. (for reference I'm ranked 3088 and BO literature claims 10,000 orienteers) -so why not 3000+?

[SeanC]

why not 3000 (though it's complicated by people who haven't got 6 scores)? I picked a number out of the air. I'm floating the concept not the detail .