JK 2017
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Re: JK 2017
There were certainly plenty of issues with the maps and courses on Days 2 and 3, and the butterfly loop on the mini-relay was inappropriate, but, rather than dwell on the negatives, I'd like to compliment the Day 1 planner on some excellent courses that I think got the best out of the area making full use of the few interesting features and keeping things fair. Well done!
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buzz - addict
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Re: JK 2017
buzz wrote: the butterfly loop on the mini-relay was inappropriate
There was no butterfly on the mini-relay but there was a loop - one that 31 of the 33 competitors negotiated OK. There was a complaint on the day that this loop was too difficult and that four competitors had been disqualified on it. In fact only two had but one of these came from the team that otherwise would have won. I don't know exactly what happened but note from the splits that the disqualified runner got caught at the common control by a runner whose course then took him round the loop the other way.
Both planner and controller felt that this relay should test TD2 relay skills and so there was gaffling and eight of the legs involved a decision point. This proved difficult to achieve in the terrain available, we wanted to stick to paths/rides, but the loop provided a solution. Competitors were pre-warned about this in the programme and Chris/Andy made various announcements as well.
- NeilC
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Re: JK 2017
NeilC wrote:buzz wrote: the butterfly loop on the mini-relay was inappropriate
There was no butterfly on the mini-relay but there was a loop - one that 31 of the 33 competitors negotiated OK. There was a complaint on the day that this loop was too difficult and that four competitors had been disqualified on it. In fact only two had but one of these came from the team that otherwise would have won. I don't know exactly what happened but note from the splits that the disqualified runner got caught at the common control by a runner whose course then took him round the loop the other way.
Both planner and controller felt that this relay should test TD2 relay skills and so there was gaffling and eight of the legs involved a decision point. This proved difficult to achieve in the terrain available, we wanted to stick to paths/rides, but the loop provided a solution. Competitors were pre-warned about this in the programme and Chris/Andy made various announcements as well.
OK, so it was alright because you only managed to trap 20% of the teams and upset 6 children and 12 parents in the process – well done!
I can’t speak for the other teams but the lad in our team had run two mini-relays before without problems. He’d been told that there was a loop with a common control and that he needed to check which order to run the controls. He was also told not to follow anyone in case of gaffling and to check the codes which would be on the map alongside the controls. When he’d finished he was absolutely convinced he’d done all that.
Here’s a link to the mini-relay course http://www.jk.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#70&course=13 The ‘loop’ started at 132 and went to 76 and 102 then back to 132. Controls 4,5,6 and 7. Hard enough for 10 year olds but when the ‘6’ of code 76 is positioned alongside control 5 or 6 it would be easy for even an experienced orienteer to get confused in the heat of competition.
Personally I think the 'loop' adds unnecessary complexity, but using code 76 was careless at best and I think deserves an apology to the teams concerned.
I agree the area doesn’t lend itself to gaffled TD2, although there were other options, but you get the same effect by saying that the course ‘may’ be gaffled. At the start some competitors dashed off in the wrong direction whilst others checked their maps more carefully and got to the control first – the essence of relay orienteering.
Incidentally, we have plenty of one-winged butterflies up here in Sheffield so it’s a ‘butterfly loop’ to us
By the way I thought the relay map was excellent!
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buzz - addict
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Re: JK 2017
While it's never nice for a junior to be disqualified (maybe we should reintroduce time penalties?), that loop looks spot on TD2 for me.
- Arnold
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Re: JK 2017
Please don't have a loop on the mini relay with people going in different directions. Just because only 2 teams miss punched it doesn't mean there weren't more that had problems. Our other team almost did the same but fortunately got to the first control and realised that it was 6 and not 5 and so went to 5 then back to 6. Whilst doing that she saw a boy doing similar but in the opposite direction. And yes she knew about the loop and that people would do it in different directions...
I think that the problem was made worse by having the contol code next to the circle. Although great on most courses it meant that there was no need to check on a description list. Having just done 4 you would have checked 5 and have more chance of realising the mistake.
There is a huge variety of standard and age in a mini relay and as much as possible should be done to make sure that someones first experience of a relay is positive. Apart from the loop the planning waa great, it rewarded those that had the confidence to cut across terrain whilst providing a safe but longer route around on the paths. But the mini relay is notorious for teams mispunching, why make it more likely?
Aside from mini relay issues the whole family enjoyed the weekend. So thank you to everyone involved from the organising clubs.
I think that the problem was made worse by having the contol code next to the circle. Although great on most courses it meant that there was no need to check on a description list. Having just done 4 you would have checked 5 and have more chance of realising the mistake.
There is a huge variety of standard and age in a mini relay and as much as possible should be done to make sure that someones first experience of a relay is positive. Apart from the loop the planning waa great, it rewarded those that had the confidence to cut across terrain whilst providing a safe but longer route around on the paths. But the mini relay is notorious for teams mispunching, why make it more likely?
Aside from mini relay issues the whole family enjoyed the weekend. So thank you to everyone involved from the organising clubs.
- peteT
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