British Champs

[Karen]

Does anyone know the start times for BOC?
I really can't find them, and it affects what start block I choose.
Thanks

[Snail]

Email them? Links on this page: https://www.theboc.org.uk/page/556

Agree that they really ought to provide an outline of timings before entries close (in a few days).

[distracted]

WRE Bulletin states start times for elite class are 1030 to 1330; I'd imagine the main start block will be similar to that.

[Karen]

Thanks, I'll send an e-mail to check....

[Karen]

Got a prompt reply.
Start times will be between 10:30am and 1:30pm.
I did ask for non-elite start times.

[Karen]

And now they are on the website as well

[Lard]

Now that weekend really was awesome. Tough AND technical. Loved it, despite my health not allowing me to give my best. Lakeland, I salute you.

[IanD]

Loved Bigland. Technical & tough, but not unpleasant.
Didn't like Grizedale. I orienteer for enjoyment as well as challenge, and being stabbed by dead spruce branches is not my idea of fun. Not often I come back from a good run (3rd best in past 12 months according to BOF rankings) thinking "thank god that's over".

I suspect there's an age split here. I chatted to some even older than me, and they were even less complementary about Grizedale. I wonder whether a less distant start and more use of "white" woodland for the shorter courses might have helped?

Organisation top-notch all round so far as I could see.

[yted]

Fantastic orienteering at Grizedale (aged 74).

[Homer]

Grizedale is rough and physical. It's also one of the best areas in England. Hence entirely suitable for the national championships.

If we ruled out areas because they are too rough then we'd be ruling out many of our best areas. Grizedale is (at least) a second generation forest in common with many areas nowadays. It was much nicer back in the 80's and 90's before most of it was felled and replanted, but now we have to deal with old tree stumps, brashings, etc.

Personally I think the Planners did a good job of linking the best bits together with longer route choice legs which inevitably involved some track running. I'm not sure there are any less rough bits suitable for the eldest competitors.
I really enjoyed the challenge. It certainly found me out, but I was far from the only one...

Thanks to all who made it happen.
I appreciate the work required having just been involved in the organisation of the JK.

[Len]

If we ruled out areas because they are too rough then we'd be ruling out many of our best areas.

Sounds like there is no such thing as too rough then, is that a good thing?

Personally despite not having great ankles I don't mind most rough stuff - rocky ground, tussocks, I don't mind brambles (to a point) - but I avoid any event where I can work out there are any sections of windblow/felled woodland. It's simply horrible. Don't understand how anyone can enjoy it tbh.

[graeme]

Grizedale is rough and physical. It's also one of the best areas in England. Hence entirely suitable for the national championships.
If we ruled out areas because they are too rough then we'd be ruling out many of our best areas.

If its too rough (by which I mean people aren't able to run and mapread), then pretty much by definition its not a good area or suitable for the national championships.

The issue is, "too rough for whom". Grizedale is too rough for me, so I never considered going. But that's OK for a National championship where the point is to find the best orienteer, not give a nice day out for the slow and unstable. How should we deal with a situation where most competitors in older age classes can't run safely?

I think its fine to put on highly technical, very rough events where people can decide whether its for them or not. Anyone who doesn't fancy the terrain can take the chance to organise (hello Xmas cup). But the British always used to feel like a must-do, and I'm sad that its now a can't do.

[forest grump]

No chance of getting scratched to death my person eating trees next year. If I recall from the Welsh 6 days last year there isn't a tree on the map, although the weather might not be up to much on the top of a welsh hill at the end of February! https://www.croeso.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#3

[greywolf]

If I recall from the Welsh 6 days last year there isn't a tree on the map,

Presumably everyone who was there last July will have to declare themselves non-competitive

(2.6.1 For Championship classes, competitors must declare themselves non-competitive if their acquaintance with the terrain would give them substantial advantage over other
competitors. Nothing that occurred more than 24 months before the date of the event will be taken into account.)

[King Penguin]

If Grizedale last weekend was unpleasant Lakes terrain the contract with Knipe Scar and Angletarn Pikes this weekend could not have been greater. Superb open fell areas, again with glorious weather.