Hiding a control

[LostAgain]

I was the planner at an event recently where a control, well away from paths and public access was hidden by a "fellow orienteer". The control was actually covered with bracken etc. This clearly affected many people's run only being corrected when one of the gaggle of orienteers gathered, noticed the tip of the cane protruding from the heaped undergrowth.

Fortunately, the event used SI and I was able to minimise the effect of the blatant and malicious cheating, but this was a real chore and required alot of number crunching across affected courses.

Has anyone else come across such issues?

[Mrs H.]

out of interest - how do you know it was a "fellow orienteer" and not a disaffected dog walker or the like?

[LostAgain]

You can never be 100% sure, but I am 95% certain coming to this conclusion by the location of the control. It was one of the most technically demanding controls well away from public access.

[Jon X]

If it was an SI event then were you able to work out the likely suspects (e.g. last one to punch at that control, likely next few to arrive at it, etc)?

[Mrs H.]

interesting - by looking at splits you should be able to work out who was the last person to visit it before it went missing - out of interest again - do you think you know who did it?

Oh Jon - you beat me to it

[schnitzer]

Surely the more interesting debate if it was an orienteer is whether or not it was done on purpose. I remember having a conversation only recently regarding controls where kites were hanging at 45 degree angles or less and even ripped out the ground and just lying on the floor. Some competitors will not stop running when visiting a control site and will drag the SI unit along with them until a beep is audible. Just a suggestion.

Then again - if it was as blatantly hidden as you say then maybe not.

[bendover]

its come up on the forum before - there was a swedish guy who got found out due to the wonders of SI punching at the 2000 O-Ringen. he got named and shamed, rightly in my opinion. i think he might have got a years ban too.

i'm of the opinion that anyone who is caught hiding controls (okay - maybe make and exception for schoolkids) should be subject to a short ban from major competitions. Perhaps that could be limited to any registered member of BOF?

[brooner]

okay - maybe make and exception for schoolkids

hmph bloody schoolkids. my first 4 events ever were ruined by hidden/stolen controls at school events, was getting a bit fed up with this "sport" by the 4th DNF in a row (and my teachers weren't too impressed either).

[LostAgain]

SI allows the identification of the most likely culprit, however, without a witness then you cannot be 100% certain and therefore it would be remiss of the event officials to name and shame, innocent until proven guilty.

It would appear that this is an exceptionally rare occurence, I had not come across it before and by the numer of hits and few replies neither have many others. We have all been to events where there has been public disturbance of controls or the dragging of punches or dropping of kites by orienteers this is an unfortunate facet of the sport. But malicious removal or hiding of controls by fellow "orienteers" seems very limited, may it forever remain so.

[Kitch]

If you can tell from splits the likely culprit then it is worth highlighting this fact -
here
perhaps a letter to compass sport.
basically - the message is; to anyone - don't think you can do this without being identified.
is it worth logging possible culprits centrally - with BOF maybe ?
In this way patterns / common factors could be identified.

[Mrs H.]

SI allows the identification of the most likely culprit, however, without a witness then you cannot be 100% certain and therefore it would be remiss of the event officials to name and shame, innocent until proven guilty.

Yes of course this is the case - but there is more than one way to skin a rabbit. I would recommend contacting the suspect and saying totally ingenuously (look it up) " Oh, by the way, you were the last person who successfully punched that control before it went missing - did you see anyone acting suspiciously or going into the control as you were coming out?" That way they know they have been identified - you have not accused them of anything - but they sure as hell would have to be pretty damn stupid to risk being associated with a missing control again.

It may not be a punishment but it is a deterrent - and it will work on kids too!

[mharky]

If i was going to hide a control to cheat i would punch, go and hide, wait for GG to punch, then hide the control, so nnot only will everyone after me not find it, but they will also think it is GG. Mwuahahahahahahaha....

have i just given a seriouusly desperate loser annd idea do you think?

Moving controls to beat other people is a pathetic thinng to do, if caught they should be put in a stockade or somthing. What standard of event was it, i bet it was somthinng lame as well.

You could atleast kind of understand some ones motivation to try this at WOC, but at colorcodeds. hmmm.

[fell]

There is a minor problem in the western suburbs of Melbourn where people (locals) will get to the baseplate controls with bolt cutters and cut through the metal plate just so they can get/steal the chain.