Where do we go from here?

[Mrs H.]

Well, it's a bit odd to think this morning that 9 months' work is all over - but I just wanted to thank everyone who contributed to making the event centre and camp site - what seemed to me at least - to be a great success.

I'm sure there will be those who will say otherwise - but I thought you all behaved brilliantly - coped with the showers with great good humour and entered into the spirit of things. Personally, I didn't hear a sound on the camp site over night (once I'd found our young Irish friends a place to chat away from the tents!)

things were occasionally a bit chaotic, but I thought that added to the atmosphere. I can't thank Liz and Paul Furness enough for their superb quiz - and as for the banter evening - what can I say? Quite simply astonishing. I always had every faith in the boys to carry it off (the juggler was a nice last minute addition wasn't he - and as long as i live I will not forget the pipers - but thank you to all of you who had the balls to stand up there and do your bit - you are all BIG people - especially little JOY - I hope you liked the posters, the flowers and easter eggs etc.

Away from the event centre things semed to have gone well (with the obvious hiccup). I know many of you thought that the Jk in the midlands would be a dissapointment - but success is when reality exceeds expectation - so I hope you were pleasantly surprised

Did the public tent/family zone work? What about the phone line (We did not expct the results to be so late - but plenty of you phoned anyway)- you tell me - because i can tell you that every move was being scrutinised by next year's organisers - even to the point of them wanting to know how much beer we drank.

If you all want more extra value out of events in future - you must speak up - I listened to you - and just at the moment people are listening to me - so before that last JK 2005 meeting in a fortnight's time - give me some feedback and let's keep the ball rolling!

I love you all (she says rather tearfully)

[mikey]

Did the public tent/family zone work?

YES - really useful. Seemed to be well used and was a really helpful feature of the assembly area for those like me who didn't have a club tent to dump stuff in. Thanks.

[Klebe]

Difficult one to get right this.

I was very suprised that the JK merchandise had already sold out of many items of various sizes by 1st thing on Day 1. We were there as the merchandise turned up on Saturday only to find that many of the items we would have liked had already gone. I am sure we were not the only ones who did not make it to the training day and were left disappointed.

This is not a criticism of anybody as the last thing the organisers want is stock left over at the end and it must be incredibly difficult to pitch the quantities just right. Maybe the quantities of merchandise by colour type and size sold this year (as well as those items which sold out very early)need to be passed on to next years organisers to aid the planning.

Liked the simple logo design on the sweatshirts etc, and the hoodies looked great.

[Lumpy Lycra]

Liked the simple logo design on the sweatshirts etc, and the hoodies looked great.

which is why they sold so fast. And I believe the supplier didn't manage to meet the full order. But ultimately event merchandise was a money raiser for the WMJS who must be delighted not to have dozens of unwanted t-shirts.

[Mrs H.]

It is indeed a difficult one - the road to orienteering oblivion is strewn with half price grey marl sweatshirts - but I think I understood that a post event order may be made - get in touch with Mel to see.

[Blanka]

but I think I understood that a post event order may be made - get in touch with Mel to see.

Is there an email address for her?

Thanks!

[Liz F]

Mel and I have discussed the logistics of post event orders and it is just not feasible. Please accept this - we have gone round and round and will have thought of all the options through to conclusion ie getting the garment of your choice to you wherever you may be.

Thanks to everyone who was complimentary about the colours/choice/logo/price and who understood that we did not have a)a crystal ball b)endless supplies.

We sold 795 garments (many more than the year before - we did have their numbers)and have passed on our market research to next year's JK merchandise organiser.

[Tatty]

A greatr weekend. Thought the organisation was terrific. Car parking was brilliant - amazed so feww people spuin in the mud on Day 2!! Mrs H, please pass on our thanks to the Organising team.

[Guest]

How about 3 days close together to do away with the 3 hours drive to & from day 1? Yes Brown Clee probably is HOCs best area, but surely an area closer to the event centre could have been "borrowed" for the weekend? By the time we got back and eaten, the clocks had changed and it was time to get up and run again.

Thought organisation was great - loved the assembly and terrain (nothing too technical, but very enjoyable orienteering) on day 2.

Electronic punching on the string courses on day 2 & relay was very user friendly, too.

The caps to identify helpers was good, but if they had been a bolder colour the helpers would have been more conspicuous.

[gg]

But then again, some helpers might have been less inclined to wear bright yellow caps.

[Mrs H.]

Guest - If I managed it i'm sure everyone else could - you are actually the only person i'v heard complain about that. I really don't think you can hold us responsible for the hour changing or your slow driving (It took me an hour each way)

Last year the events were marvellously close together and the event centre was 30 miles away down narrow Lakeland lanes - which we had to negotiate in a campervan every evening to attend various meetings etc - we managed it without complaint - because it was our choice to come!

Name a suitable area we could have "borrowed" - probably in Wrekin and Potoc as I can't imagine another region embargoeing one of their premier locations for two years. And imagine the moans if we hadn't laid on our best possible terrain.

Remember - no-one has come forward to host JK2007 so don't make it harder than it is.

GG's right about the caps - I hadn't expected to want to wear mine at all but actually thought it looked reasonably distinctive - especially teamed with the black hoody.

[Stodgetta]

Mrs H, you're sounding defensive!

It was a good weekend.

I think that guests point about the caps is valid, though. Lots of people were wearing caps, they look great, gave a "corporate image" and I will wear mine in the future. As a way of identifying a helper from a distance, though, they weren't brilliant (the fluorescent car parkers jackets were much more successful in that respect). I guess it depends on the main aim of having them.

I did overhear several people complain about the distance between days 1 & 2. It took us well over an hour to get there in mid-morning traffic with Fatboy driving, and I bet there were people staying further afield than Stafford. From my point of view, we got home at 5.30pm, and had 9.30 starts the next morning, so never got chance to make it over to the event centre. This is not a criticism.

[Mrs H.]

I haven't heard anyone come up with a suitable alternative venue. And everyone was free to stay where they chose. Stafford would not have been my first choice.

Interestingly, at committee Walton chasers were against any form of identification apart from a badge - I pointed out they would be hard to spot from a distance - and impossible from the back. I was against caps and wanted jackets - but actually thought the caps worked rather well.

This isn't really the direction i wanted this thread to take - it was an opportunity for people to say what worked for them - so that people at future events will take note.

As for being defensive - that's what good parents are meant to be of their babies - i'm sure you would be the same

[Klebe]

I thought Guests comment was more of an observation than a criticism. The general tone of the posting is quite complimentary, don't be so defensive Mrs H, you did an excellent job, the weekend went well, and everybody seemed to appreciate all the effort that had gone into making it an excellent weekend of orienteering. Travel to events/event centre is always going to be an issue at multiday events depending on the host region and individuals accommodation preferences.

We weren't given our caps until the event was over on day 2. .. at least we had the flourescent jackets.

[FatBoy]

I think if we're not careful this will descend into the usual debate about whether JK should be done by rotating regions. Given the premise of the three big WMOA clubs basically doing a day each I think it worked out pretty well. This wouldn't work anywhere near as well in say SW. Day 1 in Ringwood Forest, Day 2 Burrator and Relays in Forest of Dean? Don't think so.

Given all that I think it was a good JK really. Looking at the Brown Clee map didn't enter the far SW of the hill which caused me so much pain last time (94!).

I hope nobody sees this as nit-picking, just constructive criticism based on my personal JK. Anything not in this list take as a pat on the back job well done:

3 days, 3 courses finished, 3 splits printouts with "Disqualified" written on, 3 reinstatements. I know all 3 reasons why, and they're all different. Whatever we need to get this right please do it.

Running out of water at the finish on day 1.

Day 1 last starts too close to the courses close.

Start allocations last/first and first/last. This can't be fair.

I thought the first two controls on the relay were too far apart - broke the flow of the first leg pack.

I repeat - all other jobs well done! Obviously tecnically we were never going to match Graythwaite but I did feel that the organisation was a step up from last year's high standards.