OK... the BIG publicity event is over (May Bank Holiday in Battersea) so to ask some questions to see how well orienteering was recieved...
1. What level of non-orienteer spectator interest was there on Monday
2. How did the schools festival go down.... how many runners, geographic spread etc
World Cup Question Time
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THere were certainly loads of spectators at Battersea Park yesterday, but as to how many of them expressed interest or what information there was to give them I'm not sure. The enthusiasim of the YOF competitors was there for all to see. they were mainly centred around the London area but also included teams from Oxford, Barrow, Hove, Retford and a Guide/Scout team. Perhaps this participation was down to RDO's who put things on in their areas.
- Tatty
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I can't comment on the non O spectator side, though it was good to see loats of bemused looks whilst I was running round the Parks. (Although also one women going "he nearly stood on my child he did!") One of our start squaddies (I can't remember his name, it's been a long day, was vaulting every fence in front of me and people were standing back with looks of admiration - just what we need!
The kids I took to my YOF had a wonderful day out and really got into the cheering, with all the GB squaddies signing their flags and programs and having a good chat with them. They enjoyed their courses and then took their brothers and sisters out on colour coded courses. I had three requests from parents about further events in the local area (and luckily the TVOC summer series starts 5 minutes drive from their houses next Wednesday evening!) and loads of parents commenting on how athletic, fast and exciting the sport was. I really hope that we get some interest from here onwards, but it's going to need a little more work from us guys to try and draw them in. Fantastic day though, really good.
The kids I took to my YOF had a wonderful day out and really got into the cheering, with all the GB squaddies signing their flags and programs and having a good chat with them. They enjoyed their courses and then took their brothers and sisters out on colour coded courses. I had three requests from parents about further events in the local area (and luckily the TVOC summer series starts 5 minutes drive from their houses next Wednesday evening!) and loads of parents commenting on how athletic, fast and exciting the sport was. I really hope that we get some interest from here onwards, but it's going to need a little more work from us guys to try and draw them in. Fantastic day though, really good.
Will? We've got proper fire now!
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Becks - god
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Spoke to about 20 members of the public whilst control marshalling in the afternoon. They were all very impressed. I couldn't persuade any of them to try it - I think they were put off by a) having to go into the stadium which looked a bit intimidating to the non orienteer and b) not being free. A few said they would check out the BOF website. Hopefully these people will be more easily persuaded to try orienteering in future.
Quite a lot of people just sat on the grass, scoffed ice cream/read a book/argued/tickled each other and ignored everything.
Great event and great atmosphere. Loved the cardboard boulders.
Quite a lot of people just sat on the grass, scoffed ice cream/read a book/argued/tickled each other and ignored everything.
Great event and great atmosphere. Loved the cardboard boulders.
- SeanC
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Were the boulders cardboard? Must have been running too fast to notice...
Whilst marshalling in the morning we spoke to a couple of people, but again, could not convince anyone to actually try it.
Best bit of the day, was popping out of a bush and straight into my best friend who was randomly walking through the park.
Whilst marshalling in the morning we spoke to a couple of people, but again, could not convince anyone to actually try it.
Best bit of the day, was popping out of a bush and straight into my best friend who was randomly walking through the park.
Run rabbit, run
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P2B - orange
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SeanC wrote: I think they were put off by b) not being free. A few said they would check out the BOF website. Hopefully these people will be more easily persuaded to try orienteering in future.
Well a £2 levy on CATIs should put pay to that then
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Mrs H. - nope godmother
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wel i was helpin wit the elites at the start and as far as i could work out the public jus came and had a nosey, tried to buy stuff at wilfs and wer more concerned about which country people were running for! i supose that is kinda takin an interest!
the yof was gud for the little 1s! although i think the folks at the finish shud have made shur it was actually yof kids they were givin the medals to!
pretty gud all round except for the realy sore sun burn! i now resemble a tomatoe!
the yof was gud for the little 1s! although i think the folks at the finish shud have made shur it was actually yof kids they were givin the medals to!
pretty gud all round except for the realy sore sun burn! i now resemble a tomatoe!
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Haze - light green
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"What do you get if you do well? Do you get a prize?". (Three kids on bikes at Battersea)
"Eerr, I think you can win a badge or something. It's very cheap, probably only £1 each."
Children cycle off ....
My local expensive gym gives you a free trial before asking you to pay (sorry, I know you don't approve of horrid gyms Mrs. H!).
"Eerr, I think you can win a badge or something. It's very cheap, probably only £1 each."
Children cycle off ....
My local expensive gym gives you a free trial before asking you to pay (sorry, I know you don't approve of horrid gyms Mrs. H!).
- SeanC
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I thought the sprint-o was a great thing all round. The public seemed to be interested, with plenty of people walking around cheering people in, and asking 'what was going on?', 'which country is that person from?' etc.
Was realy exciting to see the general public actually take an interest! Shame there wern't more banners, or even people with flyers asking whether anyone else wanted to have a go or not?
The atmosphere was great though, and i hope it happens again in different cities around the country!
Was realy exciting to see the general public actually take an interest! Shame there wern't more banners, or even people with flyers asking whether anyone else wanted to have a go or not?
The atmosphere was great though, and i hope it happens again in different cities around the country!
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mat-d - light green
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"Shame there wern't more banners, or even people with flyers asking whether anyone else wanted to have a go or not? "
I guess the control marshalls could have done that. We were given instructions to talk to the public and promote the sport.
I did see the two nutters in dog costumes. Snoopy and Scooby, how did you get on?
I guess the control marshalls could have done that. We were given instructions to talk to the public and promote the sport.
I did see the two nutters in dog costumes. Snoopy and Scooby, how did you get on?
- SeanC
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gross2006 wrote:OK... looks like a success. How about folowing up with a nationwide Grand Prix series in our major cities?
sounds good, i'm up for it.
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mat-d - light green
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gross2006 wrote:How about following up with a nationwide Grand Prix series in our major cities?
With sprint racing becoming more accepted in orienteering as a technical challenge for all, not just our elite runners, this is a prime time to start something like this. There are ample opportunities for this to happen. A series of races similar to the UK Cup, maybe even in conjunction with a few, hosted in major cities. There must be hundreds of areas in cities which are suitable - Edinburgh, Sheffield, Leeds, Birmingham, London - everywhee has areas that could be used.
They are a lot easier to organise than a regional event due to the smaller number of courses/controls, and can easily be held on a Saturday in conjunction with a major event on the Sunday.
For example, AIRE are holding a sprint race at Roundhay Park (venue of last year's National XC Champs) the day before the Harvester Relay this year.
I don't know of any country in the world that has a national sprint series, Sweden at least has the Stockholm City Cup, so why can't the UK be the first?
The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.
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Supersaint - team nopesport
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Supersaint wrote:With sprint racing becoming more accepted in orienteering as a technical challenge for all, not just our elite runners
...and there was me thinking it was the elites who had finally noticed that well-designed street-O can be a technical challenge .
Anyway, we have a series of sprint races set up in Edinburgh on Wednesday evenings over the summer. They're informal, but the emphasis is on quality urban orienteering courses. Anyone who did them last year will know they're accessible to anyone, but pretty challenging at speed. Check out the INT website.
Incidently - which was better technically, Surrey or Battersea? The main message from up here last summer was that the local estate/campus is better terrain than the local park.
But if you're really interested in high speed racing, you'll be trying to extract Rob Lee's cash by coming home first on the long course lap 1 at the Scottish Relays (Er, did I mention that already ).
Graeme
WOC2024 Edinburgh
Test races at SprintScotland (Alloa/Falkirk) and Euromeeting (near Stirling).
Test races at SprintScotland (Alloa/Falkirk) and Euromeeting (near Stirling).
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graeme - god
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Graeme wrote:Incidently - which was better technically, Surrey or Battersea? The main message from up here last summer was that the local estate/campus is better terrain than the local park.
Surrey. The uni campus was more tricky and care had to be taken to not get mixed up with similar/parallel buildings.
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