manned finishes
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manned finishes
I know this has been discussed before but what are the rules about manned finishes? I ran a colour coded on Sunday that was also a schools event. The finish was unmanned and by a dual carriageway. I just thought it would have been more sensible to have it manned. Plus it always seems an anticlimax to come to an empty finish - although I can understand not wanting to wait there for hours.
- Guest
The LOC event on Yewdale, and in fact most (all) of the Cumbrian Galoppen District events have unmanned finishes, and there are no problems with this.
On your specific point relating to the dual carriageway... that is a safety issue, and should be dealt with accordingly. Whether it is on the way to the start, from the finish or close to the finish, it is a problem to be solved in its own right. Risk assess!
The finish at Yewdale on Sunday had many people lying about when they finished, and recovering. If you wish you wait and have a chat with folk who finish close to you... otherwise you make your way to download and the banter in assembly. Much better to have the comparison of splits in the car park field when you have changed and got your breath back. And can have one of the nice cakes (!!!) from the NWJS cake stall.
On your specific point relating to the dual carriageway... that is a safety issue, and should be dealt with accordingly. Whether it is on the way to the start, from the finish or close to the finish, it is a problem to be solved in its own right. Risk assess!
The finish at Yewdale on Sunday had many people lying about when they finished, and recovering. If you wish you wait and have a chat with folk who finish close to you... otherwise you make your way to download and the banter in assembly. Much better to have the comparison of splits in the car park field when you have changed and got your breath back. And can have one of the nice cakes (!!!) from the NWJS cake stall.
- RJ
mharky wrote:There are no "rules" for this, but if its a school event then the finish really should be manned
http://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/d ... ppe1p0.pdf
- Guest
The Rules say:
The finish is the most likely place for the report of an injured person to be made. So it should be manned acordingly.
In my experience this is not the case. You go to assembly where your mobile phone is and where the organiser and St John Ambulance are. The rule needs to be reviewed in light of current practice.
The finish is the most likely place for the report of an injured person to be made. So it should be manned acordingly.
In my experience this is not the case. You go to assembly where your mobile phone is and where the organiser and St John Ambulance are. The rule needs to be reviewed in light of current practice.
- RJ
Guest above refers to the very clear guideline in BOF Rules recommending a finish official.
I feel strongly that this should be followed for all events and that the finish should be marked clearly with tapes and/or banners, not just a finish control stuck in the forest.
There is no description of a finish location on the description sheet and people's brains are fogged at the end of the race. It is easy to waste time looking for the Tbar. Also, easy to get lost going back to the assembly if there is not a helpful official to point you in the right direction.
If the event is small and doesn't have the spare person, then have the finish at Assembly. If that isn't possible, then find another helper.
I feel strongly that this should be followed for all events and that the finish should be marked clearly with tapes and/or banners, not just a finish control stuck in the forest.
There is no description of a finish location on the description sheet and people's brains are fogged at the end of the race. It is easy to waste time looking for the Tbar. Also, easy to get lost going back to the assembly if there is not a helpful official to point you in the right direction.
If the event is small and doesn't have the spare person, then have the finish at Assembly. If that isn't possible, then find another helper.
- Guest
I suggest you come and try a few events in Cumbria. We manage exceedingly well. A remote finish is not a problem, we have come to terms with that and don't allow our heads to be sufficiently 'muddled' that we can't follow a few tapes back to assembly.
The assembly area is the right place to deal with the problems that arise on the competition area...... Controls to be replaced.... injured person to recover from the fell.... junior still out after 2 hours... etc etc. The assembly area has people who are adequately equipped to deal with the problem, and who have access to cars and phones that might need to be used.
When control cards were involved and there was a team of ten or so people at the finish, then yes that was the place to go.
And no, it is not necessary to have the finish in the assembly field. But if it is a relay race or a major event where you want the involvement of spectators then by all means bring the finish into the field. Otherwise a remote, unmanned finish is perfect..... come to Cumbria!
The assembly area is the right place to deal with the problems that arise on the competition area...... Controls to be replaced.... injured person to recover from the fell.... junior still out after 2 hours... etc etc. The assembly area has people who are adequately equipped to deal with the problem, and who have access to cars and phones that might need to be used.
When control cards were involved and there was a team of ten or so people at the finish, then yes that was the place to go.
And no, it is not necessary to have the finish in the assembly field. But if it is a relay race or a major event where you want the involvement of spectators then by all means bring the finish into the field. Otherwise a remote, unmanned finish is perfect..... come to Cumbria!
- RJ
Having an unmanned finish beside a dual carriageway certainly sounds questionable where juniors are concerned.
In respect of the Yewdale event on Sunday, Roger may not be aware that there were two finishes owing to the steepness of the terrain. Only the senior courses descended into the valley bottom.
The junior courses looped around to a finish about 150m from the start, which was manned throughout the event (I was on first shift) and a first-aid kit was carried onto the fellside.
In respect of the Yewdale event on Sunday, Roger may not be aware that there were two finishes owing to the steepness of the terrain. Only the senior courses descended into the valley bottom.
The junior courses looped around to a finish about 150m from the start, which was manned throughout the event (I was on first shift) and a first-aid kit was carried onto the fellside.
- RichT
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RichT wrote:In respect of the Yewdale event on Sunday, Roger may not be aware that there were two finishes owing to the steepness of the terrain. Only the senior courses descended into the valley bottom.
The junior courses looped around to a finish about 150m from the start, which was manned throughout the event (I was on first shift) and a first-aid kit was carried onto the fellside.
A perfect example of how it should work! The area was properly risk assessed and the juniors were kept on the 'top' for their entire course. The finish was manned because juniors were involved. I agree wholeheartedly with that. Man the finish when the risks dictate!
In fact, as Richard will concur, the route to the start was along a very steep, rocky path with precipitous edges. This was taped with barrier tape at many places, and was manned at one sharp bend where it crossed a small water course. Again, a proper risk assessment!
The finish is not manned in Cumbria because it is not necessary, not because we don't have the manpower. We have done the risk assessment and have come to the conclusion that the assembly area has the greater availability of 'help & facilities'.
- RJ
RJ - I like coming to Cumbria, so I won't be put off by unmanned finishes! Of course it works - until it goes wrong, like a lost junior, an injured person reaching the finish or vandalism or SI failure striking and there is no finish time.
Races in every sport end with a finishing line - people, support if needed, applause, somewhere for parents to wait. Why are we different?
Races in every sport end with a finishing line - people, support if needed, applause, somewhere for parents to wait. Why are we different?
- Guest
RJ wrote:The Rules say:
The finish is the most likely place for the report of an injured person to be made. So it should be manned acordingly.
In my experience this is not the case. You go to assembly where your mobile phone is and where the organiser and St John Ambulance are. The rule needs to be reviewed in light of current practice.
Thats ok if the assembly area is in close proximity and also you have a mobile reception. Some finishes have long walks back to assembly, time in fact for someone in the forest to get hypothermia.
Fish are friends not food!
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Rich - orange
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Anonymous wrote:Races in every sport end with a finishing line - people, support if needed, applause, somewhere for parents to wait. Why are we different?
I agree. While I'm not a big fan of some of the things we have to do to get publicity for our sport I think having a grandstand finish at every event is important. While finishing the course effectively at the average course's penultimate control is more techinical I think maintaining the finish atmosphere at the finish is good to keep non-competitors interested - something we need to do to keep up numbers.
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FatBoy - addict
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