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Just to second everything above. Especially the comment about being glad to have chosen Scotland over Switzerland. I've said before that I think the Scots 6 is the best organised event in the world - sounds like the Swiss set out to prove it this year.

As for the areas, I thought four were exceptional, and the other two merely good. Dalrulzion certainly has technical merit, but I found it physically nasty, getting 'stabbed' several times by broken branches as I tried to get through the trees. Kinnoull wasn't quite as technical as the others (but I still made mistakes). The variety was fantastic.

Can't wait for Oban, especially as I shall be at the young end of my age group....

just a comment on how enjoyable the atmosphere was in assembly and that the commentry was great. I actually felt pretty sad to be leaving, knowing that really enjoyable UK O events with great atmosphere and a chance to meet people are few and far between (JK and BUCs - have yet to go to a British)
As it was unintrusive the music was also good - meant there wasn't loads of dead space. Could quite easily while away 3 hours waiting for/after my run!- although I never heard Mr. Manfedi on the soundsystem (must have just missed him )

the 2 times I got announced, it was with 'and that's only good enough for 16th place', to which I raised my arms in the air and showed my satisfaction with that result!

IanD wrote:I've said before that I think the Scots 6 is the best organised event in the world - sounds like the Swiss set out to prove it this year.

The swiss on the whole was extremly well organised and better than the vast majority (all?) of the british events I've been to this year. Obviously it's hard to be at both to make a direct comparsion about organisation... although some euromeet compotitors did half and half. Obviously you think the scottish has sun shining out of it's arse, but having run at the swiss, and seen all the scottish maps, I'm really glad I went to the swiss.
Pity they seem to clash in 2011 again.

Funny Runner I am sure the Swiss was great in many ways - the Zermatt one was THE most amazing event imaginable, but at least 2 days would have been cancelled altogether had the event been held a week later.

This year's Scottish 6 day was brilliant and is certainly far more family friendly. No other multi-day I know has such variety, and this year every day was really good. In general I'd say that Switzerland tends to come second to Scotland in providing variety so I'd rate both very highly - great pity they clash.

Well having taken a week to let the impressions settle I thought Tay 2009 was better than i expected it to be. Of the 6 S6D I've been to i rank it 4th as a holiday orienteering event after Royal Deeside, Highland 99 and Moray 2003.

the good things were
1 The Weather
2 The variety of terrain
3 Per Forsberg commentary (excellent)
4 Run in competition (obviously)
5 Bus service (excellent)
6 Campsite (very attractive)
7 Daily new letter
8 Programme leaflet
9 Good Assembly Areas every day

The bad things were
1 The brashings from the yellow start on Day 1 (bad start to the week- best result)
2 The rain while helping at the start on day 2
3 The quiz (quite dire)
4 Expensive food at the event centre
5 No chemical toilet disposal (a bit awkward)
6 The merchandise was a bit disappointing - I wanted another of those ladies' cut t shirts like last time - but i ended up with a laundry bag - and the handle broke before I got it home - but the colours were nice. But what I'd really like is a commemorative o top (good quality - order in advance?) and a nice fitted half zip micro fleece.

The jury's still out on
1 the sprint race - it started well in Scone Palace grounds and finished well at the race course but the middle bit was tedious (so tedious I mispunched as waving to the lurking photographer seemed more interesting that punching a control in yet another clump of trees) not really a great advert for sprint racing.
2 the scoring system - it was good that is was easy to undewrstand and see what you needed to do - but lacked subtlety. I think i would have done better under the old scheme as on my good counting days I beat the rivals by many minutes but on my bad counting days they piled in seconds in front of my. Of course the only really fair scorinbg system is for every day to count and add up the total time like at the o-ringen.

So If success is when reality exceeds expectation then Tay 2009 was certainly a success if not quite, to my mind, a classic.

Rain on day 2 Mrs H. It must have only rained on you

It would seem that the short course competitors did indeed suffer on day 1 as shortly before the event foresters had turned a beautiful runnable forest into a brashing fest. The higher slopes were beautiful

The ONLY thing that stops it being a real classic for me was the travelling distances.

EddieH wrote:Rain on day 2 Mrs H.

Sorry I meant Day 3

Must agree with everyone who praises the event. Having done all 17 of them, but 3 short of the 100 as my husband forever keeps reminding me ( 2 days to take BOF Tours to Sweden, 1 day when he broke his ankle, so we had to go to hospital), the event is always enjoyable, though some more than others. Enjoyed the terrain theis time, apart from my run from the Yellow Start on Day 1. It is so good to be able to catch up with our friends from all over the Uk, and to compete at my own level. Enjoyed the commentary, partly done by number 3 son, and the very prompt prize giving on the final day (number 2 son!)
roll on 2011 - we've already booked our Cottage, but it wasn't easy. First few people thought we were joking and wouldn't accept a booking as they hadn't set their prices - even though we said we'd pay wjhat ever it was!!
2009 ranks highly on my list, but number 1 will have to be Grantown where the locals were so amazing!!