When Orienteers go bad!

[Suzy R Sopham]

On the run-in on Day4 at the lakes, I was running past people when, what can only be described as, an 80 year old Zidanne in green pyjamas shoved me sidey-ways shouting, "take your time, there's only enough room for one on this path!"
You can see the results of my ankle injury below and I struggled to even get around on Day5 (especially through the felled area for the last 3 controls, which were not marked on the map!).
What possesses people to be so ignorant and nasty to fellow competitors? We've all seen it at relays, but this is usually forgiven due to "the heat of the moment". In this increasingly litigious society, if this trend continues, how long is it going to be before people start suing BOF for Public Liability claims?
Whilst hobbling back to the assembly, in between cursing, many other finishers were telling similar stories of times when they were assaulted at the run-in by competitors charging for the finish. On reflection, perhaps this is why the old man reacted so; perhaps, from past experience, he had been mowed-down and was carrying out a pre-emptive strike!
I wonder if this could be avoided by controllers ensuring that, when all courses have the same last control, it is not sited in a ditch and there is more than 1 SI unit?

[HOCOLITE]

Your story reminds me of an event witnessed on the Scottish last year. The run in was pretty narrow with rocks and trees strewn along it. A young Scandanavian(probably 20 ish) came blasting along with arms flailing everywhere, he so very nearly caused a young child to fall headlong onto one of rocks and an older lady to come face to face with a tree.
Either controllers/planners need to allow for the over enthusiastic with run ins and have them where there is space for all or have a very short one where speed cannot be attained.

[mharky]

he so very nearly caused a young child to fall headlong onto one of rocks and an older lady to come face to face with a tree.

...that means he didn't, right?

[HOCOLITE]

Yeah he didn't but it was very close and the action totally unnecessary

[DesignatedDriver]

theres another thread in here somewhere about this.

lots of examples of other stuff like this, and general bad sportspersonship stories.

people are getting more and more competitive

and in my experience, less and less well-mannered

(and that isn't just in sport!)

[Crispy]

DD

I think this was the thread:

http://www.nopesport.co.uk/forum/viewto ... ompetitive

started by your good self after travelling at 50mph behind someone in lane 3 of the motorway!!

Chris

[DesignatedDriver]

forgot about that.

and unfortunately my driving has not calmed down any.

although in my defence i have never pushed someone out of the way. (either on the run-in or the motorway!)

I am actually surprised there hasn't been more run-in related injuries.

[mharky]

You know when you go down the swimming pool and the lanes are out, slow, medium & fast.... I guess the o-ringen is kind of like that anyway.

[FatBoy]

Maybe I've been lucky but have not had a run-in incident either way. Maybe it's because I'm middling speed. Hope your ankle gets better soon.

Talking of O-Ringen lanes (getting sidetracked somewhat) - first day 2004 going up our lane in deep mud I was suddenly aware of being gradually overtaken by a very young girl. I know I'm not that quick, and I've been out nearly 2 hours but this is ridiculous! A glance over indicated that funnily enough the kids lane next door wasn't anywhere near as cut up as the lane with all the elephants that make up M21L, M21, M21S etc...

[mharky]

i remember tales of a british guy who was in the armed services who fancied himself of a bit of a sprint finish king. he got several fastest run-in splits during the week. on one of the last days the run-in was very cut up and muddy. when he came to the beginning of the lanes he noticed one of them was in much better condition, so he legged it off down that one, then jumped to tapes towards the end. supersaint can maybe fill this story out abit.