High entry fee for HH National event

[Tatty]

We've just entered the National event and were a bit put out by the cost It's the same amount as the BOC, but what will we get for our money. Seems a bit steep compared to similar events held recently. Hope it's all singing and dancing!
Perhaps somebody from HH can enlighten us

[Lard]

So why did you enter it?
If people like you keep doing this then clubs will continue to fleece you.

Too expensive, just don't go. Simple.
I can recommend a real nice run nearby instead.Free.

[Mr Chips]

I'm puzzled by this, having just considered whether to enter one or both of these events. BOC would cost me £21 (closing date 3 weeks before the event) but the HH event would cost me £15 (closing 1 week before the event).

[gwynfryn]

I too have been put off by the entry fee especially as there will be a guaranteed entry with FCC, Southern Champs and Interland. The only reason I will be going is because it's a "National" and my lad wants to attend "Nationals" to get championship pts - if it wasn't a National we would not be going and as it is it will only be me and the lad, wife and daughter not going - to expensive. Oh and of course there's the obligatory No dogs rule which has been applied - I tell you - I'll be looking out for flocks of sheep or herds of deer in the car park in Beaconsfield. I haven't entered yet and may just enter the lad and take my old BB map and go for a run around the woods - keep raising the prices lads, I'll make my protest by not entering and go run/climb up a mountain for free.

[Angry Haggis]

For what it's worth, I specifically decided not to enter this event because I felt it was too expensive. (I'm sure there is a good reason why it is so much - access costs maybe?)

[Nimby]

I'm expecting valet parking and fresh-squeezed orange juice at the Finish.

[Arnold]

For what it's worth I agree, in particular because Burnham Beeches should need close to zero remapping, having been used for major events in 2006 (National) and 2007 (CSC qualifier). Not sure what will be provided can justify the £7 premium over a typical regional event (unless there really is freshly squeezed OJ).

Looks like a bit of a case of monopolistic pricing - if you want the Champs points, the FCC points, qualify for various other races, you haven't got much choice than to enter, so they might as well set the price high.

Is there any control on price setting for this sort of event, or can the club alone decide?

[RS]

The acronym FCC guarantees parents will take their competitive juniors to such events , irrespective of cost, as they don't want their offspring to be disadvantaged. Junior-less punters should vote with their feet and IMO should be joined by these families who feel obliged to enter irrespective of the cost.

[distracted]

Why are you all on here moaning again? What's the problem? Why is there this inherent idea that event entry fees should be the bare minimum possible and just about cover costs? Why do orienteers have this strange mentality that an event entry two or three quid above what you might expect is suddenly good enough reason not to go?

This is the first of the new Area Championships - it is meant to be the top of the tree in terms of quality and provision and I would expect the facilities you would get at a top level championships event. The status of the event means that you also have an FCC race, plus it is deemed good enough to have an international competition running alongside. In the majority of other sports/activities, if you were only charging 15 quid for one of your top level events they'd probably think that was cheap! There is a reason people link cost and quality... as ultimately, you get what you pay for.

The relative proportion that an entry fee makes up is nothing compared to transport costs, food & accommodation for those staying overnight if doing the Chasing Sprint as well. And how have event entry costs changed over the years? - my bet would be nowhere near the amount food/petrol have gone up in the last year alone, if it is anywhere near the rate of inflation I'd be surprised.

[DM]

People are moaning because they noticed an apparent jump in costs. Maybe we will get all the trimmings and come away thinking "that was really good". We don't know the costs involved that HH have to cover but I do know that local authorities are increasingly looking to make money out of everything , South Manchester want £60 for use of park areas where we run Intro events - we'll try passing it on but if numbers drop we'll look for different areas.

Personally I won't mind if the £2.50 "extra" I'm paying here (Burnham £15/Graythwaite £12.50 yes I know its now a regional....) is used to heavily market the event to NON orienteers and get them along to the event having a go, even though the BOF list says no EOD the club flyer says there is limited EOD (and offering more choices than the usual W - LG) Perhaps if some newcomers saw a really good event they would come back for more - join a club - get involved etc.

[Red Adder]

Whilst not knowing what sort of charges HH are having to pay for land access etc, it seems a bit steep when you consider that I attended a perfectly acceptable colour coded event last Sunday. EOD (so the organising club took to risk of a poor-turn out if the scary weather forecast put people off) bang up-to-date map, overprinted and bagged, electronic punching, free parking within 150 yds of start and finish, well planned course - only downside was lack of loos (unless you bought something at the shop in the parking area), but we knew that so stopped at nearby Tesco's - and all this for just £3.50.

[Cave Man]

I am surprised that some posts are suggesting they will not enter this Championship Event because it is a few quid more than a Regional Event. I admit to having noticed the discrepancy in pricing between this Event and Graythwaite (which is also FCC) and wondered why (it would be nice to know) but it won't stop us going. Why miss a National /FCC/Interland Event when O is your sport? I don't expect footie fans would miss a Champions League Match because the ticket prices were more than a usual Saturday game.

[awk]

The usual arguments being trotted out - it's only part of a weekend involving travel, accommodation etc; all that extra value; etc. etc. Frankly, I don't care. If we see an event as being too expensive, we won't enter. We didn't enter Burnham pretty much on cost reasons alone - not just the price of the event, but also because two long hauls south in two weekends is too much both in terms of time costs and financial costs. Not a decision we wanted to make, but that's life.

Why miss a National/Interland/FCC event when O is your sport? Simple - because there are other events which are cheaper and more fun. Experience has show us that Nationals often don't provide the best events by a long chalk (at least ones we enjoy the most) - I can't think of one from last year that ranked amongst our favourites (other than British/JK, see viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9205#p101834). There are plenty of good quality events and weekends away at half the entry price, and this price difference adds up over time.

To be honest, we entered the British pretty much without thinking, and I'm regretting that on financial grounds.

None of this is a moan - simply an explanation of why we're not entering events like Burnham.

[Tatty]

Lard - we've only entered as it's an opportunity to see some of our lads. They live rather distant from us and 2 of them will be there

[madmike]

Where do I start:

easy one - I am a dog lover! I would love you all to bring your dogs but the landowners have expressively forbidden it - no land permission = no event!

a bite: I resent the unjustified assertion I am fleecing anyone - I will publish the full accounts in due course.

Astute comments: absolutely right on the thought that land owners are looking for any way to raise money and the access charges are the main driver of the cost. It is a level one event and aim is to have bells and whistles appropriate to an event of that level.

Humour; if you knew the any of the car parking team you wouldn't want them valet parking anything

I'll go back now and look at some othe rcomments and offer responses!