JK

[Gross]

Thanks for that...as we were not coming as I do badge and the rest of the family do colour coded!

Awwwww.... bless

[frog]

Haggerston castle caravan park near Keloe still has caravans for that weeekend. They're a bit pricy but that's because it's a bit Butlins, with indoor and out door pool with flume, kids clubs inc teenagers club, discos, horseriding, golf etc. Good if you have young kids. It's a pleasant caravan park despite the butlinsiness (but then I loved Butlins as a kid).

[Tatty]

Bit late to be sorting that out now with 2 weeks to go

[youngladdie]

No water/drinks at the JK finish! Why? According to the final details its to reduce the impact of waste - but surely there will be the same amount of waste as everyone just brings their own containers and throws them away instead.
For Day 3, when many competitors will go staright to the start from the car park, and not via the assembly field, they will have a 1.5 km walk back to their car from the finish before they can get a drink - absolutely ludicrous.
The entry fees have increased yet again, yet less facilities are being provided.

On a separate note: Who has heard of the Leibnitz convention? Apparently the elite starts and finishes should be in the assembly area - It would be nice for either ALL starts and finishes to be in assembly, (yes, i know the reason they arent is pobbaly to give everyone a better course); and why treat the 'elite' differently from anyone else - why give them 'special' treatment?

[Scott]

The entry fees have increased yet again

As the organisers keep pointing out, the entry fees are exactly the same as last year.

[mikey]

No water/drinks at the JK finish! Why? According to the final details its to reduce the impact of waste - but surely there will be the same amount of waste as everyone just brings their own containers and throws them away instead.
For Day 3, when many competitors will go staright to the start from the car park, and not via the assembly field, they will have a 1.5 km walk back to their car from the finish before they can get a drink - absolutely ludicrous.
The entry fees have increased yet again, yet less facilities are being provided.

On a separate note: Who has heard of the Leibnitz convention? Apparently the elite starts and finishes should be in the assembly area - It would be nice for either ALL starts and finishes to be in assembly, (yes, i know the reason they arent is pobbaly to give everyone a better course); and why treat the 'elite' differently from anyone else - why give them 'special' treatment?

Have you ever thought of trying a sport you're more enamoured with? How about rowing?

[EddieH]

My sentiment exactly Mikey.

Youngladdie, if your this grumpy now God forbid meeting you when you're Oldman

[Mrs H]

Ha ha ha

[HOCOLITE]

I concur with waste issues if it is individual bottles, but why not tap water in large containers, if cups are a problem ask competitors to bring their own. I need water at the finish, I carry fluid with me anyway but think that there is a get out clause here. Won't look so good if weather is hot and competitors are carted off to hospital with dehydration. Perhaps this has been considered on the risk assessment In Belgium they manage to get drinks points on the courses - a table and water bottles no political correctness of little ones for everyone just help yourself if you need it. But none at all anywhere (if I understand you correctly) is a cop out. Imagine the LOndon Marathon with no drinks

[Gross]

F********g H**ll.................. bbolocks............. I've not even read this crap

[Rookie]

On a separate note: Who has heard of the Leibnitz convention? Apparently the elite starts and finishes should be in the assembly area - It would be nice for either ALL starts and finishes to be in assembly, (yes, i know the reason they arent is pobbaly to give everyone a better course); and why treat the 'elite' differently from anyone else - why give them 'special' treatment?

Nope never heard of it but I don't believe it is any evidence of special elite treatment. I think that's more that the IOF only have true guidance over what happens at world ranking events (i.e. elite) so the final details are just mentioning that it isn't possible. Since the WRE isn't meeting a convention they are just being kind enough to tell us why, and the only relevant place to mention Leibnitz is in reference to the elites. I expect that had it been possible and feasible and sensible then all the courses would start and finish in the assembly area.

Looking forward to it, missed it last year, and the sprint in Newcastle sounds interesting

[awk]

What a load of twaddle! For goodness' sake Hocolite and youngladdie - take a bit of responsibility for yourselves. If you're that concerned about being so dehydrated at the end of a race in the north east in April, simply make sure you take enough drink to the assembly area (don't go straight to the start from the car park), and make certain you're properly hydrated before the start. You should never rely on organisers to provide the sort of drink you need at the finish anyway (which, optimally, isn't pure water anyway, nor the other types of drinks usually provided). However, you're more likely to need a stash of warm clothes.

And please get your facts right before complaining!! The differences between the London Marathon and an orienteering race pretty much make a nonsense of that analogy too, unless perhaps running M21E.

Personally, i think the organisers have got this one pretty much right.

[Freefall]

The organisers have indeed given a lot of thought to these issues. We originally had an offer of help from Northumbrian Water and they withdrew citing credit crunch or similar. Other possible supplier (Abbey Well) didn't even bother to reply. We had issues about transporting quantities of water in any case and decided reluctantly not to provide. We were told we should provide but it was not a must provide. The only must is out on the courses (Elite).

There was absolutely no chance of the starts being in assembly for Day 3. The quality of the courses would have been severely compromised. The planners are both Elite runners and they do know what they are doing and the Convention had to be put aside.

Day 3 Organiser

[Mrs H]

Well it's only about a year ago since I wrote about the provision of water - as long as the arrangements are well publicised in advance then I see no need to provide it and every reason not to when it is provided in individual plastic bottles. As for there being the same amount for rubbish - i don't see that - surely you take the empty bottle you brought with you home again and refill it for the next day!