End of controllers

[RJ]

IMO it is the CLUB, REGION or BOF who are responsible for the event depending on the level of the competition.

If the event is level 3, a local or district event, then it is the club who are responsible. The committee of that club effectively delegate the running of the event to one/two people. The committee make sure the area is appropriate and that a sufficiently up to date map is available, and that there is adequate equipment (physical and human) available to 'staff' the event. The club will also make sure the personnel asked to carry out the tasks have sufficient expertise, and if not, are adequately mentored. No club would want the ignominy of their event going 'pear shaped'.

I think you will find that the better events are put on by the better organised clubs with good, strong, committee structures (and, now, with Club Mark status).

Perhaps the reason why the 'regional' event has fallen into disrepute is that the 'management' of their quality has been lacking and that there isn't a strong enough influence being brought to bear on the events. The 'regions' have failed to specify a standard and clubs are staging the events as 'they' wish to.

[Gross]

The committee make sure the area is appropriate and that a sufficiently up to date map is available,

It is part of the controllers remit to confirm the technical suitability of map & terrain. At WRE level both must be approved by the IOF Advisor. At old National Event Level a grade 1 controller had to confirm suitability (well in SOA area).

A committee taking responsibility for approving technical matters is asking for disaster, they may suggest etc etc.

Interesting that many comments on this thread are from non-controllers

[graeme]

The role of the controller is confusing in many cases. Graeme states he has controlled (or is controlling) a WRE - that is a meaningless statement

Well actually...

The first WRE event I controlled was before they invented IOF Advisors, so I did all the controlling.

For this weeks WRE, the IOF advisor hasn't been in the woods, Ewart Scott and I did all the controlling. Don't know what the formality is - maybe he delegated the responsibility to me - but rest assured we've run all the legs and visited all the controls (GRoss - probably only you're the only one here who is having difficulty the concept - that's what I mean by "controlled")..

So if you like the WRE course, blame the planner, if you don't like it you can blame me. If you want the course longer/shorter, with more drinks, a start someplace else or a different mapscale, then blame the IOF advisor.

[Gross]

if you like the WRE course, blame the planner, if you don't like it you can blame me.

Got to agree with Graeme on that:) It's the way it goes.... good course is good planning, bad course and it's the controller that gets moaned at... goes with the job

[RJ]

The committee make sure the area is appropriate and that a sufficiently up to date map is available,

It is part of the controllers remit to confirm the technical suitability of map & terrain. At WRE level both must be approved by the IOF Advisor. At old National Event Level a grade 1 controller had to confirm suitability (well in SOA area).

I agree with your comments Gross, as far as they go..... as they relate to level 1 events. These are the responsibility of BOF (for UK that is) and Major Events Group will initially look at the suitability of the venue submission by the region. No club involved.

All level 3 events, however, will be initiated by a club committee, and the various officials will be appointed by that committee and adjudged as competent by that committee. That was my point!

It then means that the controller is there as a second pair of eyes and a checker on the standard of the courses and the positioning of the controls. Which is exactly how it works in most clubs, and for most events (as MOST events are level 3!!).