CompassSport Cup Final

[King Penguin]

As I said in this topic on 16 October :

by King Penguin on Fri Oct 16, 2009 1:07 pm

Suggestion for future - ask qualifying clubs to estimate the number of runners they are likely to have per course before the initial allocation of start times. They will not be 100% accurate, but they will be more accurate than the organisers assigning the same number of start slots to all clubs.
I knew as soon as the slots were circulated we would be about 5 short on Brown and Blue men, and had spare slots we would not be able to fill on Orange and Vets Short Green.
I advised the organisers of this immediately, but was told more slots could not be allocated until all entries were in.

[mharky]

it's pretty simple, say you have people from 5 clubs, 10, 8, 7, 5, 3 runners

ABCDE, ABCDE, ABCDE, ABCD, ABCD, ABC, ABC, AB, A, A

fill it up from the back. simples

[Neil M40]

it's pretty simple, say you have people from 5 clubs, 10, 8, 7, 5, 3 runners

ABCDE, ABCDE, ABCDE, ABCD, ABCD, ABC, ABC, AB, A, A

fill it up from the back. simples

What if club A has 20 runners, so over a 3 hour start interval that is one every 9 minutes, and there are 22 clubs altogether to accommodate?

By far the most depressing aspect of the whole business is Oli's use of the word "gotten". What is the world coming to?

[NeilC]

Yes I have a pretty good idea of how many I will have on each course. But I also like the flexibility of having a full range of start times available so that I can sort out split times, family members starting together, those coming up in the same car/bus/coach having similar start times etc.

Thus I think the present system is the fairest and reasonably easy to administer, with perhaps the added clause that additional runners should be spread out more over the start window. We regularly run out of slots on Blue Men Cup and the organisers have always been willing to listen to requests for early/middle/late start slots for the additional runners, however I would have no objection to a more even spread for these runners or even for a maximum number (within reason) to be set for a course per club.

[Scott]

By far the most depressing aspect of the whole business is Oli's use of the word "gotten". What is the world coming to?

There's nothing wrong with "have gotten". It's "have got" that is the hideous modernism.

[Becks]

What if club A has 20 runners, so over a 3 hour start interval that is one every 9 minutes, and there are 22 clubs altogether to accommodate?

Cap the numbers? Which is essentially what any club that has to travel a significant club does anyway, making it a more even playing field.

[Neil M40]

By far the most depressing aspect of the whole business is Oli's use of the word "gotten". What is the world coming to?

There's nothing wrong with "have gotten". It's "have got" that is the hideous modernism.

Not where I come from. Gotten will always look and sound wrong to me, but suit yourself.

[DanH]

Yes it certainly is...... particularly when you are from the same club, know each other really well, and train together.

Wish I hadn't brought this up now! I was in no way suggesting that any SYO guys cheated or tried to get an advantage from start times, just that it is probably something that needs looking at for future races.

Wish I had the gas to stay with Oli, lost close contact when undecisive on the long leg to 12 (he only got ahead of me at 10 in case I start getting accused of cheating!) and I was never going to get it back.

[Mrs H]

I had assumed he was using "gotten" in some quaint Olde English way such as "only a fool would imagine I had any ill-gotten advantage"

Incidently I started on the same minute as Oli and we didn't collaborate at all - but I can confirm he was talking in rhyming couplets thoughout the boxes in the manner:
Forsooth I have a poorly hip
Methinks It will give me gyp"!

[simonbeck8848]

I have pretty much retired from setting the O world to rights, for one thing I dont get online on a routine basis and think it rather rude to post and especially start threads when I wont be able to participate fully in any resulting debate

But I picked out this thread as one worth a look (I've read about 1/3 of the msgs on it) to see what others said about the terrain. I was going to go, to support my club, but cried off as my feet hurt too much, bunions, and arthritis complicating each other.

I was horrified when I saw the map, not surprised there have been a lot of complaints. The other dominating feeling in the debate has been concerning money

Well, both issues have been the subjects of previous crusades by myself and how much support did I get from other orienteers? PRECIOUS LITTLE

I really dont feel the majority of orienteers are in a position to complain about with money or poor terrain. It's their own fault, we're a democratic community, if you dont like it you should have used the procedure in place to set things to rights.

did I get suport when I complained that BOF frittered away the temporary surplus it had when it received a refund on VAT overpaid? No. How much money does BOF spend on hiring conference centres for meetings instead of school assembly halls like it used to? Is this a wise use of funds? If you dont think so, then dont let it happen, or dont complain when BOF siphons off loadsa money from the entry fees.

But when it comes to taking action, are people too nice? Look at what the nice lady wh sorry i cant use this system, it keeps scrolling off the bottom, time to start another message


I feel really bad about starting this thread now - I was expecting a bit of pre-event inter club banter and all that has happened is a lot of rudery directed towards Leicerstershire terrain and unfounded allegations of profiteering.

As for a "bramble patch in Leicestershire" I thought the Middle distance race there in May was the best event I've been to all year and I'm sorry to hear it was not a financial success.

I think it's sad that clubs that regularly qualify have become so blase when first timers like us are feeling very proud of getting there at all and very excited at the prospect.

everyone should of course do as they please - but don't descend into snide swipes about other events to defend your position - it rather weakens your argument!

[simonbeck8848]

I have pretty much retired from setting the O world to rights, for one thing I dont get online on a routine basis and think it rather rude to post and especially start threads when I wont be able to participate fully in any resulting debate

But I picked out this thread as one worth a look (I've read about 1/3 of the msgs on it) to see what others said about the terrain. I was going to to, to suppost my club, but cried off as my feet hurt too much, bunions, and arthritis complicating each other.

I was horrified when I saw the map, not surprised there have been a lot of complaints. The other dominating feeling in the debate has been concerning money

Well, both issues have been the subjects of previous crusades by myself and how much support did I get from other orienteers? PRECIOUS LITTLE

I really dont feet the majority of orienteers are in a position to complain about with money or poor terrain. It's their own fault, we're a democratic community, if you dont like it you should have used the procedure in place to set things to rights.

did I get suport when I complained that BOF frittered away the temporary surplus it had when it received a refund on VAT overpaid? No. How much money does BOF spend on hiring conference centres for meetings instead of school assembly halls like it used to? Is this a wise use of funds? If you dont think so, then dont let it happen, or dont complain when BOF siphons off loadsa money from the entry fees.

But when it comes to taking action, are people too nice? Look at what the nice lady wh sorry i cant use this system, it keeps scrolling off the bottom, time to start another message


I feel really bad about starting this thread now - I was expecting a bit of pre-event inter club banter and all that has happened is a lot of rudery directed towards Leicerstershire terrain and unfounded allegations of profiteering.

As for a "bramble patch in Leicestershire" I thought the Middle distance race there in May was the best event I've been to all year and I'm sorry to hear it was not a financial success.

I think it's sad that clubs that regularly qualify have become so blase when first timers like us are feeling very proud of getting there at all and very excited at the prospect.

everyone should of course do as they please - but don't descend into snide swipes about other events to defend your position - it rather weakens your argument!

[simonbeck8848]

OK sorry it's me again I have such trouble with software, it needed 3 clicks of the submit button to get the last msg to post successfully, will I find there are 3 copies of it on the forum now? apoligies if so.

Here is the continuation. Look at what the nice lady Mrs H has said

1 "I feel really bad about starting this thread now - I was expecting a bit of pre-event inter club banter and all that has happened is a lot of rudery directed towards Leicerstershire terrain and unfounded allegations of profiteering."

The above illustrates how criticism gets turned into allegations of unreasonable behaviour on the part of those who are speaking out even when about something that a great many people clearly agree with. Why should it be considered rude to state the truth about the terrain in Leics? Nobody is saying its the fault of the local club, and when it comes to profiteering, I hardly thing any profit shared out among the helpers would equal the national minimum working wage, I doubt whether the suggestions are serious, perhaps BOF is profiteering, but then again, BOF has to raise its funds somehow, a club like LEIcs cant win, they end up the piggy in the middle.

2

"As for a "bramble patch in Leicestershire" I thought the Middle distance race there in May was the best event I've been to all year and I'm sorry to hear it was not a financial success."

Well, perhaps that is because if the area contains a little bit of good terrain then it's possible to plan shorter courses and not use the cac parts of the area. But why was it a financial failure? presumably because not enough people went to the event. Could this be because whoever decides what events are to be held and where, arent giving the O public what they want and people are voting with their feet?

Simon Beck

[Mrs H]

Well at least he's got me right - a nice lady who doesn't like to complain about BOF

[HOCOLITE]

Mrs H
Re the caterers. Business looked good, coffee was good. I did see Wilfs mugs being filled that was encouraging. I did think the McDonalds style cases for the burgers were unnecessary and probably increased the cost. I didn't get to taste any of 'Bishops best beef' but I'm sure it was nice. I intend to next time.

[Mrs H]

Yes I already mentioned the boxes from an environmental point of view - I think they were some initial free sample - he's looking into alternatives, plus soups and another vegetarian option.