Regional Events - Have we got it right

[madmike]

Even if we only went for a southern region (SW,SC and SE) vice English, if you went from Hamptworth to Chig and then down to a Kerno event you'd crack 600 miles as well. The country does have a west to east dimension as well as north to south

If you went from deepest darkest Northumbria to Kerno........

[SJC]

But how has the new approach to labelling course changed this? how is the terrain or competition any more mediocre than before?

It hasn't, and it isn't.
There was, and still is, a gap in the competition in England between the Regional Leagues and the Area Championships.
awk's idea of something like an Area league could address this.

[Snail]

There was, and still is, a gap in the competition in England between the Regional Leagues and the Area Championships.

That depends on which region you are talking about.

In say SCOA it is probably true, with the regional league based on old-style colour-coded events - understandably because there are perhaps only 3-4 regional events in the calendar. But in neighbouring SEOA, with perhaps 8+ regional events, it is based on those - and there in't really a "gap" at all.

[madmike]

SEOA has 9 events nominated for the "regional league" next year and I understand there is some talk of London City Race being included to make 10 not sure whether this is wildly aspirational or actually likely to happen. An urban race as a league event is a step in the right direction for me

[Lumpy Lycra]

I've had a minor eureka moment but it might be due to sleep deprivation and rioja. Are LOT and others making a distinction I'm missing betwwen "events" and "competition"??? So a level 2 "event" can allow for both age related classes and the freedom to run whatever course suits, but they feel that losing a "Regional Event" stamp of approval (on courses, area, expected competitors...) has removed a clear level of "competition"?

[EddieH]

Well I didn't bother to vote, because as I see it there's not really any change. It was always possible to enter any course you wanted - if it was below your age you just got listed as NC - come to think of it the new system must be better for those people.
When the new ranking list settles down it should be a real improvement and might be interesting although I shouldn't really comment as I don't think I've looked at the list more than a couple of times since they stopped posting it out.

[awk]

Are LOT and others making a distinction I'm missing betwwen "events" and "competition"???

Competitions are hosted at events. The default is that each course is a separate competition. If organisers want to include other competitions, they can. But on the whole an event is not the competition.