Sprint Jamboree at Daresbury Laboratory and Firs

[JK]

For those of you who like O-sprints of one sort or the other then this year's Daresbury Sprint Jamboree is just for you. 5 sprint races in one day ... something for everyone!

Date: 6th November (day before Chester Urban race)
Where: Daresbury Laboratory, Near Warrington, WA4 4AD

Your challenge should you choose to take it is 4 ... yes 4! ... qualification races, each one with a completely different flavour. Scales and times subject to final mapping and planning:

* mini-labyrinth ... 1:100 ... Can you beat 1 minute?
* micro-orienteering ... 1:750 ... EVERY tree is mapped ... can you get round without repetition, hesitation or deviation?
* urban sprint ... 1:4,000 ... ISSOM 2007 ... route choices aplenty!
* 10 min urban score ... 1:4,000 ... ISSOM 2007 ... don't spend too long planning your route!

The final will be a more technical sprint in Daresbury Firs with some pockets of intricate contours to enjoy. Men and Women's finals will be first to allow for some spectator interest.

And what about the kids I hear you ask? Well for the younger ones we will have Yellowish courses planned as follows:
* mini-labyrinth
* micro-orienteering (easier than the adults)
* 10 minute score (OK probably more like a treasure hunt!) on micro-orienteering map
* Urban Sprint
Followed by a mass-start race in the Firs

NB micro-orienteering is not the micr-O like we have had in previous years so no penalty loops!

See http://www.deeside-orienteering-club.or ... /Flyer.pdf for further details.

JK

[pete.owens]

You forgot to mention that you can make a weekend of it by entering the Chester City race on the Sunday.

[JK]

Well I did mention "Date: 6th November (day before Chester Urban race)", but I could have stressed it more I suppose ... sorry!

JK

[Homer]

JK
Sound great. I'll make an effort to get me and the kids there. Is it EOD?

No Chester race though; we have YBT the following day over at Scunthorpe.

[Scott]

Sounds great - very cheap train tickets booked

[JK]

In answer to your question homer - yes there will be EOD, just make sure you get there in time to do the 4 qualifying races in time.

JK (courses now finalised, final info will be available soon on DEE website)

[andypat]

Guys this sounds like a great event. If it was a wee bit closer to home I'd definitely be there.

This isnt a criticism of the event or its publicity, but I think it epitomises my frustration with the current 3 tier system. I cant get my head round how an event thats set up as a weekend event (and therefore almost by definition encouraging people to come a distance for the weekend) can end up as being defined as a local event.

(I have to say the marketing suggests it would comply with any standards set up for a regional event).

I think thats a shame for two reasons

1. Some people (and I'm prepared to say I'm now one of them) are less likely to travel that distance for a "local" event - and thats partly to do with the ranking points issue ( also partly cost of travel I'll admit))

2. Some people (as happened at the Perth PWT event and the St Andrews event) will probably assume that its a "regional" event from the very good set up and publicity, and travel anticipating ranking points and be disappointed. Incidentally the only way to see if an event is local or regional is to check the BOF event website which is a pain.

Genuionely hope it goes well - you deserve great credit for the innivative set up on Saturday.

[mike g]

Dilemma. Do I ask my fiancee (who doesn't drive) to go to her wedding dress fitting on the train so that I can go to this?

[AndyC]

That's easy -remind her that it is unlucky for you to see her wedding dress before the ceremony and that you don't want to take the slightest chance of accidentally invoking any risk to your future happiness (which is obviously the most important thing in the world to you) and suggest that a female relative, bridesmaid or matron of honour might want to go with her (and drive).

[Neil M40]

This isnt a criticism of the event or its publicity, but I think it epitomises my frustration with the current 3 tier system. I cant get my head round how an event thats set up as a weekend event (and therefore almost by definition encouraging people to come a distance for the weekend) can end up as being defined as a local event.

The original intention of the 3-tier proposals was that they should be L1 - events overseen directly by BOF, L2 - events run within BOF guidelines, L3 - events run outside of BOF guidelines. There was no mention of 'Local' and 'Regional' labels. These were introduced by BOFs initial implementation of the proposals and have led to the sort of frustration and confusion you are talking about, as well as BOF initially making the requirements for L2 too restrictive.

The idea was that any event at L2 or L3 can have a local target audience or a national target audience, depending on the marketing of the individual event. If you ignore the labels 'Regional' and 'Local' and instead think of them in terms of whether or not they follow the guidelines does it make more sense? It also explains why L3 events cannot be used for ranking purposes. (Although most L3s really will be local, there are other innovative events that just don't fit with the existing event structure. I suspect the organisers of this event were more concerned with coming up with an interesting and original format rather than whether or not guidelines were followed - hence level 3).

I have no idea what changes have come in with the 4-tier implementation - I can't be bothered to read it, and I am never going to refer to event levels again.

[seabird]

Neil

I don't think it is yet 100% clear where in practice the divide will fall between Levels B and C. Your club is certainly being forced to call some of what would be its higher profile events Level C, particularly the Urban events - just to hit a Regional conformity and to cope with the shortage of Grade 2 controllers. Who knows how the views of other Regions may change our regional stance.

We should be fairly confident now that all Level D events will be the one man and his dog affairs that keep a club's programme ticking over.

But yes, you are right to read the small print in the event advertising for any level B or C Event. It is probable that in practice many of the latter will be superior to many of the former.

[pete.owens]

This isnt a criticism of the event or its publicity, but I think it epitomises my frustration with the current 3 tier system. I cant get my head round how an event thats set up as a weekend event (and therefore almost by definition encouraging people to come a distance for the weekend) can end up as being defined as a local event.

Well the Chester City Race certainly should be a Level 2 event. A good map, interesting terrain including the "Rows" and the city wall, well qualified officials, - but we are in the northwest - not noted for enthusiasm for the 3 tier event structure.
The unconventional format for the Daresbury event means that it really should be registered at Level 3. It will still be well orgainised, challenging and a proper competition, but I think it would push the credibility of the ranking system if you could gain 5 sets of ranking points on the day.

The good news:
Next year the Chester Race will be a sprint event with heats in the morning and a final on a new map in the afternoon. On the Saturday we are holding a middle distance race at Thustaston - a complex sandstone area on the Wirral. Both these events are registered at Level 2 - so put the weekend of 12-13th November 2011down in your diary for excellent racing, lots of ranking points and early Christmas shopping.

[Spookster]

The good news:
Next year the Chester Race will be a sprint event with heats in the morning and a final on a new map in the afternoon. On the Saturday we are holding a middle distance race at Thustaston - a complex sandstone area on the Wirral. Both these events are registered at Level 2 - so put the weekend of 12-13th November 2011down in your diary for excellent racing, lots of ranking points and early Christmas shopping.

Sounds great! Hope it doesn't clash with Venice, but I have a suspicion it will...

[Homer]

Both these events are registered at Level 2

Don't you mean Level B (or should that be C) ?

Not that I'm bothered either way; it sounds like a good weekend.

[Spookster]

Both these events are registered at Level 2

Don't you mean Level B (or should that be C) ?

The registration system hasn't been changed yet, so he means 2, but they'll become B or C when the system changes.

But that raises a question about what all level 2 events will become "by default" when the system changes. Obviously 1s become As. Presumably 3s become Ds. I assume 2s become Cs, unless there is something "special" about them, in which case you bid to National Fixtures to make them a B.