students wouldn't get out of bed for cash.

[bendover]

I took part in the WESSEX Sprint O Championships today at Bournemouth University Campus. It was a fun event, with really well planned prologue and finals. It was on my doorstep and I'm really glad that I showed my face.

However - one thing bothered/dissapointed me.

There were cash prizes available at todays races for Bournemouth University Students - £60 for the fastest guy or girl student, and £40/£20 for 2nd/3rd.Not a single student from Bournemouth Uni turned up. This is pretty sad, considering the race was on campus, there are halls of residence right next to the campus, and heck, its cash!!!!

credit to WESSEX for offering up the prize money, but the question is why did absolutely no students show up? the only student involvement on the day was a bunch of them stealing a control.

I'm not sure what advice I have here - but it seems that knowledge of the event was limited, even at the university sports centre which was adjacent to the rooms dedicated to the orienteering. When I arrived at the race, I popped into ask at the sports centre reception if this was where the orienteering race was, and the girl behind the counter responded 'I've got no idea, it's nothing to do with us. I didn't even know there was anything going on'.

It's a shame - the event was well organised, the courses were fun and well planned, and the sun shined for most of the day. it just seems a real shame that not a single student could be coaxed out of their beds on a saturday morning, and return home enthusing at (a) discovering a new sport and (b) having well earned cash in their pocket.

I don't want to make WESSEX out as having failed here, but I just wonder if anyone has any ideas as to how this could be avoided next time around? I don't think Bournemouth Uni has an orienteering club so this doesn't help, but perhaps some of the students on Nopesport who are involved in their uni clubs could advise on encouraging participation? I would have thought the lure of £60 would have been temptation enough, especially for say, the athletics or x-country teams.

[roadrunner]

I was going to post something similar but you beat me to it!

I agree with everything you say - both about it being a fun and well-organised event (thanks, WSX) and about it being disappointing that not a single student entered.

I asked if there were any courses you could sign up for on the day, but apparently you needed a Students Union card

[SeanC]

That's an interesting idea. Good on Wessex for trying.

Being a bit charitable to the students, I wonder if students with little or no O experience would have thought that they have no chance of winning a prize?

I suspect once you get a few coming, you will get quite a few as students living on campus might bring their friends? Not sure what the answer is though.

[Tatty]

Must agree with Ben.
Great event - lots of route choice, quick thinking necessary. Well planned. At least I wasn't the only one who went out of the start the wrong way in both the Prologue and the Final. Some were people who were a LOT better and more experienced than me

[Big Jon]

They might not get out of bed for race cash, but they are prepared to go all the way to London to protest against fee increases, there is still hope for them