UK Cup

[Mrs H]

Perhaps the UK Cup thread will get liberated now we have a new co-ordinator. Does any one have any views about the UK Cup - does it lead to anything or is it just for the glory? I see it's going to be extended to 16 races next year - will this be in some way connected to Ranald's new Masters competition?

I see the veteran class starts at 40 and that's it - not much there for us super vets - but having said that I was astonished to see that last year I was third placed woman vet and all because I struggled round the WOC selection sprint and middle races which happened to be down the road If that's the level of competition in the vet classes then it certainly needs a bit of a revamp

But really I just wondered what the UK Cup was for. Do you win anything good like a week's holiday or a case of champagne - or is it just a senior version of the now seemingly castrated FCC series?

[graeme]

The UK cup was a great idea when it came out, introducing new formats and defining the races where the elites could go knowing they would have a quality field to race against. Consequently, it killed the National Events as elite competitions.

Now it has past its usage. We have so many "British Championships" and selection races there's no longer a need to guide the elite towards specific events. But it is basically harmless.

If it wanted to be useful, it would incorporate more mass start races, since IOF have announced this will be part of future WOC programmes and there are few opportunities to practice.

[Homer]

- will this be in some way connected to Ranald's new Masters competition?

As I understand it, no.

They'll probably use many of the same events though. Which raises the question, why does the UK Cup now need a Vets category?
This will just have the effect of diluting competition as some Vets choose to run Elite and gain UK Cup points whilst others run their age class and gain Masters Cup points.

I think Ranald should insist that the UK Cup drops it's Vets awards.

[Big Jon]

Homer wrote "I think Ranald should insist that the UK Cup drops it's Vets awards."

Why - what does this gain either competition. Some veterans will still want to run elite courses against the big boys and girls, why shouldn't they have a separate classification for them? Or is it part of a desperate attempt to force people to run the Masters Cup - next it'll be "you have to run the Masters Cup or Ranald will stop you entering BOC in your age class".

[Mrs H]

Some veterans will still want to run elite courses against the big boys and girls, why shouldn't they have a separate classification for them?

Isn't that a bit of a contradiction ?

[graeme]

What are these vet awards? I never got anything, certainly not a UK cup
But unless you can wipe somehow all the age class information off the internet, I can still see how many points I got relative to the other vets.

[Scott]

I never got anything, certainly not a UK cup

Would the UK Cup be more popular if the winners got one of these beauties?

[Mrs H]

probably only get one of these for coming third - but i'd still have been pleased

[Homer]

Homer wrote "I think Ranald should insist that the UK Cup drops it's Vets awards."

Why - what does this gain either competition. Some veterans will still want to run elite courses against the big boys and girls, why shouldn't they have a separate classification for them? Or is it part of a desperate attempt to force people to run the Masters Cup - next it'll be "you have to run the Masters Cup or Ranald will stop you entering BOC in your age class".

Obviously any Vet can enter Elite if they want to (whether at BOC or any other event).
I just think if there are two (exclusive) competitions taking place which use the same events, both competitions will end up the poorer for it.
If the Masters Cup is to be a success we need as many Vets taking it seriously as possible. Hopefully this might even include Big Jon!

[graeme]

I just think if there are two (exclusive) competitions taking place which use the same events, both competitions will end up the poorer for it.

Like this you mean?

http://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/d ... rule_c.pdf
http://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/d ... rule_b.pdf

[Homer]

Yes.

Like you, I'd much prefer to see separate events for these disciplines.
Then us vets could have the best of both worlds.
And no dilemma whether to enter your age class or elite...

[mharky]

I'd like to see some actual UK cup races. At the moment the UK cup is just a list of events which have UK Cup status. The last one I did was the TVOC Hambledon mass-start. That was an awesome race. Don't seem to get many stand-alone events, and as such not many non-standard formats.

[JEP]

Full list will be published soon in Focus and on BOF Website. Different formats will be in in 2011 - Urban Race, Chasing Sprint and a Mass Start Final.

Early plans are in place for 2012 but still time for some new ideas of formats. I do not think we will go down the MTBO route again though.

[Big Jon]

Hard luck Homer - I've not got the slightest interest in a veteran cup - racing in crap areas at all sorts of time of year. A racing season should be just that - a "season" not an extended 9 or 10 months of slogging round the country, race after race after race. A season should also have a peak - perhaps the British Champs?

[mharky]

Hagaby style mass start
Ultra-long
Trail-o