Radio 2 Chris Evans

[Tatty]

An excellent presentation by BAOC. Realistic and a short, punchy programme.

[Freefall]

A good link up with map reading and military operations and not just Anneka's Treasure Hunting too.

[Becks]

I thought that was really good. Someone get that Blomquist girl a good coat though!

Nice work everyone!

[Ernie_Wise]

Good job. Although I can't help but think that it may have had more of an immediate impact on participation (and I know that was not its intended purpose) if it was aired in the summer...

[Slowtochide]

Some thoughts from someone who was there (and has finally thawed out). Well done BAOC in spotting the oppoprtunity and making it happen. The switch of area requested by the show's producers meant that SLOW got involved late on to provide the area (Battersea Park) and a few warm(?) bodies on the day.

You can see my article and a few more pictures here: http://sloweb.org.uk/clubnews/chrisevans/

My thoughts on the day:
• Disappointed that on the radio show itself (where the mass audience is) all that got mentioned was that this week’s challenge was orienteering and that Chris won. No thoughts about whether they had enjoyed the orienteering or not.
• Pleased about the film coverage. As orienteers you always want our sport presented better this way or that way but on balance it was a decent film. Chris and Johnny seemed to be having fun and using an area like Battersea Park meant that orienteering came over as a running and navigation sport that people could pick up on the day – not an expedition through the wilderness with cagoules and rucksacks.
• Despite the bitterly cold conditions everyone was very good natured. The stars were pleasant to all the helpers, joking and staying around to do publicity photographs afterwards. Especially appreciated from Chris Evans who was clearly not well and was heading off to the One Show studio to find a corner in which to lie down and sleep before the show.
• The care needed to make sure no product branding appears that breaches the BBC guidelines – note how anonymous the celebratory champagne bottle is.
• Fortunate timing! 10 minutes after Johnny had finished his run a group of about a dozen people arrived to plant a tree and hold a commemoration 20 metres from the Start and right on the direct line to the first control!

In summary, 5 hours in the park on a very cold day for some from BAOC and a 6 minute film slot on the BBC website for orienteering.Was it worth the effort? Definitely. A 6 minute video on a website may not sound a lot but unfortunately it probably represents the biggest media coverage of orienteering at a national level this year.

[Slowtochide]

Excellent.

I'm sure there's a good story behind the story that those involved might want to tell us sometime.

I assume the random walker who helped Jonny was an Orienteer, judging by the way he orientated the map. ?

Both Chris and Johnny took the actual race very seriously and went around with no help or interuptions. After the event they each went out with the film crew to get some fill in shots etc. Since Johnny had said at the Finish that he had made a mistake I assume that they decided to dramatise it as shown - the mystery passerby was in fact the Army media man