Scottish Sprint Champs

[frog]

A plug for this which we are holding next Saturday.
There are 3 courses although the under 16 course doesn't have as much running round the buildings as we'd like due to the "kids can't cross roads" rule, but still has a bit, so it's not just tree to tree.
There is also a yellow course by the riverside for novices and to keep the younger ones occupied. There will be alot of spare maps for EOD on this course.
After last years moans on here about not enough medals/ not having champions in each age class there will be a named champion for each BOF age group in the new rules (on the SOA website), and I've just ordered a load of medals (gold only, so you'll have to try hard).
Folk from the church we are using for the event will also be selling tea, coffee, cake, soup and sandwiches.
Details here http://www.computing.dundee.ac.uk/staff ... nt2011.asp
Please try and enter by tomorrow online if you're coming although we can accomodate a few late entries and EODs but best to email the organiser to reserve a map if you are after the entry date.

[frog]

We don't have any trophies. Any age group winners are welcome to buy a trophy, engrave their name on it and pass it on however, although sometimes trophies are just a pain to have to remember to return the next year.
Also we'll have some of our permanent course maps on sale £1.50 for St Mags or the Hermitage, £2 for Kinnoull Hill.

[andypat]

Any advice re footwear frog? Given the recent wet weather was wondering whether I can get away with road shoes or if its mainly going to be on grass.

[daviemore]

I'll stick some terrain notes on the final details, but......
Its about 80/20 on/off road, but one grassy section is a bit muddy so some grip may be useful.

[andypat]

cheers Davie
Thats realy helpful to know

[lindseyk]

Apologies for a minor highjacking of the thread, but myself and Hilary Quick are running an Event Safety Workshop for Organisers and Controllers immediately after the Sprint Champs (2 - 5pm approx) in the same church hall as the event is using.

Numbers are a very low and the workshop won't go ahead unless we get a few more names by Tuesday morning. Just to remind everyone that as from 1 january 2012 all Organisers and Controllers of Level A-C events must have attended the workshop so if you're in Perth anyway why not take the opportunity to get yourself qualified. You won't be listening to us for 3 hours, honestly, as it's mainly discussion-based in small groups. It's free for Scottish club members, but there will be a small charge for members of non-Scottish clubs (which should hopefully be reclaimable from your club).

More details : http://www.scottish-orienteering.org/soa/page/event-safety-workshop-after-sprint-champs/

[frog]

I've added my name to this workshop, hadn't realised it was becoming compulsary.
Will orienteering grind to a halt in 2012?

[lindseyk]

Numbers for the workshop on Saturday are too low to make it worthwhile, so duly cancelled. There will be more opportunities later in the year.

[frog]

Tiso are giving us a £20 voucher that will go to the winner of course 1. There's a new big Tiso just opened in Perth.

[andypat]

Really enjoyed the sprint today. Such a different discipline when in an urban area like this. Nice event put on by Tay. I really like the intense concentration required.

[Freefall]

Possibly through ignorance of the rules, but there were a number of competitors punched through the fences. Any impossibly fast times compared to others need scrutiny (disq) but I am sure this has been discussed at length already. Some of my times may seem impossibly slow but that's because I was distracted by DP and his camera and ran to 17 instead of 16 first.

[andypat]

Agree thats likely to be ignorance of the rules, but that particular rule isnt that obvious. Taking a step back, having had that issue before at one of our more informal urban events last year that I planned, I'd be more inclined as a planner to avoid the possibility by maybe tying up a wooden back board or something. I'm also not that convinced about the control description on that particular control (assume No 7 course 2) so I'd have some (but not a huge amount) of sympathy with anyone who was caught out by it and decided to reach through.

Any thoughts on the unmapped open gate at 8? I didnt see it but have to admit if I had I'd maybe have thought about using it. Not sure where that stands in the rules?

- sort of the opposite situation to what happened to GG at the WOC sprint....

[Freefall]

Usually when one refers to an outside corner it is obvious but not so in this case. Maybe it was more of an inside corner but on the outside?

[andypat]

I thought it was a junction, rather than a corner......

[frog]

I didn't see the control so can't comment on the control description although it did show it as on the east which it was, and the control circle was more to one side. I discussed this issue with planner and controller who were both happy with the control description but surprised people could reach through as they thought the mesh too fine. People who have done sprint courses before should know you don't reach through fences and thick black lines, we did have copies of the sprint legend in reception.
Only 1 person has come forward to disqualify herself so it seems unfair to disqualify her when others have done the same. I'll delay sending results to BOF for ranking until tomorrow so if anyone thinks they should be disqualified email the organiser, address on BOF event details.
The open gate where thick black line was an unforseen problem as this gate had always been locked when visited before. I presume someone thought they were being helpful opening it for us and it wasn't spotted when putting out controls.
Sorry about the control that got nicked. It was secured with a padlock.
The control that didn't work was fine before the event and had battery life, but examining it afterwards showed it had been heavily shaken. Hopefully that one can be mended.