Erskine Urban Race

[Eeyore]

Andy,

Out of curiosity, where was this? I didn't notice anything the way I ran.

having talked to the person it affected afterwards, it was the way through between the cul-de-sac to the SE of control 18 to get to the main road, which they'd used as a route choice to the long leg 16 on course 1. it allowed me to beat them so I wasn't really complaining !

Andy,

Thanks for the answer; I can see the problem now. You might have beaten Claire anyway.

I actually meant Andypat but you'll do fine as a substitute.

[DeerTick]

I don't like urban! But I enjoyed today - thanks Donald, Andy and your team. The only time I was able to switch off and get the head down was the long leg (15-16, Course 2), but, even then ,it was disconcerting to see the planner with a question mark above his head as I ran through the start - finish area.

AP

[Wendles]

Thank you very much to all at Clyde for today's race, it was brilliant

[andypat]

Cheers guys
I'll pass your comments onto Donald who doesnt read nopesport (so he says anyway).

I thought the numbers were about what I expected. Erskine is never going to have the draw of Edinburgh but its a totally different O experience! What surprised me (and Donald) were the numbers of people who made huge efforts to come from far afield to the event. Much appreciated by us. Slightly surprised Course 4 didnt prove a bigger draw for U 16s given it was a proper urban course - any feedback on this appreciated.

Andy D has answered the map error query - it was one of those odd ones - we all ran various legs but none of us ended up there as it wasnt on an obvious route. Should have been checked, but as youve porbably noticed the area is very complex and we just missed it. It almost looks like an OCAD artefact on the map.

Huge thanks to SIman for his expertise and support - very much appreciated!

[Caz]

Thanks again Clyde for a great day and despite the BBC website telling me at 6am that it was to be very wet, you managed to find sunshine.
The 23 bus worked a treat and I managed to get my 4pm flight back to the dull, overcast South East.
I thought it was a good flowing course with a good mixture of short and long legs.

[Big Jon]

"Slightly surprised Course 4 didnt prove a bigger draw for U 16s given it was a proper urban course - any feedback on this appreciated."

I think the low interest courses at a few of the previous urban races in Scotland (Edinburgh and Perth) for the 16's may have put some of them off urban-O. Driving 2-3 hours for 8 minutes running round a footie pitch is hardly likely to inspire juniors!

[EddieH]

Jon I think you are right. Please note that at Lossiemouth the U16s have a proper sprint area all within the RAF base.

U16 courses will inevitably be varied with the new rules, but at St Andrews last year they had a cracker as well - so that will be 3 good Scottish Nopesport Urban league U16s within a year.

[andy]

St Andrews last year they had a cracker as wel

A little birdie tells me there may be a return to St Andrews in spring next year for some sprinting and urban shenanigans, watch this space!

[smf]

St Andrews last year they had a cracker as wel

A little birdie tells me there may be a return to St Andrews in spring next year for some sprinting and urban shenanigans, watch this space!

It is now on the British Orienteering website as the venue of the Scottish Sprint Champs on Saturday 10th March 2012 with an Urban race the next day.

[muddysocks]

"Slightly surprised Course 4 didnt prove a bigger draw for U 16s given it was a proper urban course - any feedback on this appreciated."

As a W16 myslef, I though this course was excellent, and it was just like, if not better than what we used to be allowed to do before this new rule came in. I do not completely disagree with the rule however, I think many British 16s (and younger) have been really put off coming to "Urban" races for a 10mintue run round a peice of grass. The outcome of these races is usually that the winner is the fastest runner, not necessarily the best orienteer on the day. Unlike these, the Erskine urban proved technically challenging as well as a good length to be actually worthwhile. The Scottish sprints is an example of what courses we are expected to run because we cannot cross roads. I felt that our course at the Scottish Sprint Champs proved no challenge to at least 75% of it's competitors.

I also feel sorry for EUOC at their Big Weekend having to have the under 16 course that they did as the new rule had just been imposed and not time was left to plan a challenging course.

It was really good to see that CLYDE had actually made an effort to make it challenging for under 16s as well as managing to stick to the rules. I think that other clubs holding these urban events should follow in the footsteps of CLYDE and make urban races worthwhile for U16s again.

[Roger]

I think that other clubs holding these urban events should follow in the footsteps of CLYDE and make urban races worthwhile for U16s again.

Agreed. I must confess that in the immediate aftermath of last summer's edict, and with a nervous but insistent organiser, I caved in and planned a last-minute tame U16 course for last year's Didcot urban race. My feeling now is that despite what was stated in the relevant newsletter it's not the speed limits on the roads that we should be governed by, but how fast traffic actually moves on the roads in question. Given this, I'd have retained manned U16 crossings on the straightish feeder roads but would have given the competitors free rein amongst the warren of twisty residential closes.

[Mrs H]

St Andrews last year they had a cracker as wel

A little birdie tells me there may be a return to St Andrews in spring next year for some sprinting and urban shenanigans, watch this space!

It is now on the British Orienteering website as the venue of the Scottish Sprint Champs on Saturday 10th March 2012 with an Urban race the next day.

That is such a shame - the same day as the Malvern Urban race which is the day before the Midlands champs which I'm supposing will be a Masters' cup race. I'm hoping Malvern will be in the NUL

[Freefall]

What about me. I am now living in St Andrews and I'm not even allowed out of the gate.

[Mrs H]

Come to Malvern, it's going to be a fantastic weekend.

[AndyC]

Come to Malvern, it's going to be a fantastic weekend.

Convince me with SinS (especially Ludlow)