I did a Trailquest last night on the Chase with Trail Blazers (Mountain Bike Score O).
Orienteering , Even district events, are put on to far higher quality than this event (at which there were 60 entrants)
Considering the entry fee is £7.00 we got a poor quality colour photocopy of a 1:25 OS where the contours were almost unreadable.
Out of 19 controls
2 controls had their codes swapped.
A further 3 controls were in the wrong place - 1 by at least 200m.
1 control was on a map correction
some of the descriptions were way off.
eg description was something like
Birch Tree 30m west of Path junction.
The control was on the Path junction tied on a big Pine Tree.
When I complained about one that was in the wrong place I was told it must be right as it was put out with a GPS !!!!!!!
We are not talking technical sand dune forest here just Forest Tracks.
Don't get me wrong I enjoyed 2 hours flat out on the chase in the sunshine and found several new trails I would never have gone down without this event, but it was an eye-opener to how well organised most traditional O is and the importance of the Independent Controller.
Orienteering is very well Organised really
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Just to clarify... do you mean
UK orienteering is well organised compared to other UK sports,
or
UK orienteering is well organised compared to orienteering in other countries.
UK orienteering is well organised compared to other UK sports,
or
UK orienteering is well organised compared to orienteering in other countries.
WOC2024 Edinburgh
Test races at SprintScotland (Alloa/Falkirk) and Euromeeting (near Stirling).
Test races at SprintScotland (Alloa/Falkirk) and Euromeeting (near Stirling).
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graeme - god
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I think the "precision" aspect of the sport is something we generally take for granted (Accurate maps and well-placed controls) and certainly notice if there is anything wrong in those crucial areas. I can't readily think of many other sports which demand such a high level of accuracy.
As for well organised - I think thing are very variable - we expect a certain standard but notice when things are appreciably better or worse. I think on the continent the emphasis and expectations of people is slightly different when it comes to organisation - They don't seem so hung up on the details(at the French 5 Days 3 years ago everyone thought it quite amusing one of the maps was produced at the wrong scale - they'd have gone ballistic here) but often seem to produce a more attractive overall package.
As for well organised - I think thing are very variable - we expect a certain standard but notice when things are appreciably better or worse. I think on the continent the emphasis and expectations of people is slightly different when it comes to organisation - They don't seem so hung up on the details(at the French 5 Days 3 years ago everyone thought it quite amusing one of the maps was produced at the wrong scale - they'd have gone ballistic here) but often seem to produce a more attractive overall package.
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Mrs H. - nope godmother
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Big events are organised well, some smaller evets are organised too much. people expect too much at the smaller events. As long as nationals, UK and FC Cups and selection races are organised well then thats ok.
Reults tend be bad everywhere. No showers at events. Finished not in assembly area.
Oh, and early mrs H you were bitching about how people dont show their appriciation, i show my appreciation by helping at events and not moaning when i dont get apricited
Reults tend be bad everywhere. No showers at events. Finished not in assembly area.
Oh, and early mrs H you were bitching about how people dont show their appriciation, i show my appreciation by helping at events and not moaning when i dont get apricited
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mharky - team nopesport
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In orienteering there is always an appreciation that accuracy is important - that you should be able to navigate to the right spot and the control will be there. My (limited) experience of other navigational events is that you navigate to the right spot and then have to hunt around for the control - and the organisers seem to think that this is all part of the fun rather than a problem.
Lapses in accuracy occur in orienteering, but at least the planner and controller are trying to get it right.
Lapses in accuracy occur in orienteering, but at least the planner and controller are trying to get it right.
- Neil M35
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mharky wrote:Oh, and early mrs H you were bitching about how people dont show their appriciation, i show my appreciation by helping at events and not moaning when i dont get apricited
Is that remark relevant - or is it just that's it's taken you a week to think it up?
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Mrs H. - nope godmother
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Ifor has it right. Having Trailquested since it began, the striking thing compared to Foot O is the variability of events. There are guidelines for all the issues Stodge mentioned, but there isn' the safeguard of an independant controller to pick up the obvious gaffes. Only the O people consistently get it right, Again don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed every TQ I've ridden (bar one) but one more control description of "tree next to track" . . .
My impression from short experience (15 months or so) of Foot O is that the average small event is over-organised. Everything is very competent, but there is zero atmosphere. Trailquests are usually much better in this respect - assembly/start/finish right next to each other, results displayed quickly, start windows much shorter and so there is at least some banter around the finish. Does anyone think about this sort of thing ?
My impression from short experience (15 months or so) of Foot O is that the average small event is over-organised. Everything is very competent, but there is zero atmosphere. Trailquests are usually much better in this respect - assembly/start/finish right next to each other, results displayed quickly, start windows much shorter and so there is at least some banter around the finish. Does anyone think about this sort of thing ?
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