Scottish 6 Days - Thank You

[SAL]

Some photos from days 3, 5 and 6 are now available in albums in this gallery: http://picasaweb.google.com/Orienteering.Photo.Gallery

[IanD]

I have long been of the opinion that the Scottish 6-Days is the best organised large multi-day event in the world (*), and nothing I experienced this year changed my mind.

This year, I particularly appreciated the closeness of all the areas to the event centre, and the lack of the usual nasty poke-your-eye-out conifer plantation.

As always, some areas were extremely unfair to early starters, due to bracken etc. At least the start blocks rotate, so that the unfairness is shared. Day One made a real effort by cutting elephant tracks through at least a couple of areas before the event started - thanks guys!

Looking forward to Moray 2013 already (and Croeso 2012 looks pretty good too).

(*) ok, this is a bit of a rash statement, given that I haven't been to every one, and I will admit that the Swedish O-ringen copes very well with much larger numbers.

[madmike]

I As always, some areas were extremely unfair to early starters, due to bracken etc. At least the start blocks rotate, so that the unfairness is shared.

Except for idiots who volunteered to have 6 early starts

Interestingly on Day 5 it seems that an early start may have been advantageous as I had none of the marsh crossing issues reported by mid/later starts. Day 2 and 3 were the worst for punching holes in the bracken!

[Spookster]

We enjoyed the event a lot, thanks to all concerned.

Here are some thoughts about certain aspects. None of it as criticism, just feedback.

Terrain
It was mostly rough and often hilly, which is not my favourite, but is a feature of the Scottish west coast. At least there was some variety, and I think the best two areas were used for the two UK Cup races, days 2 and 3. As IanD says, early/late starts do make a difference, and this wasn't the same difference each day, but that can't be helped in August.

Maps and Courses
Both great. I never had an issue with mapping, and the course planning was consistently good. On some days the climb seemed to have been calculated strangely (e.g. 325m listed, but over 500m recorded, and I wasn't far off optimum line). Day 4 felt too long (10% longer than other days).

Arena design
Some were good, but some not so good. Arena design is critical to creating a great event atmosphere. Being able to see the run-in matters, and on some days it seemed very hidden. Tents were allowed to pitch right up to the tapes, which makes spectating harder. Clearly some fields have constraints that prevent best layout, but I think a longer run-in as the heart of the assembly would work better.

Commentary, big screen, GPS
Mike and Googi did a great job, but it was evident that Googi didn't really know the elites or the top runners in each class. Commentary probably requires a great database of previous results and information to be at hand, and I'm not sure they had this. Also it seemed that the run-ins were too short such that often the person being commentated upon had already crossed the finishing line.

On day 3 it seemed that the event had all the ingredients for an exciting display of the elite classic races unfolding, but it didn't quite come together. The TV, GPS and commentary just didn't quite feel "joined up". Of course it was a trial, and no doubt some good experience has been gained. The screen felt too far away on the top of the hill. Also positioning of the TV camera was a long way (too far) from the runners.

Locations and distances
It felt like all the events were reasonably close together, and none of the starts were very far from assembly. Both good, and made it much easier to do other things in the day (golf, tea shops, etc).

Programme
Great. The essential information all on two sides, in a pocket size format.

Website and marketing
Great. A continual flow of interesting information leading up to the event, and good use of other media (e.g. text messaging to registered runners).

Results etc
Great to be able to see live results on WiFi, and full results with splits and routegadget available by each evening.

[andypat]

Thats good reasoned feedback as usual Spookster - I hope you'll take the opportunity to fill in the e-feedback that is apparently coming out to everyone.

I also struggled with the distance on Day 4, but I know they lost a huge chunk of the middle of the area to an "infestation" of emotionally fragile Pere david's deer at very short notice from the landowner, requiring some very quick additional mapping to the south from Stirling Surveys and a resultant rejigging of the many courses, so I think its entirely forgiveable if some courses ended up a bit long.

Worth bearing in mind the average round trip for a controller to the area and back would be around 6-8 hours (not including John Colls of course who was down under).

I agree with your points about the Screen on Day 3, but I enjoyed the commentary and thought it went a lot better than it might have given the difficulties Colin had in securing anyone. There was good variety and humour which kept you interested. Agree there might be scope for someone with a bit of personality and in depth knowledge of the sport to take it on, but those two things dont always go together....

[EddieH]

Madmike wrote: "Interestingly on Day 5 it seems that an early start may have been advantageous as I had none of the marsh crossing issues reported by mid/later starts."

I don't think so. My question to those late starters who suggested it was harder late was, "Did you choose to run in the marshy tracks or plough your own way through virgin terrain?" No-one said the latter. The early part of the long courses on day 5 would as far as I could see be the absolute worst day to have first start.

[andy]

Commentary, big screen, GPS
Mike and Googi did a great job, but it was evident that Googi didn't really know the elites or the top runners in each class. Commentary probably requires a great database of previous results and information to be at hand, and I'm not sure they had this. Also it seemed that the run-ins were too short such that often the person being commentated upon had already crossed the finishing line.

Pretty good summary, I felt that Goggi and Mike worked very well together, Mike with his (extensive!) UK O knowledge and Goggi with his commentary experience. As far as a 'great database' goes I don't think that's the answer, it's more a preparation thing. Looking things up on the fly is near on impossible. The prep needs to have been done in the days/weeks leading up to the event(s). As far as run-in and arena layout I think you're right in that it wasn't always suited to commentary (definitely agree with your 'run in through the middle of assembly' comment), I'll be sending my comments to the S6D team and so should anyone else with constructive comments: http://www.scottish6days.com/2011/comments/
or send an email: http://www.scottish6days.com/2011/contact/

On day 3 it seemed that the event had all the ingredients for an exciting display of the elite classic races unfolding, but it didn't quite come together. The TV, GPS and commentary just didn't quite feel "joined up". Of course it was a trial, and no doubt some good experience has been gained. The screen felt too far away on the top of the hill. Also positioning of the TV camera was a long way (too far) from the runners.

It's not surprising it came across as disjointed. It was! The team responsible for the big screen had thrown things together in a matter of a couple of months (while performing other roles for the event also) and hadn't had the chance to really communicate with the commentary team. For future events (leading up to a potential WOC (can we not find out already??)) I will be recommending a substantially more coordinated effort which has been lacking in the past (PWT and now S6D). There was a lot learned last week for this (which was the goal) especially in the technical department where two guys did a fantastic job to bring you what you saw.

[SIman]

Thanks Spookster for all your comments.
The position of the screen on Day 3 was not ideal, but that was the only place in the whole week which was guaranteed solid enough for the lorry. The fact that mobile phone coverage (required to receive back the positions from the GPS receivers) over Craig Mhic was very patchy almost meant that we abandoned the whole procedure.
It is a great credit to Ted and Brian in particular that it came together and I know that a lot of lessons have been learnt.

The positioning of controls to get the best out of commentary is another area where lessons have been learnt and we are also going to edit the manuals with more instructions about the layout of assembly.

All (constructive) comments are welcome, either here or here.

[madmike]

Also it seemed that the run-ins were too short such that often the person being commentated upon had already crossed the finishing line.

You are right Spookster, there is a delay of a few seconds in last control punch appearing on screens in commentary box, therefore, with short run ins athletes can be at or beyond finish before we get the information.

For future events, and coming from a commentary perspective, i would say long run-ins are preffered as indeed is a download very close to finish punch (DQs and punching starts are not confirmed until the competitor has actually downloaded).

[andy]

as indeed is a download very close to finish punch (DQs and punching starts are not confirmed until the competitor has actually downloaded).

Download close to finish punch doesn't work at a 6 day. If there happens to be any computer problem (none this year!) and people have to wait they will get in the way of people trying to finish. The distances this year were pretty much the minimum. The way we did it at PWT was to have someone next to the finish line with a long wire to a download unit who was getting them to download immediately, works well with small numbers but not so much with 3000+

[madmike]

Understood Andy - like many things I understand you have to balance competing demands

[AndyC]

Would Emit prove better for such a system as I gather proximity download is possible?

[Tatty]

Can you imagine sorting out over 3000 Emit brikkes? Although personally I prefer it I don't think it would work. Loads of MP

[Freefall]

Thank you for so much constructive feedback. I managed to compete in 5 days out of 6 (I hated Day 4) but the only day I felt stressed out was Day 3. The big screen and GPS was a first in Scotland (GB) though of course GPS was used at The Harvester and the big screen at the Park World Tour. I think Ted and Brian did an amazing job getting to work at all, given the complexities of what we were trying to achieve. If we hadn't tried it we wouldn't have moved any further forward, and of course it is essential that when we stage WOC2015 we have some experience behind us.
Goggi was a bit of an unknown quantity, but in the circumstances was the only person we could find to do the commentary for the week. What you might not know is the tremendous effort he put in every day - he hammered in stakes for the results board for Day 1, and every day went out into the area with the radio controls. At the end of his shift he gathered in controls as well. I really appreciate the efforts of Madmike (don't blush now) and I think there was an excellent dynamic there. Pekka from Finland also stood in, as did Mick Lucking on the day of the big screen. Ted in the big screen unit was relaying information to Mick over a walkie talkie telling him what to say next whilst Goggi and Mike tried to capture the excitement of finishers.
I am still in Oban, and went around the areas yesterday. Apart from a few tyre tracks it's hard to believe it all happened. Finally had as day away from orienteering - sea kayaking out from Seil Island in a 4 foot swell. Hopefully others took advantage of the other things on offer when they were here.
Now I have a JK to organise...

[Paul Frost]

Would Emit prove better for such a system as I gather proximity download is possible?

It's nothing to do with the system, it's the time.
From you sticking your card in the control, the signal goes down the wire to the server, added to the database and then back out to the laptops in the commentary box. Then the commentator has several screens to monitor and make judgements on what is worth talking about. If the run in only takes 10-15 seconds and there are a few people in it at the same time, you can imagine how hard it is to interpret ate the data and then say something useful.
Plus there may be 2 other radio controls out in the forest sending back data by text message that also needs monitoring.
The other issue is that if you had a punching start the commentator doesn't know when you started, so until you have downloaded he can't be sure if you had a storming run or just started late. Which is one of the reasons why we went back to times starts this year.