Contribution

[brooner]

In response to any moaning of late, have some Jurassic 5.

If anyone has any ideas of how we could all contribute to making orienteering better (without boring arguments about rules) share them here.

We used to be excited the stuff that came from the boards in developing the sport, now we're all a little bit jaded with the direction the boards have taken at times.

Lets have some positivity, let's have some ideas, let's make stuff happen again, whether it is in the forest or on the streets, what is your contribution?

either you a part of the problem
or part of the solution
what's your contribution to O
so many people complain, always talk about change
but what's your contribution to O?

[Gnitworp]

Let's not hamstring the sport by slavish adherence to IOF/BO notions as to what is the best scale, contour interval, competition format, etc, etc. Let you imagination run free and unrestrained and serve up the outcome for the delight of us all.

My last contribution to 'free thinking' was scale 1:2500 , contour interval 1.25m - bring them on - stretch the boundaries.

[ba-ba]

Races, not events. With the atmosphere of fell races (The mass-start at UKCup final, although poorly attended, had a good atmosphere amongst the competitors).

More races near pubs (really all evening events should decamp to a pub once done).

try to push the boundaries when you organize events.

put ShUOC and EUOC in charge.

[DM]

Like the soon to start MDOC series of night street races? ALL start and finish at a pub.

Many thanks to SROC for all the assistance and advice, based on many years of experience with their own night league.

[SeanC]

Don't forget your local municipal golf course which is likely to have a clubhouse/bar/food in the middle. Ours was quite happy to let us run over the course last night since we stayed for food and drink. Lovely valleys and nice running across the grassland.

[LostAgain]

Prize money for FCC top 3 and/or automatic JWOC selection for top 2 to be reintroduced.
Prize money raised from entry fee £2/entry from all counting events. Should raise sufficent to give a worthwhile prize fund.

FCC races only to be in top terrain as selected by the Elites Group.

Limit number of races to best 4 from 6, exclude JK/British as they already have sufficient prestige.

[Mrs H]

You mean:
More Prize money
More Prestige
More Parties

I like it

but seriously I think there is some separation needed. The message from Rockaldo and 229 is clear, the codgers have invaded their territory and they have retreated. We need to occupy different places and come together when it is beneficial to both parties. The rest of it just isn't cool.

[SeanC]

Would Nopesport Inc consider forum section(s) to promote events, perhaps split into different parts of the country? I know we are encouraged to submit articles for the nopesport news section but this looses its instant messaging appeal and doesn't seem appropriate for events of interest to only one or two regions. For example members of London clubs might be interested in our local event at Lesnes Abbey Wood on 19th Nov because its only 500m from a train station, is quite a technical area for London and there are great views over the Thames and the Crossness poo burning power station.

Maybe I would like to post a teaser of the map or some photos as well, and then competitors could feedback after the event and just possibly engage in a non GOM/GOW discussion/banter, and this might bring nopesport some more readers currently turned off by the long discussions on administrative matters or things not too relevant to those that just want to go orienteering.

[AndyO]

Much as I suggested on the Challenge thread, SeanC

I agree that it would help to have a forum for Events, and another one for Rules and Ranking to separate what could/should be good information/discussion, with a wee bit of banter, from the more technical discussion which may not be to everyone's taste.

[awk]

More events like today's Chasing Sprint at Leeds Uni. Superb fun, and the largest age group was M/W21!

[seabird]

More events like today's Chasing Sprint at Leeds Uni. Superb fun, and the largest age group was M/W21!

That buzz was good; but nothing to compare with the sheer excitement that abounded at the Vampire O. The buzz that always seems to come from mass start score events, even before you add the added dimensions of fancy dress, halloween and a large group of kids.

I'm beginning to think we should have mass starts for our level D events far more often.

[SeanC]

Other advantages include:

- It's much more appropriate for newcomers and inexperienced orienteers who don't have to guess what colour standard suits them and risk ending up with a 2 hour epic or an unstimulating 10 minute track run with lots of 10 year olds.
- They are much easier to organise. No colour standards to worry about, only one course, a much shorter day.
- You can do some basic prizegiving 10 minutes after the mass finish to give everyone a cheer and a warm feeling, and some possibility of people socialising in the pub/cafe etc afterwards.
- Organisers can promote future events and membership at the pre-race briefing and/or prizegiving
- 30 people starting at 1 minute intervals and finishing apart can feel a bit sad and lonely, especially for newcomers who might be out for longer than everyone else, wheras 30 people starting together feels like a decent crowd.
- Coaches can do some basic coaching either before or after the event.

The main advantages of the multi-course colour coded local events are
- older experienced orienteers prefer them because they are more technically challenging and for those with families both parents can get a run
- younger juniors tend to dominate the easier courses and like the competition with their peers.

Our demographic is mostly older experienced orienteers and younger juniors. Is this a co-incidence?

[Scott]

- It's much more appropriate for newcomers and inexperienced orienteers who don't have to guess what colour standard suits them and risk ending up with a 2 hour epic or an unstimulating 10 minute track run with lots of 10 year olds.

Another advantage of score courses for newcomers is that it doesn't matter if they really can't find a control - they can just give up, move on to the next one and still get a result.

[Jayne]

Would agree score courses are good for low-key events/beginners (another advantage being that most people are out and back within an hour). The Kent Night Cup races (night, 1 hour) always have a quite a buzz about them with the mass start.

[Paul Frost]

Before you all get carried away with how perfect Score courses are...

I'm trying not to just be negative, but give people alternative views to think about. When I have questioned members (in particular less experienced orienteers) about putting on more score courses I got quite a few replies that they found them too hard.

A score map has no guidance on which direction to go, how many controls you would be expected to visit or an estimate of how long it would take.
They could also encourage pack running, as everyone is potentially on the "same course", so it's safe to just follow anyone.

With a normal event the course is marked on the map and it's just a matter of following it. A planned course would have an expected winning time and the sequence of controls carefully chosen to match the technical ability of the likely competitor. You may also have placed the controls to aid discovery and guide onto the next leg.



But I agree that for more experienced orienteers they do offer the mass start/finish option. I personally hate them, my brain can't cope with the multiple decisions that need to be made.