British Long

[Mrs H]

In which case Scott we come back to the question - why use such an in accessible area? The Lakes must have load of suitable areas and a lot of them much closer to Kendal where a significant number of people must be staying due to the relays and urban race?

[Red Adder]

I sometimes wonder why anyone bothers to offer to organise our "big" events - what a lot of moaning minnies we are - virtually every year someone complains its the wrong area, too remote, not technical enough, wrong date, too expensive clashes with Auntie Maud and Uncle Herbet's Golden Wedding anniversary.... and very few of those who surely one would expect to be attending - it the British Championship after all, don't attend. And that after the massive fuss recently over elligibility.

[daffdy]

I sometimes wonder why anyone bothers to offer to organise our "big" events - what a lot of moaning minnies we are - virtually every year someone complains its the wrong area, too remote, not technical enough, wrong date, too expensive clashes with Auntie Maud and Uncle Herbet's Golden Wedding anniversary.... and very few of those who surely one would expect to be attending - it the British Championship after all, don't attend. And that after the massive fuss recently over elligibility.

I'm not trying to moan at the organisers, who no doubt are going to put on a great event in the face of some very challenging logistics. But surely it's worth asking some questions if an event the size of BOC can lose a quarter of its competitors in a year?

[Blonde bombshell]

I'm surprised that Mrs H thinks that the LD must have loads of suitable areas esp near Kendal.

We are talking about 'big' events with all that comes with them (eg parking & access).
Why do the large events in the NW have to be in the LD?

Recent & future calendar
2010 Lakes 5 (5 areas)
2012 BOC (2 areas)
2014 Lakes 5 (5 areas)
2015 JK (3 areas)
2017 ? BOC (a possibility heard on the grapevine)
2018 Lakes 5 (another 5 areas)

Most NW clubs have areas in the national park. Yes, most are very good, but if constantly used for the large events the clubs cannot use them for level B,C & D events due to embargos.

If you want quality terrain then you have to accept other constraints such as accessibility. Or we just go south all the time.

[Freefall]

Or North?

[graeme]

But surely it's worth asking some questions if an event the size of BOC can lose a quarter of its competitors in a year?

a useful question would be...
"Is the quality of terrain worth the extra hassle"
... which we can't answer yet.

another might be...
"Given a top quality but inaccessible area, should we use it for a BOC aimed to test the best, or a festival event aimed at providing fun for everyone"
... I'd say they have this one right.

unfortunately, too commonly the question is...
"why can't all events be exactly suited for what *I* want"
This is a useful question, but only for what it tells you about the questioner.

[harry]

Extraordinarily dumb to clash BEOC long with 10mila.
They won't make that mistake twice will they...

Oh wait.. May 2013
04 May British Orienteering Championships SEOA tbc
04 May Tio Mila International Sweden

[King Penguin]

Also, whatever happened to spreading the load / travel ?

2012 we have JK in Scotland, British Long in Lakes - both "north" for many people.
2013 we have JK in SCOA, British Long in SE - both "south" for many people.

[graeme]

Extraordinarily dumb to clash BEOC long with 10mila.

Yes

04 May British Orienteering Championships SEOA tbc
04 May Tio Mila International Sweden

where tbc implies that the terrain can't have been assessed for elite suitability yet.

"They" won't make that mistake twice will "they"...

You're a senior elite athlete - so the pronoun you're after is "we". And it's not a mistake - it's what "you" the elites and "your" committees wanted: I pointed it out and offered a suitable BEOC alternative.

1.2.5 ... a separate British Elite Long Distance Orienteering Championships shall be organised at which only courses 1 to 4 (see table which follows) shall be available.

So if you happened to know anyone involved in elite fixtures , maybe you should have a word? And if the people involved with the elite can't be bothered, spare the rest of us the whinging.

[daffdy]

unfortunately, too commonly the question is...
"why can't all events be exactly suited for what *I* want"
This is a useful question, but only for what it tells you about the questioner.

I hope you realise that isn't the question I'm asking? I'd agree it's asked too often though. But when such a large number of people decide that the event isn't suited for what they want by not entering, it would be wrong to ignore them.

Are they neccessary casualties in the quest for the best possible terrain for BOC? As you say, we can't tell until we run the courses.

Is it good for the sport to lose 500 competitors from one of its biggest events? Probably not.

Is BOC only for the best athletes in each class, and therefore it doesn't matter that participation is a bit down because the keen runners should come regardless? That's debateable, but I think it's gone a little too far this time. Others will disagree.

[andypat]

For us its "we". I travelled twice as far to BOC last year but this time I couldnt justify the length of the day for the family. Neither of my kids nor my wife can compete on their age classes (wife orange - kids white and string).

For me it wasnt that i definitiely didnt want to go or the price. More that JK, Scottish and Croeso took over as the priorities and something had to give for the sake of the family!

[JEP]

Now ECG is gone its down to the new Events Committee. I shouldn't email the Chair though he told me "I do not read emails" - let alone responding!!!!

Barry Elkington is now on the new Events Committee and he does answer emails.

But GG is on Events Committee so elites should be well represented at the meeting on Saturday. I am pretty sure I know where GG will be on May 5th 2012 and May 4th 2013 although I do not know how that will effect his views on BEOC dates.

[graeme]

Dave,

Not aimed at you, its good for directors to ask questions.

Personally, I think there should be a range of events aimed at different people, and one or two a year aimed squarely at the top runners in each class seems appropriate. I support going for the best terrain rather than attendance for BOC championships, contrariwise I would prioritise attendance for the JK festival, and quality of elite field for BEOC.

I think SOA has the balance right...
quality and novelty
BOC 86 - Achilty
BOC 96 - Creag Mhic
BOC 08 - Culbin
accessibility
JK 90 - Craig a' Barns
JK 00 - Craig a' Barns
JK 12 - Craig a' Barns

Plus BEOCs on Loch Vaa and Lossie

[harry]

And the nopesport ¤#%#& of the year award goes to graeme... step back we have a winner (whinger)

You're a senior elite athlete - so the pronoun you're after is "we". And it's not a mistake - it's what "you" the elites and "your" committees wanted: I pointed it out and offered a suitable BEOC alternative.

Yes alright Mr-I-am-special-and-highly-intelligent-Oxbridge-professor-type I am going to travel a day and £200 each way to spend a day sitting on a committee fighting for the rights of British elite orienteers. And if I am not prepared to do that I am not allowed to whinge when the people on these committees choose extraordinarily dumb dates to have races that I probably can't afford to travel to anyway. Yeah.. maybe I can just give my Dad a call and he'll sort it out... oh yeah.. wow.. you are sooo smart.. why didn't I think of that???

bit of a "Mharky" tone to this post I'll admit.. don't take me too seriously... but I'm not an activist I just run races when they are sensible and fit in with what else I want to do.. and I think I should be allowed to whinge occasionally on nopesport about stupid things that BOF decide to do (or is that completely out of context on this forum???)

[andypat]

Thats probably a bit harsh on Mharky...