Scottish Champs & Jubilee5

[graeme]

Having spent most of the day building (not designing!) the thing, some opinions on that sprint arena...
First, it was brilliant for spectating. After the event, there was much discussion of how the various athletes coped with the confusing start: who was completely in control (Scott), who took ages to get into control (Tess) and who ran off in hope rather than in (or even to) control. I fear the elite are still in denial about the end of their golden age of funding. The rest of us will have to (decide whether to) cough up, and getting us talking about elite racing can only be good.
Second, it was very stressful for the athletes. This was, for sure, deliberate. WOC will be stressful, runners need to have experience of that, and selectors want to see who can cope. The quarantine, 180 turn on the run out, and comedy finish control are all part of that.
Rather less positive (since it's nopesport), forcing even beginners under 40 into several hours of quarantine plus the full-on arena stress seems quite unnecessary. There is a place in the sport for under-40 non-elites, and we shouldn't forget that.

Looking forward now to seeing the teams. The boys seem to have done a good job of sorting themselves out, but I don't envy the selectors choosing between the girls on the fringe of the team.

[smf]

There is a place in the sport for under-40 non-elites, and we shouldn't forget that.

The final details for the elites (and under-40 non-elites) for the sprint was not very good at all. I only found out about the separate parking on Sunday evening from an elite runner. Apparently details were handed out at Registration on Saturday, but not to me! This information should have been in the FINAL DETAILS!

The elites (and under-40 non-elites) start lanes were still been constructed, when I started (16:04) which caused confusion. This should have been done before the race started!

[andy]

I thought the sprint race was brilliant, not only for those in the mix for WOC selection but for juniors who haven't had that kind of pressure before. We should have more races like that in the UK, for practice if nothing else

[binman]

Being on the inside over the last weekend, it's good to get the positive feedback in print (and hopefully we can learn from the bits that didn't go so well) but I guess seeing the emotions on competitors' faces over the weekend told us everything we needed to know about the enjoyment/challenge of the various events.

Previous posts highlight Jon's key role as instigator and controlling hand over the six months running into the weekend but I think there's one outstanding, unsung hero who must be credited: Alsatair Marshall was everywhere and doing everything for the whole four days - I last saw him running down the A93 collecting in road signs at 4.00 pm yesterday and I'm sure he was still on the case late into the night sorting out equipment and results. If anyone does more to deserve the new SOA President's medal in the coming year, then I'll be mighty impressed (sorry Roger, probably inappropriate but everyone will have forgetten by next June!).

Also, a personal thanks from the Old Glutton and I to Lucy Fryer who fearlessly dived into the Emit Relay software from a standing start and allowed our Computing Guru to get a run.

Finally, and this word is grossly overused, Doug Tullie's (and the other elites) perfromance yesterday at the Middle race was truly awesome - 5.5 minutes/km in that area (which was rather more brashed than we'd have liked) shows a) just how strong he must be and b) how well he was able to keep his focus on the map and the terrain while dodging the brash. Let's hope he gets his reward...

[Spookster]

A request - could whoever is putting the events on Maroc Routegadget please put them up by course, rather than by class. With so many age classes, there won't be many of each class who put their route on, whereas to arrange it by course makes it far more interesting.

The middle race has obviously only just been published on RG (nobody has put their route on) so it's not too late to re-submit it (please!).

[EddieH]

As Graeme asks about the sprint area, this is the one area where I'd be critical.

The start for the elite was brilliant. However having a start where there is no route choice, just the problem of sussing out which way to go when all the non elites are watching is both unfair and pointless. I was fourth off - before me every starter on all courses set off the wrong way. I stopped to look at the map and after that all can follow. When I finished all non elites were immediately going the right way before they had a real chance to see the map.

Regarding quarantine, Moravian incorporated this when we put on the Scottish sprints for everyone. There was the choice of being inside or outside in a courtyard. Everyone complied and no-one complained. Mind you all the starts were within an hour of the quarantine starting. I think it adds big race atmosphere and is much fairer.

[graeme]

Generally agree with eddieH and spookster, though I *did* go off the right way before Eddie started.

And I like the fact I'm currently listed as first on Tuesday's black course which, if I recall, is the selection race course. Though for some reason dq'ed although all controls are there in the splits I'm anxiously watching my email for the selection notice

[Olsoran]

A request - could whoever is putting the events on Maroc Routegadget please put them up by course, rather than by class. With so many age classes, there won't be many of each class who put their route on, whereas to arrange it by course makes it far more interesting.

The middle race has obviously only just been published on RG (nobody has put their route on) so it's not too late to re-submit it (please!).

Sorted.
Apologies Andy and Paddy - as the only two routes posted you'll need to re-submit.

[andypat]

Re Graeme's comments about the sprint arena - I agree it was good for watching from and definitely seemed to add to the pressure on some of the elites.

Might have benefited from some better info/signage for us lesser mortals though - although I fully understand why most of the effort went into the elites. The conflict between getting into the spectator area, and crossing over the elite route to the start (if you were there you know what I'm talking about) generated some rather unecessary discord initially, which could probably have been avoided.

LIke Andy says more of this type of race would be fantastic, although I'm not sure I can take to this continental style of sprint planning. Hope in 2015 we show them a proper technical sprint race...

[tomtom]

Just a question about the mapping of the passable walls.. they were mapped as a black line with dots.

Doesn't ISSOM state that a grey line is used for urban areas?

[Electrocuted]

There is a place in the sport for under-40 non-elites, and we shouldn't forget that.

The final details for the elites (and under-40 non-elites) for the sprint was not very good at all. I only found out about the separate parking on Sunday evening from an elite runner. Apparently details were handed out at Registration on Saturday, but not to me! This information should have been in the FINAL DETAILS!

The elites (and under-40 non-elites) start lanes were still been constructed, when I started (16:04) which caused confusion. This should have been done before the race started!

I agree with that. I only found out about the 4pm cut off for getting into quarantine because Andy D mentioned it on nopesport.

There could have been a M/W Open class as well as M/W21E, even if it was on the same course. At 35 weeks pregnant I didn't really appreciate having to spend over an hour and a half on the floor of a gym hall when all I wanted to do was walk around the course.

[Big Jon]

The decision to have a quarantine was taken after most of the entries were taken - if doing this again (maybe in a few years!) I would make sure we had selection race courses and separate courses for other runners. There are many other aspects that would be done differently in a future repeat of the event but we can always be wise after the event
I am glad the event worked out as smoothly as it did - basically 2 urban events (with 150 and 250 competitors respectively) rolled into one with all the possibilities of foul ups etc this entails.

[andypat]

There is a place in the sport for under-40 non-elites, and we shouldn't forget that.

The final details for the elites (and under-40 non-elites) for the sprint was not very good at all. I only found out about the separate parking on Sunday evening from an elite runner. Apparently details were handed out at Registration on Saturday, but not to me! This information should have been in the FINAL DETAILS!

The elites (and under-40 non-elites) start lanes were still been constructed, when I started (16:04) which caused confusion. This should have been done before the race started!

To be fair to the organiser (and its important to be fair when he's that much bigger than you) this information was in the programme which was on the website (it was also there to be picked up at registration rather than being actively handed out). Probably the main difference between this event and (for example) the 6 day, was that the information on the programme was more extensive than on the website, rather than the other way around. But then the 6 day has a signficantly higher level of manpower to assist!

Not sure if its realistic to expect final details and a glossy programme btw.

[Little Hoddy]

The sprint arena was really challenging for runners, exciting for spectators. All good in my view.
The map was difficult to race on in places due to the forest wall symbol being used instead of "crossable wall" (e.g. near #6).
The courses were fairly simple in the middle section, but that only makes the test more relevant for WOC, though the winning times were quite a bit too long.

Why did so many male elites mispunch? It looks like too many for the following each other like lemmings explanation.

Some mispunched on control 21 (22 on Routegadget) - a nearby control making things difficult but fair in my opinion.
Many others had issues with malfunctioning emit cards and/or units. (Not only on the sprint). It would be nice in future to use electronic punching rather than having to pin punch at every control.

Some pros, some cons but I still really enjoyed the events - especially the Middle. Great area.

[Gross]

Maybe there is still hope for me as a covergirl eh gross haha .. well not after today's race though

Looks like you made it as a covergirl afterall Yipee & congrats to all