RIP level 1 regional championships

[EddieH]

When I started orienteering there were 6 major British events each year - the British, JK and 4 regional champs (with the Midlands rotating around the 4 regions from Wales to East Anglia). Despite the fact that at the time this system was very much not broken a decision was made to introduce national events and turn the regionals to closed events. Because of the number of NEs these never caught on like the regionals had and after a few years so few elite turned up at many that the elite class was dropped.

Then with the introduction of event levels level 1 was created placing the then local regional champs in level 1. I think the sport had already moved on too far to make it liely that the 21 ages would be likely to be interested (particularly as the Midlands now rotates biannually between WMOA and EMOA). However when the UK Masters Cup was set up the regionals became automatic inclusions thus ensuring some status amongst veterans.

Now the new UK Cup is published with all the much discussed ignoring of junior and elite interests 1 regional is included. So just what does level 1 mean for the rest. Scotland will thrive as a national championship on good terrain, but the rules make these events more expensive to put on, yet they will have no added attraction for the punters who will inevitably vote with their feet not to pay the £18 or so that these events can attract. So we'll have nominally important events which attract small numbers without the best - how will that be good for the sport?

Perhaps it is time to acknowledge them as parochial events andscrap the level 1 distinction. We now have plenty of other "big" races and it is far from clear there is a need for the regionals even among vets.

I have no strong views on this, but I do feel that this i another example of non joined up thinking.

[besty]

What is a level 1 event? Do you mean A?

[Gross]

Why does BOF still have Championship Awards... should they be renamed 'Level 1 Awards' or 'Level A Awards' ???

[Red Adder]

"Nationals" were introduced around 1990 when the sport was at its peak in terms of numbers, especially at M/W21 and possibly made sense (though at the time I thought they were stupid as the named regionals seemed to offer more ownership and feeling than NE1, NE4 etc). We are in a very different time.

[Jethro]

Eddie wrote

...but the rules make these events more expensive to put on,...

Is this necessarily the case now that the BOF levy is being reduced for this standard of event.

[madmike]

Eddie wrote

...but the rules make these events more expensive to put on,...

Is this necessarily the case now that the BOF levy is being reduced for this standard of event.

Yes because costs are about facilities as well as levies

[EddieH]

... and the requirement to use offset litho printing.

[Red Adder]

But BOF has (scandously in my opinion) standardised levies at one pound, whether they be these overblown jamborees at £20 a pop or a simple evning park even costing just £2.

[King Penguin]

I thought I read somewhere that level A events fall outside the normal levy procedures, BOF set the prices and they have to be run on some sort of profit / loss - share basis.
I could be wrong though, as some things seem to change again before I have got used to the previous change .....

[smf]

I thought I read somewhere that level A events fall outside the normal levy procedures, BOF set the prices and they have to be run on some sort of profit / loss - share basis.
I could be wrong though, as some things seem to change again before I have got used to the previous change .....

Not all level A events are run on a profit/loss share eg, the JK and the various British Champs are, but the area champs pay normal levies.

[Tim]

The short answer is yes.

If you want a sport that is league based then organise it that way - like most motor-racing is. If you want a sport where individual events are important, have events and rankings - like tennis. Don't try to do both. F1 used to have non-championship races but they died out in the 1970s as the big teams didn't bother entering, as they were (literally) pointless.

With computers, spreadsheets and the internet, leagues are all too easy to produce with little thought as to implications of what you are creating. If you must have leagues, the calendar of events should be of equal status to avoid undermining those that are left off. And if by having equal status events some are in less good areas, there is no need to discriminate against them – just accept that running around boring forests is part of orienteering in Britain. I also think leagues should be restricted to one format. Looking at the events on the 2013 UKOL calendar, it’s pretty random in terms of events and formats – what is it trying to prove? Best all round orienteer? Look at the rankings then.

However, I have no problem with breaking these rules for small groups who wish to develop a league for specific reasons – like to proposed junior cup or club leagues – as they would not heavily skew the overall numbers at events.

Having recently come back to orienteering after a long absence I find the event hierarchy (or lack of) quite confusing, and I can’t say the UKOL helps. I think BOF should decide which the important events are, avoid fixture clashes that undermine them and make it clear to everyone else.

Personally I’m happy with events and rankings.

[Sloop]

All being well, very soon I should achieve a 100% attendance record at the UK Masters Cups of last year and this year. I have thought it was a very good idea and have enjoyed pretty much all the events I've been to.

I have no intention whatsoever of trying again next year.

Removing the Area Championships from the list makes the whole thing a nonsense - as well as completely undermining the concept of Level A events and Area Championships.

I simply can't imagine what "they" were thinking.

[greywolf]

Having English regional championships for those who like that sort of thing seems like a reasonable idea...but insisting that they be Level A and making them central to the annual calendar as BOF tried to do (and now appears to be backing away from) was at best nostalgic and probably just silly.

In addition to the offset litho maps and the total (but apparently optional ) 24 month embargo, Level A events are required to provide Elite courses, regardless of whether the terrain is suitable, whether the planners understand how long the courses are supposed to be or whether there's any takers... so over the last couple of years, at M21E, only 2 of the 6 races have been guideline length, or had more than 17 competitors, and only one of the W21E races had more than 8 competitors.

IMHO it would be much more sensible to make the default level for these events Level B - but give the option for the organisers to upgrade to Level A (and add the Elite courses) if they think the area will bear it - maybe one of the 3 regionals champs each year might end up with the extra bells and whistles and the other two could concentrate on delivering the best event possible for the bulk of the punters...

[pete.owens]

I think that the area champs should either be discontinued due to lack of demand - or upgraded to proper level A standard - complete with elite courses on 1:15000 maps, offset litho printing, experienced planners and controllers who understand how to set full length courses, the top quality terrain and so on. I don't see the point of nominating "just another level B event" as area champs as they will be even less likely to attract people to travel half way across the country to compete.

One possibility would be to hold an English Championship - held at such a time to be suitable for the elite racing season and in a region not hosting the JK or British Champs that year.

[awk]

All being well, very soon I should achieve a 100% attendance record at the UK Masters Cups of last year and this year. I have thought it was a very good idea and have enjoyed pretty much all the events I've been to.
I have no intention whatsoever of trying again next year.
Removing the Area Championships from the list makes the whole thing a nonsense - as well as completely undermining the concept of Level A events and Area Championships.
I simply can't imagine what "they" were thinking.

That's pretty much exactly my thinking too.