BOC Eligibility

[70plus]

Start with the principle then write the rule.

Principle 0: don't write rules which cannot/ will not be enforced.*

Or Principle 0.1: (as above) .. fairly (i.e. all offenders are dealt with, not just a few who are found out. As applied to those disqualified (or not) for crossing 'uncrossable' boundaries, discussed a few weeks back. If followed rigorously, that principle should reduce the Rule book considerably.

[graeme]

How much work will this be I wonder?

No need to wonder. Just check the facts* for how many medal winners haven't been at least local members for three years. Among adults, basically nobody. I couldn't tell with young children due to family membership. As for appeals, just like anyone entering M40 who beats all the M35s on the course, or an M12A who beats all the 14Bs, you have to enter the class you want to do.

To be fair, it will require an extra BOC-eligible flag in the database, which is perhaps the most likely thing to derail the whole process.

As it happens, arnold and I disagree about relays, the board agreed with him, and I wasn't about to derail the whole thing for something worse.

* I know, mad crazy physicist concept, much easier to just make stuff up.

[madmike]

BOF Decision:

British Championships Eligability Criteria
British Championship eligibility to take effect from 1st January 2013

To be eligible for British Championship trophies and medals, an individual competitor must on the

day immediately preceding the day of competition in question be a member of British Orienteering

and:

either

 be a British citizen;

or

 have been a member of British Orienteering in each of the three membership years

preceding the year of the competition

So to be eligible under the “membership” criteria in 2013, an individual must have been a

member of British Orienteering in each of the membership years 2010, 2011 and 2012 (in

addition to 2013).

o For Juniors who are not British citizens, the membership criteria will be as specified

below:

Age on 31st December in year of competition
British Orienteering membership criterion

10 or under Member on day before the day of competition
11 Member on day before the day of competition and in previous year
12 Member on day before the day of competition and in previous two years
13 and over As in main rule

To be eligible for British Relay Championship trophies and medals, all the members of a relay team

must be eligible under the criteria specified above, and the team must be representing a club which

on the day immediately preceding the day of competition in question is affiliated to British

Orienteering.

[ianandmonika]

Easy to change the rule, and it now makes some sense for individuals, although not for relays (see comments above) - much more difficult to forget BOF's condescending attitude last year to those directly, and indirectly, affected in both individual & relay events.
Website note needs to make it clear non-eligible people can still run, but not win prizes; last year's wording indicated non-eligibles could not even attend the prize giving.

[madmike]

Easy to change the rule, and it now makes some sense for individuals, although not for relays (see comments above) - much more difficult to forget BOF's condescending attitude last year to those directly, and indirectly, affected in both individual & relay events.
Website note needs to make it clear non-eligible people can still run, but not win prizes; last year's wording indicated non-eligibles could not even attend the prize giving.

Agree with all that Ian - but at least they have rectified the mistake and, most importantly, Monika and co are competitive again - not easy to get the strong minded individuals who made the error to change their mind but they have!