urban format questions

[yted]

The new club, University of York Orienteering Club (UYOC), are thinking about the following format for their urban event at the uni next year (Saturday 27th April). The aim is to allow 3 or 4 people to start at the same time and have a race while at the same time maintining the integrity of the sport by preventing following. So the first and last control (same one!) would be close to and in view of the start and finish. This would be the start of 3 or 4 loops. Those starting the course at the same time would do the loops in a different order and would only see their rivals each time they dibbed the common control assuming they were still close in time (the loops would be of similar lengths). This should be exciting for both competitors and spectators. People could choose their own start times and it is hoped many would choose to start at the same time as friends/enemies of the same standard - but of course those who don't want to race could just start at a different time from their rivals. Has anyone done something similar before? Did it work? Any problems?
Of course this is easy to do at the uni as there is lots of excellent technical urban terrain in all directions - even more than was used in last year's British Champs!

[graeme]

The SHI (forest) had a similar format a few years ago.

It does work, but you have to remember that people are starting on what is the second loop for others. So the effective start interval is four times less than you think (i.e. 4 people per minute is a 15 sec start interval). So lots of running together.

If you think pack running makes for a fun race, go for it, if not you might want to start four people every four minutes.

[Dave]

Most of the ultrasprints I've done has been this format but done a fair few training races of similar format too. Nothing wrong with it. go for it, sounds exciting.

[Spookster]

The Cambridge SprintO was a very similar format, with 8 people starting at once in the final on different loops.

The Sheffield Urban Sprint Relays I organised recently were similar, in that there was mass start head-to-head racing in urban terrain, but also gaffling of courses.

[haloite]

Excellent idea. Would you encourage (through pre-race publicity) folks to pair-up (or in golfing terms - create a fore-some?) so that you could race your peers / friends? Already looking forward to this - we should try to have more of these "special format" races - always enjoy Cliffhanger!

[ba-ba]

Seen some large-ish Scandi races (often national night champs?) use a similar format with 2/3 loops people do in random order before a final common loop. Only problem is no-one knows who's winning until the very end but doubt there'd be that many spectators! Sounds great! I'd be there if it didn't clash with the 3Peaks!