Peter Palmer Relays 2013

[Big Jon]

Anyone got a link to a copy of the Hawes End map?

Look harder

Thanks very much.

[Cake]

Still don't understand the no 10 year olds rule. I have a10 year old who'd love to go. He's going to run yellow, which is what he runs already. He's not going to make any difference to the existing team unless he has a flyer and beats the M12. If he goes, I go with him, so that brings another adult into help, but as he can't then I'm going to do something else instead. I'm happy to make the judgement as to whether he can cope or not - I have to do that most days, it sort of goes with the job. It just seems like a crazy rule. One thing orienteering seems to have no shortage of is crazy rules. If it was an insurance issue or similar I'd understand. It's tempting just enter him under another name...

[Spookster]

So who won? Results?

[RJ]

Congratulations to SYO Young Guns on their win in the Peter Palmer Relays. I'm sure the results will be up soon on the WCOC website.We gave the trophy a good clean and a sparkling polish before presenting it.

24 teams. A good turnout. Sunshine and fabulous views of Derwentwater for the presentation. The weather was very kind to us in the end!

[LostAgain]

SYO Young Guns lead from start to finish.
OD took 2nd by 1second
Maroc

MAROC caught OD on the last leg but were out sprinted on the run in.

CLOK took the Joan George
PFO the Small Clubs ( I think)

[AndyC]

You know ,Spookster, knowing your club allegiance I wonder why you asked the question?
But well done to all who turned up and ran and all the helpers/parents who made it possible. Commiserations to those who tried their best but didn't win -it's the taking part that counts even if it doesn't feel like that at the moment

[Spookster]

You know ,Spookster, knowing your club allegiance I wonder why you asked the question?

I've spent the whole weekend running round bits of Bristol, so I had no idea! But well done SYO juniors!! And all the other juniors who competed, and WCOC for getting such a good turnout.

[RJ]

The Peter Palmer Relays and the Yvette Baker Trophy events are our main attempts to increase junior participation and inclusivity for all clubs. And we do that by designing the competition so that the younger and less experienced can take part.... therefore the inclusion of Yellow and Orange courses, which are there for those competitors who NORMALLY run those courses.

Team managers are the ones who select the runners for their teams..... so can we agree to turn out teams that meet that spirit of the competition in future? It actually doesn't enhance the competition by having very competent orienteers who normally run TD4/5 courses on the Yellow and Orange. IMO it has the opposite effect!

For the sport to survive we have to have an elite end for us all to aspire to, but we also need an extensive base to the participation pyramid who feel valued and who can compete on equal terms.

[Mrs H]

Youch! Everyone turns to results to see who the culprits are

What you are expecting is a very big ask - especially as the team managers of these competitions are often the juniors captains themselves - and I'm sure they all want to win.

Personally I don't like this public tutting at things that are perfectly within the rules. If the competition isn't delivering in terms of inclusivity then change the rules don't wag fingers.

[Gross]

Youch! Everyone turns to results to see who the culprits are

:

Is there any headcam evidence?

edited following advice from AndyC

[AndyC]

Youch! Everyone turns to results to see who the culprits are

:

Is there any headcam evidence?

I think the emoticon should have been or

[graeme]

the inclusion of Yellow ... courses, which are there for those competitors who NORMALLY run those courses.

This should be true in a sane world, but the people who run normally run the yellow course are M/W10, and they're explicitly banned from PPR

[SeanC]

Good to see a few more combined small club teams this year. Looks like 3, plus whoever was invited to join with a larger clubs 2nd team.

It probably helps to have this event moved around the regions. Different clubs will be able to make a team and that gives more juniors a chance to be in a team in their junior career.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Peter Palmer is the only one off junior only club competition. It would be good if there were one or two more such inspiring competitions, say one in the south, one in the midlands, one in the far north/Scotland. That would give more juniors the chance to attend one such competition a year.

So there's scope for someone to start another inspiring national one off competition, with more inclusive rules to allow > 30% of our juniors to attend, without needing to invoke 'The Spirit of the Competition' when competitors legitimately follow the rules but don't do as the competition originally intended. This could be co-ordinated with the Peter Palmer so that it was spread geographically. But ideally not a BOF competition so that the rules don't get frozen in time.

Does the Peter Palmer make a financial loss? That might put someone trying it. Otherwise there's an opportunity for someone to make their mark on junior development.

[LostAgain]

Peter Palmer Relays is not broken and does not need changes, IMO.

The 3 Trophies and their designated entry requirements is all encompassing.

Peter Palmers - At least 2 girls and 2 boys.
Joan George - combined age <=90, 2 girls, 2 boys
Small Clubs - 2 girls, 2 boys

The M/W10 omission is open to discussion. I understand the reasoning and sympathise with both sides of the discussion.

As the probable Organiser / Planner for 2014 Peter Palmer Relays

[Homer]

Firstly, great thanks to WCOC for putting on this year's Peter Palmer.
It can't be easy with the requirement for indoor accommodation adjacent to a suitable area. Also, not everyone wants to help at a race which starts at 0445, so thanks.

I agree with LostAgain that the format is not broken. If you try to be overly prescriptive about who can run which leg then it'll just make it harder for clubs to field eligible teams.
The Joan George trophy is there for clubs who have younger juniors, although there could be some debale about the 90 age limit.

Don't blame clubs for trying to field the strongest team possible within the rules to try and win the competition. I thought that was the general idea in all sports.

Small suggestion to the WCOC results guru: the results don't seem to indicate which teams were competing in the Joan George Trophy. I'm sure the winners would like their moment of glory.