Race the Castles

[Big Jon]

Balmoral was a challenge...Brown course a bit long (?) a nice visibility forest but bouldery in large areas and the slopes coming down to the spectator control and finish weren't of the same quality as the rest.

The Brown course was planned for the Women's World Ranking Event and was perhaps a few hundred metres too long.... Normal Brown competitors had to take it on the chin

I agree the slope to assembly was pretty horrible but that was the assembly area we had..... Ideally we'd have a different assembly (front lawn?) and finish the courses through the BIG trees near the front gate - but this wasn't allowed. maybe next time..............

[graeme]

Balmoral was a challenge... the slopes coming down to the spectator control and finish weren't of the same quality as the rest.

Thanks for the other compliments
Keen though I am to see the elites in full flow, I felt that the Brown course was most compromised by the "requirement" for a spectator control, which in practice meant two descents of the nasty bit. If you happen to have a WRE in your area next year you might consider how necessary it is (or get those nice WOC-types to practise their TV coverage).

Did you like Jon's cartography and the litho 1:15000 map?

[plain lazy]

I felt that the Brown course was most compromised by the "requirement" for a spectator control, which in practice meant two descents of the nasty bit. If you happen to have a WRE in your area next year you might consider how necessary it is (or get those nice WOC-types to practise their TV coverage).

Did you like Jon's cartography and the litho 1:15000 map?

Returning to the same hill for the third time on the Brown course wasn't a lot of fun, I felt we missed out on the area to the West that other courses got into, this may have been a result of the need for a spectator control.

The 1:15k map was tough to get into, as an M35 we don't get asked to read detail that small very often... good job I was moving so slowly over the terrain I had time to read the map.

[DaveR]

Balmoral was a challenge... the slopes coming down to the spectator control and finish weren't of the same quality as the rest.

Thanks for the other compliments
Keen though I am to see the elites in full flow, I felt that the Brown course was most compromised by the "requirement" for a spectator control, which in practice meant two descents of the nasty bit. If you happen to have a WRE in your area next year you might consider how necessary it is (or get those nice WOC-types to practise their TV coverage).

Did you like Jon's cartography and the litho 1:15000 map?

Taking the "glass is 1% empty" approach ( ) I would agree that the Brown course planning was probably compromised by the (WRE?) requirement to have a spectator control in the arena. I was expecting a Brown++ course as it was set for the Elite women, and that is exactly what I got, and a very good course it was too.

I was more than a little concerned that my old eyes would really struggle with a 1:15,000 map. I shouldn't have worried, the cartography was done for the printed scale so worked perfectly.

I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 weekends of races.

[mharky]

Why were non-elites sharing the elite courses?

[DaveR]

Why were non-elites sharing the elite courses?

Why not? It was a good course, and us punters ran after the elite competitors so didn't interfere with their competition.

[Homer]

Why were non-elites sharing the elite courses?

Why not? It was a good course, and us punters ran after the elite competitors so didn't interfere with their competition.

Or before, in the case of the M20 SHI runners.

[DJM]

the (WRE?) requirement to have a spectator control in the arena

Can anyone find where the WRE Guidelines mention this? Having written previous editions of the document, I don't remember including anything about it ...

[andy]

the (WRE?) requirement to have a spectator control in the arena

Can anyone find where the WRE Guidelines mention this? Having written previous editions of the document, I don't remember including anything about it ...

It deson't. It does, however, state that the start should be in the assembly area (wherever possible)

[graeme]

the (WRE?) requirement to have a spectator control in the arena

Can anyone find where the WRE Guidelines mention this? Having written previous editions of the document, I don't remember including anything about it ...

That's why I put "requirement" in quotes. Sorry if it was too subtle.

Preferably, the start should be at the Arena and the course should make runners pass the Arena during the competition.

[graeme]

Spectator controls notwithstanding, worldofo highlights Stirling as a top candidate for "International Course of the Year". Who am I to disagree?

http://news.worldofo.com/2014/11/13/cou ... ggestions/

[rosco]

Two Race the Castles courses have been shortlisted for Course of the Year. Voting closes tomorrow: http://news.worldofo.com/2014/11/26/vote-for-course-of-the-year-2014-now/

Every vote counts!:
PWT Race The Castles
Race the Castles Prologue, part 1

[rosco]

PWT Race the Castles: Fighting within Top10 in Course of the Year 2014 - one day to go! Vote NOW!: http://buff.ly/1yaWCFB

[graeme]

The votes are in at WorldOfO, and Race the Castles @ Stirling has been voted "Best sprint course of the year". This is the first time a British course made the top-10 - it's not just the athletes who are upping their game for WOC2015!

Congratuations to rosco the planner, and GG the mapper, and thanks to Soren Bobach, the World Champion who nominated it!

Stirling was second overall, just behind the WOC middle distance race in Italy.

[Jayne]

Very impressive!! Well done all - the hard work definitely paid off