There's always lots of discussion on here about poor planning but I just wanted to highlight a case of good planning I experiences at yesterday's TVOC event at Nettlebed.
Since I've moved down South I've always been amazed at how much mess my shins and torso are in after orienteering due to frankly horrible, horrible forest. Those of us who have non-orienteering partners will be able to relate to their disgust as we show up covered in scratches and then proceed to spend the next 2 months, picking bits of vegetation out of our knees and ankles.
Having organised/planned a few events in Scotland and around London, I've always been amazed at concern about whether courses were at the correct length or TD5 or how many controls. For me the enjoyment factor of orienteering comes from how many times I had to wimp out of crossing a decent bit of forest because it's covered in man eating nettles or how many foreign objects im finding in my legs (despite layers of thick socks) the next day.
Yesterday's Brown course at Nettlebed typified what I am after. Yes the courses were a bit shorter than usual and some of the legs were easier but the courses used the best parts of the area. The planner (Eddie!) was flexible in his approach and I got some decent stretches running through beautiful forests on what was a great advert for orienteering. This morning Im looking back thinking I'd like to spend more Sunday mornings in forests like that.
My point is f*ck course lengths, control descriptions, map scales, EMIT or SI(?). It should be all about if the forest was decent or not and whether I enjoyed the run.
Acknowledgement of Quality planning
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Acknowledgement of Quality planning
i dont sing my mothers tongue
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Meat Market - green
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Re: Acknowledgement of Quality planning
Well said MM!!
Having grown up being spoiled by the areas on offer around Inverness and Deeside, then moving to Cambridge and orienteering around the South, South East and East Midlands I too have experienced many a leg shredding race that definitely made the grade in terms of Brown course winning times, but came way short of an enjoyable experience.
When the planner focusses on fun over form (or conformity) then it's a winner for me everytime!
Having grown up being spoiled by the areas on offer around Inverness and Deeside, then moving to Cambridge and orienteering around the South, South East and East Midlands I too have experienced many a leg shredding race that definitely made the grade in terms of Brown course winning times, but came way short of an enjoyable experience.
When the planner focusses on fun over form (or conformity) then it's a winner for me everytime!
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plain lazy - blue
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Re: Acknowledgement of Quality planning
There could be a separate colour coded system based on runnability, eg
white: dream terrain.
light green: good south east terrain
green: normal south east terrain
red: steel gaters/ selection of plasters required.
black: DFOK area.
(only joking DFOKers )
white: dream terrain.
light green: good south east terrain
green: normal south east terrain
red: steel gaters/ selection of plasters required.
black: DFOK area.
(only joking DFOKers )
- SeanC
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Re: Acknowledgement of Quality planning
Yes Nettlebed was excellent, apart from perhaps the smelliest Start location I've experienced.
- Nimby
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Re: Acknowledgement of Quality planning
Good to hear praise for good planning on a so-so area. People too often confuse good planning with "TD5" areas: its rather easy to get praise for so-so planning on a great area.
http://www.tvoc.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#92&course=2
Also notable is how the first legs or blue/brown, which is barely TD3, still caught lots of people out*.
* well, OK, so there was probably an unmarked track, but that comes with the territory.
http://www.tvoc.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#92&course=2
Also notable is how the first legs or blue/brown, which is barely TD3, still caught lots of people out*.
* well, OK, so there was probably an unmarked track, but that comes with the territory.
WOC2024 Edinburgh
Test races at SprintScotland (Alloa/Falkirk) and Euromeeting (near Stirling).
Test races at SprintScotland (Alloa/Falkirk) and Euromeeting (near Stirling).
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graeme - god
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Re: Acknowledgement of Quality planning
Yep I thought the planning yesterday was most excellent. Well done and thanks to the planner and controller for some great courses!
- Broken Ground
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Re: Acknowledgement of Quality planning
Will the planner read these plaudits on Nopesport? Maybe someone who knows them can direct them to this thread
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plain lazy - blue
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Re: Acknowledgement of Quality planning
Will the planner read these plaudits on Nopesport? Maybe someone who knows them can direct them to this thread
Now done.
Meanwhile TVOC's next major event, the Chiltern Challenge, is at Hambleden - just the other side of Henley-on-Thames from Nettlebed. Last used for Days 2 and 4 of JK 2013, this is a super-runnable Chiltern forest. With planning by two very experienced and highly regarded planners, you can be confident of some excellent courses. It is the first of a series of events in the week leading up to JK 2017. Entries are now open.
- Alun
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