Harvester

[swat]

Just noticed team categories (junior, handicap etc) are now shown alongside the results on the HALO website.

[Simon]

Mharky's concerns could be overcome by having specific connected controls for different courses. Each control having a different screen and therefore representing either different courses or a couple of courses.

Or one could have the software process the information so that only one/a few courses are sent to each screen.

The bigger difficulty might be the availabilty of enough computers. If one were using laptops for this then there is the question of how many are availble, since the results and commentary already uses quite a few. There is the option of the set up that Stodge used at a recent event - which can be powered off one machine with a number of video cards - which would be fine for big events where you generally have transportation for the kit needed.

[rob f]

you could just have 10 screens showing all runners when coming in, or at a midpoint control (big screen/projection) again problems with the sun are a more major issue

[Wendles]

Harvester was excellent. You can't beat being tucked up in your sleeping bag in the club tent 'neath the stars, watching random headlights flickering in the woods across the way, occasional shouts of encouragement breaking the quiet of the night, the swishing of long grass as the next legs warmed up..ooh it's made me go all poetic and, most importantly we won the Women's Handicap, way to go AIRE OWLS!

[Wendles]

ok so there were only two teams ....we still won!

[mharky]

yeah, that really was a great night. the assembley area was good. and there is somthing about the smallness of the event that makes it good. everyone was taking an interest. it was good fun waiting for the 1st legs to appear on the 1st scree, oh the excitement. i want to do more relays

[Gavin]

At our last night event we had live results with a window for each course... in fact two windows... one for Start to Mid-Point and one for Start to Finish.

See...

http://www.radiotiming.dsl.pipex.com/Reigate/Radio.htm

for some ideas...

Since it was a punching start we needed the Start to be Radio as well as the mid and finish... hence 3 radios in the forest and one at results.

Regards,
Gavin

PS

The really good thing about relays of course is the captive audience... I didn't go to the last Harvester but I did attend the one before which used the same set-up. Very well done.

[rocky]

yeah the harvester was an excellant race at the pointy end, so many changes at the front. oli gave me a couple of chances on last leg to get away from him but i couldn't capitalise, and ultimatly he's running better than me at teh moment and he really stuck the boot in in the long (2.3km) leg just after half way.

i'm still well chuffed with my time, didnt feel too healthy after it though!

bring on ukrl2006!

[mharky]

and the NRL2006, where gonna do it boys!

[chris at aire]

Wendy it's good to see someone who was press-ganged into a team waxing so lyrical. I take it you're a convert.

Yes Mark the intinacy of the event is special, but let's hope the enthusiasm this year's event has created will see an increase in numbers in scotland nest year.

I have hopes and plans of getting an Aire team together that will press for the Sutton Trophy next year. Let's hope this years stayaways can be enthused.

[Rob P]

The mighty NOC will be having that Sutton Park trophy next year, so you'll have to wait a bit longer.

[Guest]

The inaugural women's handicap only had 2 teams in it as well - Pembrey 1987 methinks. OD and WCH. The presentation photo included someone who was in this year's men's winning team

[NeilC]

The intinacy of the event is special, but let's hope the enthusiasm this year's event has created will see an increase in numbers in scotland nest year.

I would argue that last years event organised by MV was slightly better in a number of respects. Unfortunately the numbers competing were low, was this because it was in the SE and therefore either
i) too far to travel
ii) too boring an area
I hope it wasn't due to (ii), the courses were actually very challenging and last weekend's event showed that you can have a good Harvester with essentially TD3 (orange standard) courses throughout.
If it was due to (i) then maybe the Scottish event will have the same problem? Perhaps the solution is to take the same approach as for the YBT, and to some extent the Peter Palmer, and always hold the Harvester in a central location.

[Guest]

I can't speak for areas as I rarely run but often go to Harvester as driver.

I think the distance is crucial because if you've been running overnight the journey back is not ideal and if it is a distance there is a great risk of tiredness affecting the driver.
This year I did not travel and my other half did drive. The three hour journey put off a number of regular Harvester people from our club. The way back he had to stop for three breaks to ensure he didn't sleep at the wheel.
Although they'd love to compete in Scotland I guess it will be even harder to get a team as that would be 4/4.5 hours driving each way. That is too much in a 24 hour period for most sane fully awake drivers.
Flights might be possible if cheap ones available however, if vehicle hire is added on it might make it too much.

Each year the make up of teams varies due to the location. There are a few diehards who manage every year. The variety of competition makes for a different event but doesn't guarantee that the best win, but that is often the case in ordinary O. It is just exacerbated due to the lower numbers who do night O.

A central location would possibly give a more consistent number of entrants but, it would mean some Night O'ers are disadvantaged every year. The problem is geographical and thus there is no solution, unless the govt gave us another bank hol when the event could be held. However you could guarantee it would not be the same weekend in Scotland so no real solution.


HOcolite

[Blanka]

Flights might be possible if cheap ones available however, if vehicle hire is added on it might make it too much.

I think if the Scottish clubs organising next year's event want to get more entries in, they ought to consider laying on transport from an airport to allow people to get to the event without hiring a car.