Harvester

[Ed]

why not get a club minibus, two or three drivers, who may or may not also be competitors, and then you've not got the problem of a long lonely drive home. For the big Scandi relays the club's usually go by coach, with two or three adjoining clubs banding together to fill the coach if necessary.

OK, it costs money - but from my experience most clubs aren't short of a bob or two in the bank, and (IMHO) grouped travel to events such as this is something that clubs should be willing to put a bit of money into, and possibly don't do often enough (I know Lakeland have hired a coach for the CompassSport Cup final at least three times, and all of them have been good sociable occasions, even when the O-ing hasn't been fantastic (East Anglia twice!))

[graeme]

In Scotland we're well aware of the travelling issues associated with the Harvester. For this reason (inter alia) we're holding it in the Borders near Broughton, hosted by TINTO who stage a day/night badge event each year, and are pretty much our top night-O enthusiasts. We noted that TD3 at night is quite enough for most people, so its pleasant running terrain rather than our most technical area, with a mix of open and forest (more technical than this years area though).

You know you can expect quality relays in Scotland - see you up here next year.

Graeme

[Guest]

In Scotland we're well aware of the travelling issues associated with the Harvester. For this reason (inter alia) we're holding it in the Borders near Broughton, hosted by TINTO who stage a day/night badge event each year, and are pretty much our top night-O enthusiasts. We noted that TD3 at night is quite enough for most people, so its pleasant running terrain rather than our most technical area, with a mix of open and forest (more technical than this years area though).

You know you can expect quality relays in Scotland - see you up here next year.

Graeme

So where is the nearest airport with cheap transport. And when is the event? Is it in the middle of English Exams? Or is it in September?

[NeilC]

OK, it costs money - but from my experience most clubs aren't short of a bob or two in the bank, and (IMHO) grouped travel to events such as this is something that clubs should be willing to put a bit of money into, and possibly don't do often enough

But when you subsidise trips to CSC Final, Peter Palmer, Yvette Baker Trophy Final, Harvester, JIRCs, Summer Tours etc it all adds up, especially if you are on one of the geographical extremes.

Great suggestion to lay on a shuttle bus to and from (Edinburgh?)airport to the Harvester next year. We would certainly make use of it.

[Ed]

So where is the nearest airport with cheap transport. And when is the event? Is it in the middle of English Exams? Or is it in September?

nearest airport to Tinto-land would be Newcastle (easyjet hub, 90ish minutes drive)), Prestwick (ryanair hub, probably also a little over an hours drive), as well as Glasgow and Edinburgh (both served by various cheap and cheap-ish airlines, ditto).

according to the BOF advance fixtures list, the date is June 10th.

[CHS]

MDOC has a club minibus which regulary goes to regional/national events over the North. I believe that the sometimes have problems getting enough people to use it.

The main downside with club organised transport is that the club has to have a centralised base less than 20mins from where most people live for it to make it worthwhile for the events between 1hr and 1.30hr away.

[HOCOLITE]

MDOC has a club minibus which regulary goes to regional/national events over the North. I do believe that the sometimes have problems getting enough people to use it.

The main downside with club organised transport is that the club has to have a centralised base less than 20mins from where most people live for it to make it worthwhile for the events between 1hr and 1.30hr away.

Agreed completely, our club covers a massive area with no central location. Also if you have a mini bus you have to tax, insure, store, and run it

It appears that the area is not near an airport then. Bring on the transport to the event and early posting of info as well.

If the event is in June, we wont be able to consider our junior team until the exam time tables and entries are decided.

[harry]

Oh no. and there's only a year left to pick the team. better give the exam boards a call..

[HOCOLITE]

Oh no. and there's only a year left to pick the team. better give the exam boards a call..

If only they'd realise that O was important and they should delay their exams. Just think how many more juniors might do the Harvester

[bendover]

yes, just think!

[CHS]

Hocolite, the exam timetables are finalised in about Feburay (I think). Juniors might not always be told by their schools when their exams are until later but you can find out their timetables through the exam boards websitem once you know which specification they do.

[awk]

I know it's not a junior focused event, but we certainly wanted to get a junior team out. However, the exams did put an end to that idea, particularly as it comes a the end of a very busy time of year for many.

[rob f]

theres nothing wrong with mid july apart from the undergrowth

[Lumpy Lycra]

[stat o]
2002 - 1st September - 1 Junior team (19 on B course, 16 on A)- NATO
2003 - 15th June - 1 Junior team (30 on B course, 20 on A) - DVO
2004 - 16th June - 2 Junior teams (30 on B course, 19 on A) - MV
2005 - 5th June - 4 Junior teams (31 on B course, 17 on A) - HALO
[/stat o]

[Rich]

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.

Last year the Harvester was in the middle of a lot of events. NOC didn't have any teams as I think most people wanted a w/e where they weren't traveling.