WM relays

[em]

So take your pick - Kingsbury or nothing.

With the area in that state, nettles and all, i have got to pick nothing! This area must have been known to have this reputation in these months, would no one have relized before? Also, would controls being placed just a little further into bushes at the sides of paths at Sutton Park, be better that numerous people coming out with terrible stings from Kinsbury? But like its been said, OD have other areas!

[Jess]

what about tile hill. coombe park. bentley woods. hopwas, or hay wood.

Tile hill-in the middle of coventry-lots of controls would be taken by the locals which happens regularly. Most of the area is housing which we're sure there would be plenty of complaints afterwards especially for childrens courses and long legs on roads. Also, the woodland's all green (holly bushes, brambles and the dreaded nettles). We had hoped to insert a map of Tile Hill to prove our point, but it appears we can't.

Coombe park-perhaps this could be used, but also problems with nettles and brambles. Most of it's open and very public with tourist attractions-v busy especially in summer. Therefore controls also will go missing. Not enough control sites for scope with good gaffling either.

Bentley Woods and Hopwas-We agree, wonderful for relays-our best areas, hence why we used hopwas for a very successful JK relay this year and Bentley for BUSA individual, also this year. However, permission for using the land is difficult to obtain-being private estates. Therefore there's no way we'd get permission twice in a year-it's usually used at a push every few years.

Hay Wood-if you're complaining about nettles in Kingsbury, we'd hate to think what the consequences of using Hay Wood would be! It's terrible at this time of the year.

We believe there was consideration of cancellation prior to the event, however they decided to go out and bash down the worst of the nettles near to controls and on optimum route choices. If however it had been cancelled, we're sure there would have been lots of questioning as orienteers are supposed to be 'hardcore'. It's part of the sport.

As it's been said before, constructive criticism is fine, but when everyone just complains about how an event was run, it's very hard on the people involved as no doubt they've put a lot of effort into trying to make events successful for everyone competing.

Although I (Jess) wasn't at the event(Jo was), I know the areas and the effort that was put in behind the scenes, as in all events.

It's a shame this event was affected by misplaced controls to add to the nettles, but i'm sure there were people who still enjoyed it.

Jess and Jo.

[Copepod]

The issues of course planning and area choice have already been well covered. However, there is an issue of appropriate clothing to cope with summer vegetation in England. Personally, I often wear army surplus lightweight trousers and nylon walking gaiters, which prevent most nettle stings and bramble scratches.

[bendover]

Personally, I often wear army surplus lightweight trousers and nylon walking gaiters, which prevent most nettle stings and bramble scratches.

i've found that a heavyweight neoprene wetsuit is not only ideal for keeping away those pesky nettles, but great for running in too.

[rob f]

What the problems at this event, the Scottish Championships, and numerous others seem to be showing is just how difficult it is getting volunteers to organise, plan and control events at the moment.

hmmmmm I think these are limited examples, there is a broad spectrum of events, some are very good (jk/hambledon woods) and then your average 'that was good fun' then there are a few poorly organised events, I dont think it reflects on most clubs.

I agree, the majority of od events are well organiosed and well planned - normally the only problems are with emit.

[distracted]

I agree, the majority of od events are well organiosed and well planned - normally the only problems are with emit.

There's nothing wrong with emit - stop whinging and live with it.

[tokoloshe]

This string is probably not the best place to start a debate about the merits of Emit and SI. Both work but in most people's eyes SI is superior.

Neither are good at bashing nettles.[/quote]

[rob f]

I agree, the majority of od events are well organiosed and well planned - normally the only problems are with emit.

There's nothing wrong with emit - stop whinging and live with it.

i have no problems with it, its just the last two od events i ran at they had problems with emit (results), and its probably only because od are quite new to it.

[brooner]

Think Archlean is a bit far for W mids Relays Don't think many teams would make it. There were not too many from the largest W Mid club as it was.

nah, dover has it sussed:

or what about OD saying, sorry, we haven't got a suitable area, but can we run an event on someone elses map?

if the dutch adventure racing champs can be held in scotland why can't the wm relays? all y'd need to have done is combined them with the fab scottish relay champs or the hopefully equally ace Purple Thistle Relays .

i have no problems with it, its just the last two od events i ran at they had problems with emit (results), and its probably only because od are quite new to it.

well they did results at busa and that all went fine, shame some people's punching & code checking skills weren't so fine.

Neither are good at bashing nettles.

sadly bikes aren't that great either for nettle bashing. all you whingers, what about the people who had to put the controls out!

[Tatty]

Surely a problem with emit results can not be seen as a problem with using emit?

[Stodgetta]

what about the people who had to put the controls out

With advance knowledge of the terrain if they had any sense they would have borrowed bendovers heavyweight neoprene wetsuit!

[HOCOLITE]

Think Archlean is

i have no problems with it, its just the last two od events i ran at they had problems with emit (results), and its probably only because od are quite new to it.

well they did results at busa and that all went fine, shame some people's punching & code checking skills weren't so fine.

Just an observation. There seems to be far more mispunching at emot events, particularly relays, is it just unfamiliarity with the lumps or difficulties in checking descriptions with the extra object in the hands. I know there were a lot of wrong codes but there was also one case where a competitors brick did not record a number of controls and because there was no pin prick she was disq. THis is something that should be declared up front either pin pricks are used or not but so many these days take the risk, or check the display that I suspect few competitors would have had a complete set of pin pricks. I find it quicker to do that than check display cos the lump always seems to be in the wrong place. I am an amateur with them I have to admit.

[Becks]

Just an observation. There seems to be far more mispunching at emot events, particularly relays, is it just unfamiliarity with the lumps or difficulties in checking descriptions with the extra object in the hands. I know there were a lot of wrong codes but there was also one case where a competitors brick did not record a number of controls and because there was no pin prick she was disq.

With version 3 you can check you don't mispunch. With version 2 you have to fit it in properly to ensure that you have punched at the control. If you fail to do any of these (and I can't say I always check my display on mine) then you run the risk of not having punched correctly, but it's your fault, and not that of ther kit or the club. For the first few events it is a little fiddly but after using it down south here for a couple of years it really is only slightly slower than Ident.

[Ancient Grouse]

Since Rob F has successfully managed to change the subject of the thread totally can anyone suggest any way to carry an Emit 3 card in your left hand so you can see the display, and punch smoothly, when you use your right hand for thumb compass and map?

[Ancient Grouse]

Don't think OD inexperience can be used to explain any EMIT problems at Kingsbury as EMIT UK were providing the computing. Only EMIT confusion seemed to be about mass start timing - at least one runner was initially shown on the results with a leg time of 6 minutes. I have experienced a similar problem with the Si relay software - answer I think is to use a punching start for mass starts (was that done at Kingsbury?)

Emit didn't have anything to do with controls in the wrong place or the nettles! My biggest complaint relates to the reinstatement of runners who punched the wrong control - even if it was in the right place. I navigated to my first control - checked the number - it was wrong. Glanced at my map, saw knoll in circle. Climbed knoll - saw my control and punched. Took me perhaps 30 secs longer. But I checked my codes.

The control misplacement was an error that shouldn't have happened. But the control should not have been moved during the event either - other runners on that course then had an advantage over earlier runners.

The only fair solution was to void the course. Should we have protested, as we were the only team to complete the course correctly? Given that our first leg runner got lost in the Jet Ski centre during his run (he shouldn't have been there and couldn't find his way out!) it would have been a very hollow victory!

When I was rallying, many years ago, results were declared provisional and then competitors had 30 minutes to query them or raise an official protest. If noone did, results were then declared final, and prizegiving could be held. I don't think there is an equivalent BOF rule. Should there be? Surely it can't be right to change results after everyone has left the event and the prize-giving has happened?