British Schools

[Becks]

Well, I may be slightly biased, but thought today was a wonderful day for all concerned. I started to write a news item and realised it wasn't really news, but more some random thoughts for the day, so they're posted on http://i.hate.nopesport.com

Ace.

[Mrs H.]

thoroughly enjoyable event - really beautiful setting - all my little team - some of whom have only been orienteering since the first MADO event in September - had a very postive experience and are asking "when the next big event is". Full marks to the Haines family.

[Peter B]

Yep top quality. The assembly area had a very nice backdrop and big success with the weather - it was beautiful. I thought the idea to have the prize giving in the ampitheatre was a good one, so that everyone had the chance to watch the proceedings. Very good.
Mrs H - it may or may not surprise you to know that pretty well every junior asks each other when the next event is at the end of the event

[kedge]

I agree with all of the above. A quality event from first to last and a credit to all concerned. Well organised accommodation overnight at the local school too. Our school group were most impressed. I see that Michael Napier even got the results posted on the British Schools website whilst prizegiving was going on.

I'd forgotten what a beautiful setting Temple Newsam is (last time it was used, in '91 it was so foggy you could hardly see your hand in front of your face) , and ideal for a British Schools event. You can get the flavour of it all from the stunning pictures on the BSOA website today. Lots of possible cover pix for CompassSport etc there, I would think.

[Wendles]

Here are a few photos I took whilst patrolling at Sunday's event. Just click on the finish photo to start the slideshow.
http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/ShareLand ... share&Ux=0
Tony would appreciate comments on his courses from competitors.

[Carnage Head]

Yes - a very well-run event. Thanks to all, esp the Haines family, and AIRE and other volunteers.

My first, and my school's (Fulneck) first BSOC - and they came third in the small schools category! OK, so there were only three small schools with the requisite six counters, but hey...! Check out the ragtag group on the podium next to o-suited 'professional' outfits on the BSOC photo section! Watch out Clayesmore and The Mount - 2006 here we come!

The club members are so fired up that almost every conversation they have is about orienteering... even the ones who took over 90mins, and 116mins in one case, for their courses!

Good idea to get Heather Monro involved.

The marshals were helpful, too, I've heard!

Nice one.

[RJ]

A wonderful experience. The venue and the atmosphere on the run-in were great.

Some observations:

The commentary was good. It highlighted the top runners, especially the top juniors. I would have liked more information on the various schools. I know it all has to be input into the programme, but I would have liked more information on where various schools were based. With club names we are all a well informed audience, but school names give little clue to where they come from, with one or two notable exceptions.

I feel there were rather too many disqualifications and retirals on the White and Yellow courses. The courses should really be bomb proof. I return to comments made in a previous thread about scales. The courses could have benefitted from 1:5000 maps. Perhaps the various committees will consider that for next year. The essence of these courses is not whether the competitors can tackle the navigational challenges, but how fast they can run round them.

[Mrs H.]

Carnage mate! I never saw you there - you could have come and shared the MADO tent. My little lads got on the podium too - silver in year 8 behind the mighty Ulverston and a skeleton team of 9 got in the top ten large schools ahead of some very well established teams

[Becks]

I feel there were rather too many disqualifications and retirals on the White and Yellow courses. The courses should really be bomb proof.

RJ, thanks for your compliments earlier on that I've chopped out. The white and yellow courses were incredibly tricky to plan on an area with such a complex path network, and I think you may be right, that a larger scale would have made these courses easier to read. My dad certainly agreed when we were having a chat on the day before putting out stakes. Should this be something I should be taking further and saying official things to BSOA about do people think?

[Guest]

i dont think clayesmore is going to do as well in the next few years as it has done.....

[Guest]

i thought my G13 course was really good. I loved the kind of spectator control near the end with that extra loop even though i was running round there for about 4mins because my dad putting me off by shouting at me!!i mainly enjoyed it because it had a technical side to it but also gave me the chance to move fast too!!thanks tony!

[Klebe]

Nice photos Wendles, the setting looks brilliant wish I could have been there. That run-in looks a bit gruelling though !
Love the picture of the four little girls with hats, scarves, gloves and coats in amongst the pyjama brigade photos.

[Guest]

I really enjoyed my course(G12) Really fast navigation round a complex network of paths. I got easily confused in places but it was a really fun course. My friends on the same course found it technically challenging, but, all the same, had a great weekend. For some of our juniors the courses were tough but we had great successes too. Thanks Tony and to all other people involved in the event.

Jo

[Homer]

Bart ran in the B5 for the first time and really enjoyed the experience. He's disappointed that he's got to wait until April for the next 'big' event!

We both thought the course was just about the right technical standard (although he struggled on the long uphill finish!). He was annoyed with himself for messing up one control and a bit non-plussed about the class winner(s) being a pair. What's the thinking behind that? Surely if kids are good enough to win their class they should be running on their own. Everything else was perfect though: the map scale, the courses, the setting, the atmosphere and the weather. The puzzle-O was a welcome additional extra too.

[RJ]

The white and yellow courses were incredibly tricky to plan on an area with such a complex path network, and I think you may be right, that a larger scale would have made these courses easier to read. My dad certainly agreed when we were having a chat on the day before putting out stakes. Should this be something I should be taking further and saying official things to BSOA about do people think?

Thanks Becks. I wrote to Peter Bylett about ten days before the event when I found out the scale was to be 1:10. I think it is being discussed, but I am sure there will be a lot of people to be consulted, so the greater the input the better.

The leap from schools' maps at 1:2000 or 1:1250 up to 1:10 is too much for the Year 5 and 6's, in my opinion. We have small sections of many of our club maps at 1:5000 or 1:2500, which we use for the school/club link events. The larger scale certainly helps to make their (White course competitors) decision making process easier, helps them to read the map quicker, and of course keeps them running.

On another point.... the travel from the four corners of the UK is hard work. Getting involved in an overnight stay... that is a real committment! Is there a case for Northern, Midland and Southern versions?