Wheelchair-O

[RJ]

In the debate on Trail-O the question of wheelchair access and courses suitable for wheelchairs has been mentioned several times. Think about it..... this is quite an opportunity for 'O' promotion....

Most towns have several small parks that have strong path networks (concrete), flowerbeds and mown grass areas. They wouldn't take a great deal of mapping, and if large enough would work well for small park races for ablebodied competitors as well.

I bet there is plenty of funding out there for wheelchair activities. Small courses, electronic punching. Think of the press coverage you could get for it. And there is no reason why they can't be seen to be doing a perfectly normal 'O' course, just shorter. There would be some volunteer time needed, but I reckon it would sell *orienteering* brilliantly to the general public. I'm sure someone will find a downside... but I reckon as a promotion idea it could be well worthwhile.

[paddy]

might be worth talking to Ed Niland aka god on here. pm him.

hes got some silly title in the sports division of the Irish Wheelchair Association, think he was looking into trailo and wheelchairs an promotion if i remember...

[Nemo]

Go for it RJ

[Guest]

As first sight this seems the "obvious" solution to the argument on the other thread about Trail-O as currently presented. This could be "proper" O with both physical exertion and route choice.

Somewhere like Battersea Park would be ideal.

But the problem comes when you consider the potential racing aspect. Some wheelchair athletes are fast - very fast. Wheelchair marathon winners take around 1h30m, or around 18mph on average over 26 miles, so presumably over shorter distances / sprints they approach 30 mph. Most local authorities are likely to have an issue with such racing around local parks unless tightly controlled. Which would then lead to issues like restricting route choice / requiring marshalling the general public / much greater public liability cover etc.

[mharky]

As I said, finding a suitable area would be a nightmare. Some of the commons and parks in London might be suitable... as would Southamtpon Common... possibly...

[Sensible Nemo]

I've got 2 ideal venues within a mile of where I
live, both are retail park car parks closed to the public after 4.00pm on Sundays, with lots of interesting features and no kerb restrictions, such as bollards, kerb islands, trees, hedges, lamposts, sign posts, walkways. trolley parks, kiosks, etc, etc
(we might need to invent more special symbols). One has the added attraction of a railway viaduct across it with several brick arches. The other is the car park of the largest Tesco Extra store in the country. Maybe Tesco would jump at the chance to sponsor disabled orienteering on their own premises.
'Tesco Extra Grand Prix'?

[mharky]

On a different not, the big ICA super-markets in Sweden have their own maps available, with all the shelfs, freezers etc, so you can find your shopping... it would only take a red pen and a stopwatch to make it into a race...

[Nemo]

Controls would not have codes and you'd have lots of dummy markers.

[FatBoy]

...and do a penalty lap for each one you get wrong?

[Ian W]

Does it really have to be tarmac? Someone (FatBoy?) posted a picture of something that looked like an off road chair going over pretty rough terrain.

Also quite a lot of Trail O courses use forest tracks which seem to be accessible to fairly ordinary wheelchairs. I would have thought areas like the NOC forests would work pretty well.

I agree with RJ that this could be an excellent opportunity to get some good publicity and present a positive image to the general public of the essence of Orienteering. Anyone know Tanni GT?

Ian

[mharky]

Sherwood Pines! what a great idea... all we need now are some participants...

[Nemo]

Tarmac might be good for the less macho (inclusiveness?)

[Roadkill]

Having supported regular Trail-O as a guest (unwittingly anonymous - first post on Sat Nov 26) I should like to say I think wheelchair-O is a good idea. Does this mean though that you have to be disabled to compete or could any one hire a chair and have a go? I should advise the wearing of crash helmets though, two wheelchairs doing 30mph is a 60mph head bang. The idea of time penalty for wrong answers is not the way to go IMHO - clear round wins as per trail-O. The 30s penalty used in micro-O is not enough unless the course is not elite trail-O. This brings up the present 60s penalty in trail-O for an incorrect timed control (as well as losing the point) which I have been campaigning about for years (see new topic). However, if anything is going to be done with Wheelchair-O Anne Braggins needs to be won over as she is the moving force behind trail-O in this country.

[FatBoy]

I was kinda joking about the micrO.

It's a difficult one because I feel we need to include an elite disabled sport element to it (whatever "it" is). However inclusivity works both ways and it would be nice for others to enjoy. I think realistically most races would be akin to park races - partly for being inclusive to standard wheelchairs but also simply because of available venues. Somewhere like Sherwood Pines would be an excellent venue. Most places you can have MTBO would be suitable - if you can have bikes racing around why not wheelchairs? Course planning would have to be careful to avoid the steeper tracks. Perhaps Grizedale would be out