Prizes; Spot the difference

[guest]

BOC 2006: Prizes for the winners of Long and A classes, Momentoes to winners of S and B Classes
JK2006: Prizes and medals
to the first 3 in all classes.
Any comments?
And what is the BOF Development Committee directive relating to prizes? Surely all course winners / top 3 / 10% could be given some award, or recognition?
I thought changing A and B classes to Long and Short was to help in some way, yet Short course runners are stil penalised, even when often they have more runners. Its nice to have some incentive.

[DIDSCO]

I believe the money set aside for prizes at events like BOC and JK should only be spent on the junior age classes and the elite.

The juniors should receive decent prizes they can be proud of - by taking away veteran prizes there should be enough money availble to do this. Decent prizes may help encourage junior participation in orienteering by making it a more attractive sport

The H/D20elite + H/D21elite should recieve cash, or vouchers (depending on possible sponsorship) + a decent trophy for the winners - As a decent reward for all the hours spent training and the huge amount of money they have to pay out of their own pocket. to be an elite orienteer.

This would also make the prizegiving more exciting than the typical endless boring prizegivings most british events have.

[Darley]

I thought changing A and B classes to Long and Short was to help in some way, yet Short course runners are stil penalised, even when often they have more runners. Its nice to have some incentive.

As a recent newcomer I must say I don't understand the L&S categories, why is the short an inferior class? (100m is not inferior to 200m).
Is this something to do with the history of the classes? When did they change from A&B which implies a difference in standard to L&S which doesn't? If the S class is inferior then it should definitely revert to A&B.

[NeilC]

As a recent newcomer I must say I don't understand the L&S categories, why is the short an inferior class? (100m is not inferior to 200m).

Except in athletics you can enter both 100m and 200m but in O you can't enter both M40L and M40S.

There is no (eg) M40S british champion and it was felt that the BOC prizegiving should celebrate the 'real' winners without distraction.

[John Morris]

I agree with DIDSCO that "veterans", whoever they may be, don't need prizes - a frameable (A5?) certificate should be fine.

I agree that prizes/mementoes for Juniors are important - it only needs to be a trinket (after all, it's the achievement that should be the source of pride, not the artistic/monetary value of the trophy) but it should be given to keep - and to as many Juniors as possible.

I'm not in favour of cash prizes for "the elite" as "a decent reward" for the hours and the money they spend. Orienteering is NOT a professional sport - those who want to make a living from sport should look elsewhere.

And what "decent reward" would you propose for your club's officials or for the volunteers who mount the events? Or for the club stalwarts who turn out week after week, decade after decade, to compete below the glorious heights?

But, just supposing that we were to set up a prize fund for major events, how much do you think each BOF Senior member should be asked to contribute? Because - make no mistake - there's no spare cash in the kitty at the moment...

And should the "prize levy" be added to annual membership fees or to the entry fee of the JK, BOC and the BRC? And should all Seniors be asked to stump up, or just the "non-veteran" age groups?

Extra rewards sound great (as every politician knows) but (as every voter knows) they've got to be paid for out of taxes...

[Gross]

I agree with guest. The prizes should be awarded to the S classes. Take me for example I have spent as much time & effort as any top elite athlete into training and honing my Svyturys Enhanced Kilos (SEKS) body into a flabby hulk. In our M45 class why should Martin Dean (eg) be awarded a prize and a title for L if he wins simply because he's a lean mean running machine.... no, bring prizes and titles back for the S classes I say.... I want to be able to say the winner of my class deserves to be known as a true British Orienteering Champion

[Klebe]

I believe the money set aside for prizes at events like BOC and JK should only be spent on the junior age classes and the elite.

The juniors should receive decent prizes they can be proud of

This would also make the prizegiving more exciting than the typical endless boring prizegivings most british events have.

Inclined to agree (though having never been in a prizewinning position I maybe not the best one to comment). Junior prizes for both A & B should be given and perhaps a simple 'gong' for finishing on MW14 and below. The younger juniors really do get a sense of achievement and incentive from these types of prizes.
As for the rest, excluding elites, just what do the prize winners do with their prizes. A cupboard full of mugs or a potstand tucked at the back of a cupboard somewhere gathering dust when certificates would do just as well.

[DesignatedDriver]

i always like the idea of a prize. and i agree that it is more rewarding for a youngster just starting the sport, to be able to take something solid home to their parents as a mark of their achievement - would probably encourage the parents to keep sending them. if the child comes home and says they won, and produces a bar of chocolate, it could mean a little less in the eyes of some parents.

as for L&S - i tend to still believe in the A&B categories. e.g. if i am unfit/ injured i run the S/B course. Although I can see that the competitive S/B runner should not be missing out on some form of recognition of their achievement.

As said before, a simple A5 "certificate", printed on a colour printer would suffice. Around 120 A5 pages after some quick math. Any ideas for a "standard" certificate template? Save volunteers re-inventing the wheel at each event.

[mharky]

I would like to see BOF should introduce there own medal for BOC. Rectangle, with the lion holding the O-flag. Same design every year, from the same producer. And Just engrave class and year on the back. It's what they do in Sweden and I think it's a really good idea.

[Mrs H.]

When I read that I thought:"well I'm glad I won last year then - I really enjoyed my pot of clotted cream and my framed print of the sand dunes - not to mention a years membership of the YHA - I shan't be at all bothered about not wiining this year!" Childish I know, but I'm being honest. I actually understand people's point of view on this and wouldn't argue against it - it just seems to be a little less than generous that's all.

and also being honest it was one of the reasons I thought the BOC final details were less thrilling than the JK's - I just thought it was a bit stingey that's all, wouldn't bother staying for the presentation unless one of the kids came up trumps - sorry Neil - I'm not having a dig it's just what went through my mind and I wouldn't have said anything if this thread hadn't come up I expect Jim Prowting will be along any moment

[DIDSCO]

John morris wrote: ...Orienteering is NOT a professional sport....


Orienteering may not be a fully professional sport but it's certainly not amateur either.

Its time orienteering moved with the modern development of most other sports otherwise it'll die a death.

Time for money prizes in British events

[NeilC]

I would like to see BOF should introduce there own medal for BOC. Rectangle, with the lion holding the O-flag. Same design every year, from the same producer. And Just engrave class and year on the back. It's what they do in Sweden and I think it's a really good idea.

They are! Not sure about the design though.

[mharky]

Hopefully it ain't the same designer as the BOF website

Good move by BOF

[Nails]

I'm inclined to agree with dids -without incentives orienteering will loose people to other 'Non-Professional' sports.
Adventure racing is a 'Non-Professional' sport but the money is there- I've won 300 quids worth of vouchers in an adventure race -and that was for coming second!

OK 300 quid is perhaps a little excessive but start small and build up.

It would also be nice to see some prizes for 1st legs at relays too -like the spring cup first leg (they have about 500 quid riding on that) i'm not suggesting there should be 500 quid for the JK first leg but maybe a 20 quid voucher from one of the sponsors for the fastest time?

[SeanC]

Didsco wrote:

"Time for money prizes in British events"

Why? If the purpose is for funding elite orienteers so they can win medals at world champs etc. there are probably better ways of doing this (eg grants to squad members).