Scottish Relays

[graeme]

A wee debate is about to break out north of the border about whether English clubs be allowed to win trophies at the Scottish Relays. The individual is restricted to Scots only (Like Oleg and McNails), the relays are open.
Should it be different for the Handicap/Junior/Open?

[jab]

But the individual isn't restricted to members of Scottish Clubs. Surely it would be possible (at least in theory) for an English Club to field a relay team of 3 runners all of whom are eligible for the individual trophy because they or a parent were born in Scotland?

[Andy.T]

Leave it to the Scottish - its one closed race, there are plently of other races available.

[Fratello de Pingu]

that's like saying for West Midlands Relay Championship should clubs outside of WM be allowed to take away a trophy. So no.

In this instance I see Scotland as a region not a country.

Although it is clearly a better country than england anyway.

[graeme]

its one closed race

There's no question of it becoming a closed race . We're only talking about trophies (you can even keep your UKRL points).

[awk]

In this instance I see Scotland as a region not a country.

You might, but Scotland is not a region: it is one of three national associations affiliated to BOF, along with 9 English regional associations and the BSOA.

Although it is clearly a better country than england anyway.

Suffice to say we disagree on that one too!

This is surely one for the Scots to decide, although, as we've been asked for an opinion, I think the Scottish Individual sets a good balance: prizes/mementoes to the leading three, and trophy to the leading Scot.

Whatever is decided - the fundamental format of the relays, with the handicap classes, is great, although I'd like to see greater range of course lengths (the shortest were too long this year).

[HOCOLITE]

It is a region as well in BOF terms otherwise they couldn't run at JIRCS

[AndyO]

Keep the relays open to all-comers, I say. The format works well, and allows any individual to get a run in an ad-hoc team. The handicap system also encourages good competition in the different classes. Above all, relays should be fun and, other than the leading teams in the open classes, not to be taken too seriously.

[awk]

It is a region as well in BOF terms otherwise they couldn't run at JIRCS

The reason for that is that the competition was misnamed when it first started, but it stuck.

[Nottinghamshire outlaw]

awk said: 'although I'd like to see greater range of course lengths (the shortest were too long this year).'

I have to agree - 4.2/ 4.8 was a bit long for an M80, though we were not on the 'shortest' class but even 4.2 is a bit long for a relay for over 60s (not that I am quite that age yet!).

[Suzy R Sopham]

I'm not sure about the final result, but whilst waiting for my run at the relays, the commentator was interviewing the "winners" who were 3 English people from 3 different , not immediately adjacent, clubs. surely the important point is that relays are a club competition and if the above continues then the best 3 runners will get together and win everything!
Also, myself and SEVEN others spent 15 minutes convincing ourselves that we were in the right depression (number 2 just over the road below the wall), but there was no control there! Eventually we found the kite and unit thrown 15m to the side in the undergrowth.
What I'm trying to say is everyone should try and keep with the spirit of the relays, and enjoy a fun club event.
Oh, and another thing whilst I'm on a rant, did the comentator only know (or was he only interested in) EUOC competitors. He even didn't notice some of the 3rd leg winning runners because he was busy talking about the two EUOC teams!!!

[Dan]

have to agree about the commentary, I was in the EUOC team and felt almost embarrassed by how much was being said about us. OK, the mens open is the blue riband event, but that doesn't mean that the other classes don't matter.

[Tatty]

THe winners were all running for the same, closed ie University , club. Surely that is one club. Okay they come from three different open clubs but then you'd expect that when people are away at Uni!! Are you suggesting that Uni clubs are not allowed to compete?

[awk]

I'm not sure about the final result, but whilst waiting for my run at the relays, the commentator was interviewing the "winners" who were 3 English people from 3 different , not immediately adjacent, clubs. surely the important point is that relays are a club competition and if the above continues then the best 3 runners will get together and win everything!
.....
What I'm trying to say is everyone should try and keep with the spirit of the relays, and enjoy a fun club event.

Yes, of course it should be a fun club competition, and the three youngsters (declared interest here: my son was one of them!) competed without any expectation of winning anything (they didn't) and had fun doing so! They came together at this event because (a) they are very good friends and (b) at least 2 of them are in clubs where there is no opportunity to compete in a remotely competitive junior relay team and (c) none of the had other junior teams to run for. In fact 2 of them are from adjacent clubs, and were competitive with another youngster from an adjacent club last year, but with his unavailability, they invited somebody else who they knew hadn't got a junior team to run for.

In other words, totally within the spirit of a 'fun club event'.

Personally, I thought it was rather nice of the commentator to interview them. It's not something any of them have experienced before, and added a bit of a fillip to their event, especially as they combined age was right at the bottom of the age bracket for the class - total BOF age of 42 in an M48- relay.

Overall I thought that, given he had absolutely no technical support other than a microphone, the commentator did amazingly well to actually keep up a such a relevant and fluent commentary for so long. In the circumstances, I don't think there are many other orienteers who could have hacked it. So he mentioned some clubs more than others - might have had something to do with their prominence in the competition and his own personal knowledge that he had to draw on in the light of not much other information available.

[Jethro]

Like AWK I have to disagree with Lou Smorels regarding the commentary. I thought he made a pretty decent job under the circumstances. The lack of results must have made it very difficult to keep up a constant commentary without resorting to talking about those you know best. It was more relevant at the National championships to be talking about competitors in the Open class than some random competirors in the handicap classes. There is however an important point here for future organisers of relays. The commentary shouldn't just be an afterthought as it adds greatly to the atmosphere of the event. Someone should be given the responsibility of commentators assistant to supply him or her with information.