Lakes Day 5

[Foreman]

No dicussion yet about the area before the finish at Day 5. No moans about the run in across felled area.

I've been looking forward to the exchange of views.............

[bedders]

I'd moan but what the hell kinda difference does it make? It was one tiny flaw in a thoroughly enjoyable week. And also it wasn't a serious competition, its a holiday a event. Have fun with it.

[ratleikur]

Short of moving the finish, I can't see what else could have been done since the open area south of the finish would have just lead to a long straight path run. nb The rides were actually fairly fast going. I really enjoyed this day

[rob f]

felled area. Stop moaning. Hampsfell its got fell in the name.

[ambler]

From my last control (boulder) it was the toughest sprint in I have ever had. A real MAN TEST which tested stamina and agility to the max! 2 minutes of hell running.

A real good hard course to finish I thought. And tremendous views of the bay if you had a spare minute!

[Little Hoddy]

really nice to suddenly get a kick in the pants and have to navigate! most enjoyable run-in all week!

[Supersaint]

A nice end to a nice area. If i wanted an easy run-in i'd enter a road race.

[Gnitworp]

Believe it or not, there's a BOF Guideline that say run-ins should be taped from the last control (not many people know that), but common practice seems to have long since made this redundant. What used to happen occasionally was people having to hunt about for finishes in undescribed locations (cost me a race once). However, provided nobody misses the finish because of its lack of a description, I suppose it's OK. The guideline needs to be revised in line with accepted practice.

[Gross]

, there's a BOF Guideline that say run-ins should be taped from the last control , but common practice seems to have long since made this redundant.

I must be missing something here... is it really true that the majority of events in UK aren't taped from the last control to the finish? Must admit most that I've been too over the last few years (not many right enough) have tapes from the last control and it's very, very unusual to come across no tapes elsewhere in the world.

[Gnitworp]

[it's very, very unusual to come across no tapes elsewhere in the world.

Very, very usual in the UK, I'm afraid Gross.

[Marco Polo]

Certainly most events I have been to in the UK since I returned to O a few years ago haven't been taped. (Very differet from the early 80s when it seemed to be the norm) IOF obviously allows for the possibility otherwise there wouldn't be IOF control description symbols for 'Navigate to Finish'.

I'd assumed the trend away from tapes was to squeeze more navigation in courses. However I'd have to agree with Gnitworp that if there was real navigation and as the finish does not have full control descriptions that this could lead to errors.
Isolated finishes using electronic punching aren't as easy to find as manned ones either!

[Gross]

Last events I was involved in in the UK were the 6 Days 2005 (day 6) as controller and JK 2005 as IOF controller... the question of no tapes to the finished never came up. Last event I 'ran' in in UK was the BOC in April & I can't remember it not having tapes

[Gnitworp]

Presumably the planners and controllers were aware of BOF Guideline Appendix I (Electronic Punching) as follows:


2.4.2 It is important to ensure that the finish is easily located. "Navigate to finish"
should not be used except (sometimes) for score events where the finish will
normally be next to the start. In other cases, there should be an ordinary last
control (with description) and then a taped route, which can be just a few metres,
to the finish. As a minimum the finish should consist of a punch unit and control
flag, preferably with a prominent finish banner. There should be no possibility of a
competitor being unable to find the finish after they have visited the last control.

[Tatty]

It's a thing I frequently complain about, especially since the advent of electronic punching. If the planner wants a run in like Day 5 of the Lakes why not just put another marker at the finish. It's alright for all you hard core males, but some of us old farts found that run in rather ridiculous! Heed the BOF rule I say.

[Suzy R Sopham]

SHOCKING!!!!
I've just read all these comments and I think some of you people with 500+ posts should hang your head in shame!

I think that elitism is a major contributary factor to why we don't have more people orienteering on a regular basis. If the courses, or part of, are too grotty then this can make people think twice about ever returning to an event again; even if the course is fantastic for the first half in the woods, most people will remember Day5 for the last 3 controls.
You can draw a direct parallel with the replies in this post. Many people read the threads, but do not comment on them(i.e they passively participate). When someone takes the oportunity to raise a discussion, if they get nasty comments back then they may never consider posting again!

In my opinion, all that the organisers had to do was prepare a flyer warning everyone about the felling and distribute it when paying for the parking, and then putting a hashed map correction on the maps at the start box!