Oxford City Race

[Simon E]

Full video with suitable soundtrack now available. The quality on Youtube isn't great, so I'll post a better version on my site later.

Some photosalso available.

I managed to run at full speed into a car park barrier whilst reading my map. Ouch. See if you can spot it on the video.

[Knee Deep Mud!]

I'll echo the comments already made, and say well done to all at OUOC for a really nice event, topped off by the perfect weather! Nice mix of open park land and a maze of alleyways an buildings, all teeming with people. Roll on the next one!

Luckily when I ran through the approach to 119 there was a member of college catering staff having a cigarette break and very helpfully pointing people up the stairs. I think I might have wondered if I was going the right way if he hadn't been there. Mind you it was good practice for dodging through the pub a couple of legs later - shown as an alleyway on the map, but more of a beer garden in reality. Should have stopped off for a pint!

The only bit I really have a query about is how the area was mapped in the south west corner. There is a clearly shown building pass through on the map. Unfortunately, this is actually through the shopping mall on the second floor, up a set of unmarked stairs on the other side of the road. To make matters worse, there was a building pass through at the same location on the ground floor. Unfortunately this was a deadend into an underground car park. The security guard was still just about at the polite stage (i.e. "not down here mate, this is private property") when I ran in, but from comments I overheard at the finish he wasn't in quite such a good mood later on as lots of other people made the same mistake! The real question here is how should you map three dimensional areas like this to make it clear that the ground level is out of bounds, but the bit directly above your head is in bounds? Maybe there's scope here for a separate topic on sprint O mapping standards?

[distracted]

Thanks for all of the comments people have made - it is most appreciated. I hope the two small problems with the map didn't detract from the event too much, unfortunately local knowledge isn't necessarily a good thing in some cases...

The approach to control 119 I did foresee as a problem, however I did not realise in my previous trips through there that there was also access at ground level as well as the steps. I hoped that there would be tapes there to make it a bit more obvious but clearly it wasn't to everyone. It could well have been "tunnel-vision syndrome" where you, knowing what you expect to see, see what you want to and not everything else that is important. The advantage of an independent mapper perhaps?

As for the problem in the SW corner, affecting the route choice between #111 and #101, I had been asked to put in the shopping mall access by the controller, which goes from ground level at the north end, and did not realise there was also access at ground level at the south end where the mapped access crossed the footbridge into the multi-storey car park. Seeing the map now it is clear that this could be a possible route choice if on this leg.

In both cases I guess the problem is trying to represent a 3D multi-level reality on a 2D map. My controller did veto a couple of the controls I had initially wanted in the Engineering department (to the west of the University Parks, at the end of the courses) as there is a concourse which you can both walk over and underneath. This was a problem I just didn't foresee in the two examples mentioned.

Ian Webb
Planner, OUOC City Race

[Tatty]

Super video simon. Look forward to seeing it at better quailty on your website later. What;s your web address?

[Homer]

I'd like to echo previous comments. A brilliant event.
Routegadget would be particularly interesting for this event. Any chance someone?

[IanD]

It could well have been "tunnel-vision syndrome" where you, knowing what you expect to see, see what you want to and not everything else that is important.

A neat summary of a general problem that every planner has to contend with. An orienteering coach will teach people to look at the map and visualise the terrain they are about to run into. The task for the planner is to replicate that process, ignoring everything that he already knows about the area, and decide whether the map alone allows the competitor to form an adequate metal picture of what he or she is about to encounter.

Sounds simple, but in practise it's very difficult, and time-consuming, to do all over the area, on every possible route on every leg. I'm sure I've never succeeded comprehensively when I've planned. I tend to concentrate on control sites; this is a reminder that tricky bits on the routes between the controls demand as much attention as the control sites.

[johnloguk]

No point saying too much, it's already been said, excellent event, perfect weather, really sold OUOC, the City of Oxford and our sport superbly, you should all be very proud. Now get back to your lectures and do some studying you slackers

Has anyone said "it isn't proper orienteering" yet? Ha ha if they have they can't have been there, complex navigation at speed indeed

I just hope someone sorts out the fact that a colleague and I ran on each other's emit cards and hence are shown as dqd with our times reversed

[Mark T]

A fantastic day, super atmosphere, great parkland setting and beautiful sunny weather.
Well done and thank you to OUOC and to the many helpers stood near controls. Most looked cold in the narrow streets where the sun wasn't shining!
It was great fun avoiding the shoppers, bikes, busses and cars but a waste of time taking
a compass, I never looked at it once too busy keeping in contact with the map.

[helen]

Echoing all the other comments, fantastic, really enjoyable event, glorious weather, brilliant planning etc...

It was really nice as me and my family were on the bus from the park and ride into the centre that we got talking to a woman sitting opposite, and when we told her we were doing an orienteering race she said 'oh yes, I saw all about that on the news last night, it looks wonderful'. Also, as I ran through the streets, I heard the word 'orienteering' muttered amongst members of the public countless times - what a way to sell our sport!

[Arnold]

Indeed a great day. In sprintO there will always be some confusion with the map, so overall I think you did very well!

Someone said that you initially had permission for two more colleges that you recently lost - is it true and if so any plans to try again for a full-out version next year?

[awk]

I know that one should only post when one has something extra to contribute, so perhaps this should just be regarded as adding to the weight of approbation.

A great day, and many, many thanks to OUOC and friends for putting on such a wonderful event. Like many others, I really hope that you are able to put this on again and, with a bit of luck, more colleges will agree to access? (BTW, I did work out the passage to 119, having overshot, mainly because it was in the place marked on the map!!!).

[awk]

Having now seen the video - that's the second time recently I've watched Tim looking lost on film (the other is the Swiss Six Day DVD). I just wish it meant being able to get a bit closer to him in races!!

[graeme]

good event, my a**e . Thank you very much Simon lucky you switched the camera on a couple of seconds too late to get the full rush-off-the-wrong-way, try-to-stop, fail. Guess you were laughing too much!

It is rather shocking and embarrassing that for 40 years OUOC have been living on top of this fantastic orienteering area and somehow never noticed. What else is out there under our noses?

A general problem with street events is that second time around the sneaky cut throughs and best legs have been used. But in Oxford we only went through three colleges, and not especially the best three for orienteering. There is still incredible potential.

Finally, to join the chorus of praise, especially for the efforts of OUOC in the face of cancellations, reschedulings and last minute permission withdrawals. It was worth running while injured for the most detailed mapreading I've had do in England for years.

Graeme

[Nails]

Finally, to join the chorus of praise, especially for the efforts of OUOC in the face of cancellations, reschedulings and last minute permission withdrawals. It was worth running while injured for the most detailed mapreading I've had do in England for years.

I'll get a plug in now for the British Sprint Champs in Scarborough on the 14th April see link here http://www.seasidescramble.org.uk/

[wonderboy]

excellent race, really enjoyed it. can it happen every year like the york city race, which i'm now going to try and do?