Scottish 6 day courses

[mike g]

The Scottish 6 Day programme is now published at http://www.scottish6days.com/2007/Progr ... 202007.pdf

I'm greatly looking forward to it, but having entered M35L I'm very surprised that on 4 of the 6 days my course is longer than M21L. Surely that must be in breach of BOF guidelines?

In fact, the total length of the M35L courses over the 6 days is marginally longer than M21L, and is only 3k less than M21E, but with the big difference that the M35L courses only vary between 7.5 and 8.8k while M21E varies between 5.0 and 14.0k. I'd much prefer the greater variety of M21E, and I think it's a shame that hasn't been offered for all classes.

Since that isn't the case I'm going to change my entry to M21E, but that will now cost £10, when it would have been free until the end of last week. I find it pretty annoying that this charge has been applied from exactly the same time as the details were published, so that we were given no opportunity to change courses for free once we could see what we will be getting.

[brooner]

but having entered M35L I'm very surprised that on 4 of the 6 days my course is longer than M21L. Surely that must be in breach of BOF guidelines?

Why would it be? They are guidelines and not rules. Its much the same as the JK, the elite have a middle and classic there, is that to be complained about? The Elite classes this year has been changed to make it a more attractive (to both competitors and spectators), and competitive, competition. You'll also find that in the elite all 6 days count, not 4 out of 6. The 6 day site seems to be down so I can't find exactly when this was announced but it was certainly before the end of last year, if not summer time.

You'll find a very similar scenario at the O-ringen, although I think those abroad probably don't think they're being shortchanged by having a shorter, middle distance, course during the week, which is possibly why the distances for other classes were kept as standard long courses.

[rob f]

That said, the six days site has been very unresponsive. I tried to change class to M20L by sending an email. Not only did i have no response but also no change on entry list. Fortunately, a recent injury has meant i would struggle to do two weeks of intensive running (lagganlia coaching first) at 8k a day (ish) so the shorter 5km a day of M20S is probably better.

[brooner]

i'm sure thats a big priority for them with a month to go to the event, does it matter if its changed instantly or at some point in the next 4 weeks?

[mike g]

I'm not complaining about M35L being longer than M21E on the days that M21E has middle courses. Rather, I'm commenting on it being longer than M21L, which doesn't have the middle distance days. On four of the days the ratio between the lengths of M35L and M21L will be greater than 1:00, when the guidelines say it should be 0.85. That's a pretty big deviation from the guidelines, which people who have entered either of those courses will not have expected. I accept that the guidelines are not rules, but what is the point in having them if events are going to ignore them to that extent?

[brooner]

Apologies, I thought the first L was a mistype given the rest was about the difference between M35L & M21E. I'll go to bed now

[Meat Market]

Stop moaning about course lengths and get on with the orienteering! Orienteering is about getting out in the forest and having a good time and as someone who just did the first two days of the sorlands galoppen in norway after missing the first 6 months of the year i didnt care whether i was running 3km or 13km. As someone who prefers long slogs to fast short races I didnt really care that the elite (that im entered on) has shorter course lengths because I know that all the areas being used are the best in the UK and the chance to meet folk i havent seen all year.

As for the organisation of the 6 days as someone who has worked with other scottish clubs every 2 years over the last 10 years I can assure you that it is the best I\ve experienced in the orienteering world. This year the website is even in polish!!

[Steve]

[quote="mike g"]I'm commenting on it being longer than M21L, which doesn't have the middle distance days. On four of the days the ratio between the lengths of M35L and M21L will be greater than 1:00, when the guidelines say it should be 0.85.quote]

I noticed the organisers state they have used Estimated Leading Times as the basis for course lengths. It's likely that the best 21s are going to be running E courses, and therefore the runners on 21L could be slower than those on 35L because the 35L group includes ex-elite orienteers who are better athletes than 21L competitors. I'm guessing the 6 day team has historical data to back this up.

6 day courses are shorter than normal regional event courses anyway, aren't they? Because there are 6 days almost back to back.

[andy]

That said, the six days site has been very unresponsive. I tried to change class to M20L by sending an email. Not only did i have no response but also no change on entry list.

not sure when you sent your request but I believe there have been quite a few change requests - I know they are being dealt with so chances are it will have been updated, but perhaps just not online.

as for the course lengths, I'm not sure - I've not been involved with that, just the computing side of things!

[Mrs H]

They changed Mr H's e-card number pretty quick with an acknowledgement within a couple of days although obviously it didn't show up on the entry list until the next time it was updated.

On the subject of courses (and i'm not moaning here just curious) I'm interested to see that W/M18B are on offer (which is the same course at W/M16A). It was the same at the Whitebarrow National event.

At most other events, including the JK and BOC the courses are M/W18S not B and are usually shorter courses paired up with the shorter senior courses - Like the 21VS, which is also not on offer.

Just wondered why the discrepancy- is it to give a more even spread on numbers across the courses (which I sympathise with after SinS)?

[Klebe]

That said, the six days site has been very unresponsive. I tried to change class to M20L by sending an email. Not only did i have no response but also no change on entry list. .

I had to cancel Jos entry a couple of weeks ago. OK the response may not be immediate, but the change was certainly made. I've had cause to contact the organisers a few times - no problems and no complaints from this quarter.