Compass Sport

[awk]

How the new structure would work was never explained at the Development conference, and it still isn't clear how you can get all the different events that people want to stage into the fixtures calendar.

i would have thought pretty much using the same structures as now - what was there about it that needed detailed explanation?

You get the events in by being more willing to have more events run on the same day, and not providing protection simply because of an event's grade.

[graeme]

How the new structure would work was never explained at the Development conference, and it still isn't clear how you can get all the different events that people want to stage into the fixtures calendar.

i would have thought pretty much using the same structures as now - what was there about it that needed detailed explanation?

Well, for a start whether the new British Championships (short and middle) get fixtures protection for a weekend in the already overcrowded April-May period

You get the events in by being more willing to have more events run on the same day, and not providing protection simply because of an event's grade.

You could do that, maybe you should, but it isn't anywhere in the proposals that have been made available to BOF members. Indeed, the latest proposals introduced an extra level ("National") with fixtures allocated at National level, which suggests to me a desire to keep things under central (BOF) control, including significant fixtures protection.

Graeme

PS Someone's cut Devilla down

[awk]

[Well, for a start whether the new British Championships (short and middle) get fixtures protection for a weekend in the already overcrowded April-May period

True, but my point was that the mechanisms in place now can still deal with that - they didn't need detailed discussion or explanation at that stage.

You could do that, maybe you should, but it isn't anywhere in the proposals that have been made available to BOF members. Indeed, the latest proposals introduced an extra level ("National") with fixtures allocated at National level, which suggests to me a desire to keep things under central (BOF) control, including significant fixtures protection.

My point exactly.

[lincolnsteve]

[PMG]

Fixtures Group only became involved in this because I received a request from EMOA to make comment on this.
If the 2 races had gone ahead on the same day, then Fixtures Group would have been criticised for allowing it!

I hope there is an Nope Urban Series in 2008 as these races are really good.

Re the comments about British Sprint and Middle - check the future fixtures list - there are planned dates already until 2011.
Clubs are really keen to host the Sprint and Middle.

Greame mentions congestion. I hoped that this was an issue that the Events Review would have looked at. All useful suggestions are appreciated.

Peter Guillaume (Fixtures Chairman)

[graeme]

Greame mentions congestion. I hoped that this was an issue that the Events Review would have looked at. All useful suggestions are appreciated.
Peter Guillaume (Fixtures Chairman)

You make it sound like we didn't!

As Andy alludes to above, the original Events Review had only three levels, with fixtures protection guaranteed only to the top level. Events which were good enough/similar enough/close enough that nobody wanted to clash would establish de facto protection.

We also proposed allowing relaxing constraints on when the British Champs is held, to free up space in spring and have better races by staging them at the best time of year for the particular area (e.g. New Forest in November), or to ease congestion (e.g. urban and sprint races when the forests are undergrown).

But, somewhere in the BOF committee structure, our coherent whole got chopped to an incoherent mess in which the parts aimed at helping fixtures got lost.

One curious aspect is that the stumbling block is always "the elite", who apparently need everything to stay where it is in the Spring. This is curious because the elites I talk to dont seem to care less about "British Champs" (the priority this year and last year being the selection races). This is reflected in the turnout and the fact that the elite selectors hold these races in such low esteem that they count for nothing in "all known form", even if you're sick at the selection races.

Of course, the elite are rightly cross that "their" short/medium champs are being diluted to let everyone else in. When it was elite-only, it didn't really contribute to congestion.

Graeme

All useful suggestions are appreciated.

1/ Split off the elite champs and move the British to Autumn when juniors (especially) have had time in their new competition class. This is the focus of the Autumn season, the JK becomes the focus for Spring.

2/ Dont centralise fixtures allocation for every regional event, just post advanced registrations and trust the clubs/regions to sort it out pairwise.

[IanD]

move the British to Autumn

It's always seem odd to me that the two biggest domestic events for most people, the (non-elite) British and the JK, are so close in the calendar. One little injury at the wrong time, and you miss both!

On the other hand, many areas are much better in spring than in autumn, so perhaps the present regime is best after all?

[graeme]

On the other hand, many areas are much better in spring than in autumn, so perhaps the present regime is best after all?

And on the first hand, many areas are better in autumn than in spring ... and some areas can't be used in the spring at all. (especially round here, but I have learnt that being far from Birmingham that doesnt really count BOF committee-wise ).

[EddieH]

"Some areas are better in autumn" Greame - maybe no worse, but name one that is truly better. (not counting those that have no access in spring).

The less undergrowth the better, particularly bracken which pervades most of Britain.

[graeme]

I agree that access and relieving congestion is a bigger reason to prefer Autumn. Plenty of areas have enough spring access restrictions (sheep, birdies) short of outright bans which competitors may never see but which make them better in the autumn.

One that was truly better comes to mind: Dallaschyle. Planning through the wet and muddy winter and spring I found it slow and tough. Once it had fully dried out for the 6-day it was way nicer, and when I hung the controls I knew I'd underplanned. And a few others in the US where stream crossings are an issue.

...and personally, I prefer any area when I'm not knackered from travelling and racing every weekend in the previous month.

[awk]

Greame mentions congestion. I hoped that this was an issue that the Events Review would have looked at. All useful suggestions are appreciated.

!!!!!!

Thank you Graeme: I don't think I could have responded so reasonably.

Andrew

[PMG]

Andrew

I have emailled you to ask for the detail of what you proposed. Perhaps a broad outline here might generate a ueful debate.
I note from Management Committee meeting minutes that they are looking for "further review with clubs on the proposals".
So, this would be a useful exercise, if it can stay strategic and not get bogged down in the detail.

Peter