British Champs start list

[graeme]

It does seem that the seedings are somewhat random and, dare I say it, just a little Scots-biased?!

Seeding are based on the rankings list, which is essentially an attendance prize rather than a reflection of ability*. Scots are always more highly rated in the year after the 6-day than the year before, simply because its easier for us to get to enough races.

It will get a little better if the Event Review goes through as proposed (though worse under some proposed scenarios).

Graeme (not seeded)

* In the process of building the list, a better reflection of ability *is* calculated for those who don't do enough races of the right age and length and status - check Appendix K if you really care...

[DM]

I don't understand what the seeding signifies - I had assumed it was to space the main contenders out but in the M60L class in our club one runner who finished 82nd in the JK is seeded and another who finished 3rd is not.

To mere mortals (like myself) having a seed start ahead of you means you won't see anyone else, at least for a while. Having one start behind you means you will be overtaken at high speed before the second control if you're lucky, you kid yourself you can keep up, find you can't and in the process have been reduced to a wobbly legged mess who hasn't got a clue where they are. Much better to just try and ignore everyone else.

[Mrs H]

Well maybe - but given the seed that I mention above is ranked at 256 in his class against the unseeded runner who is ranked 4th I don't know whether your theory can be relied upon - I also see Mr Hemsted is not seeded - also ranked at 4th in his class.

Perhaps it is an anti-HOC conspiracy

[distracted]

Seeding are based on the rankings list...

Yes, that's definitely noticeable amongst the 20 age classes, where the majority of competitors are running 21 courses and some don't even have a 20 ranking (how many '20' events are there now anyway - just the British Champs, JK and Nationals?).

It also sounds like changing across age-classes doesn't do you any favours either...

[andy]

Having one start behind you means you will be overtaken at high speed before the second control if you're lucky, you kid yourself you can keep up, find you can't and in the process have been reduced to a wobbly legged mess who hasn't got a clue where they are. Much better to just try and ignore everyone else.

sounds about right

[graeme]

It also sounds like changing across age-classes doesn't do you any favours either...

Yes, that's the main problem the new ranking scheme will fix.

Still, at least you get to run. There was a year when all the juniors moving up to M21 just got chucked off the elite course (I'm not sure what happened with seeding at this years JK).

[Mrs H]

I wonder why my little girl is starting three hours adrift of the rest of the family - we were all entered at the same time!

I've e-mailed twice now to try and get this changed and not received an acknowledgement or a reply - is there anyone on the receiving end of the BOC e-mail address?

[distracted]

Mrs H - got an email about relay declarations this morning, apparently they've been having some technology-related problems:

"such as BT disconnecting the broadband of the main entry person and emails inexplicably disappearing"

So it might well be worth persevering, or trying to contact them through another route if possible?

[Mrs H]

Hilary is on-line and on the job and has sorted us out very nicely, thank you Hilary.

Apparently not everyone has been as polite as me

[awk]

Apparently not everyone has been as polite as me

That's a real pity. There was a problem with the original start time I was allocated which was sorted out by Hilary both very efficiently and in a much better way than I had anticipated was possible at such a late stage.