FOCUS magazine (for the elite?)

[harry]

Quite right, what a load of pot-hunters. IMHO they should scrap all medals and just give out lots of wine/ beer, like in hill racing.

Declaration of interest: Mike & Nottm For(r)est fan

[Becks]

I can't speak for Greywolf who I haven't placed as a person, but Graeme, that declaration of interest is a load of nonsense!

[LostAgain]

that declaration of interest is a load of nonsense!

The start of a Graeme appreciation society!

I think Graeme should continue on the Elites.

declaration of interest: means I finish a place higher on the M45L, where real champions run!!

[graeme]

I can't speak for Greywolf who I haven't placed as a person,

Greywolf is the only person in your club to beat me at the JK and the British this year.

[Mrs H]

Well that was easy

[Gnitworp]

You can have champions in any category you like provided it's clearly defined, e.g., people over a certain age or of a certain gender, policemen, swan uppers, contract killers or one-legged retired glassblowers, but not people who are free to, but have elected not to run in their category

[Gnitworp]

"since the best people" run M21E, why oh why do we consider those punter-bashing winners on M/W 20E, 35L and 40L to be "Champions"

Can the women have a champion, graeme?

[Scott]

Certainly not. There are already quite enough so-called "champions" without decent facial hair as it is. Frankly, I'm amazed that the sport is devaluing itself by allowing people without at least a proper moustache to compete in the "elite" classes at all.

Declaration of interest: not at all bitter about being kicked off 21E at the JK this year when a certain member of JOK was allowed to stay on.

[Mrs H]

but not people who are free to, but have elected not to run in their category

Yawn - see what I mean? No one who wins short courses is calling themselves champions, just a lot of long course runnrs saying they're not - personally, i put it down to insecurity!

[NeilC]

No one who wins short courses is calling themselves champions, just a lot of long course runnrs saying they're not - personally, i put it down to insecurity!

But clubs regularly do eg
http://www.orienteering.ilkley.org/clubdocs/JK_Triumphs.doc
However inaccurate it does provide further local publicity opportunities

[RJ]

Certainly as far as the thinking with juniors goes..... don't we strive to find as many prize categories as possible so that we have MANY winners and loads of prizes. So, why is it different for seniors?

If they would only make prizegiving ceremonies shorter all these categories/winners would become tolerable!!

[Steve]

If there were separate long and short course championships, I think that everybody should have the opportunity to compete for both.

[Spookster]

Is it just me, or has anyone else not yet received their Focus magazine?

Perhaps my postman saw how interesting it looked, decided to keep it for himself, and will soon take up orienteering...

[Gnitworp]

If there were separate long and short course championships, I think that everybody should have the opportunity to compete for both.

....which, because they're presently always held simultaneously, they don't.

[graeme]

Can the women have a champion, graeme?

.

If the competition is structured such that all the credible champions run the same class, then yes. When you have e.g. Hazel Dean running W21E then the W40L "champion" is devalued in exactly the same way short course are devalued by existence of the long courses - Lorna was denied the opportunity to beat her.

but have elected not to run in their category

The point is that the Open/Elite/King of the Forest is the main category, and since everyone is eligible it is everyone's category. I didn't "elect" not to run in my M45 category, in fact I asked to do so , but I'm forbidden from doing so because I already ran in the main category.