As the new Competitions Convener I am trying to address some more of the outstanding issues that were deemed suitable for wider debate amongst orienteers in Scotland.
In the last issue of Score was a request for feedback on the SOL points and the eligibility system. I would like to thank those who took the time to respond both by email and at events. I will ensure that the points raised are forwarded in my next report to the SOA Executive for discussion.
This time round, I would like to ask for some response on the issues below:-
Remember it’s your sport; make sure your voice is heard by the people that may be able to make a difference.
Phil Smith SOA competitions convenor
You can or post a comment below.
Posted by on 03rd Nov 07 Filed under: Fixtures/Events • Featured
11 Person- becomes too protracted. Unless the team structure or the handicap is obligatory it becomes a bit of a farce
Ditch it.
How about six lap handicap relay. Finishing runner waits in the handicap pen (timed in and out by dibber) for their handicap time before going on to pass on to next runner.
Could make this the inter-club championships.
Score Championships - need a nice summers day when it is nice to hang around. Good score terrain - What’s that? - that needs analysis - suggest good running, occasional hill ?
Link it with the sprint championships?
Both these events are shoved in the programme as Cinderella events. Like most things if they are not taken seriously they are not worth doing.
Bill
Posted by Bill Melville on 11/08 at 12:27 PM
Ref the Scottish Score and Inter-Club Champs - I agree with Bill Melville about the event needing to come earlier in the year and I agree that suitable terrain should be a priority. I completely disagree wth the comment re Cinderella events. I think an event can be low key and still be well worth doing. Score events make a brilliant change from normal O, requiring you to really think (and plan) on your feet. I think a lot of orienteers fight shy of them as it takes many out of their comfort zones!
Moravian managed to get about half our active club members to make the 2-hr drive to Ballater for the Score Champs and we had a great day out (despite the weather). Some of the team admitted that they would not have attended had they not been coerced into it, but that they were glad they were! Clubs don’t often get chance to compete as a team and we’ve generated some great club spirit as a result of this ‘Cinderalla’ event. I’ve been in touch with Hilary Quick about the area being the wrong choice (she agres) and Bill’s suggestion about having a runnable area with a few hills makes sense. I would suggest that the Score format is ideal for an inter-club champs, since the weighting applied to your score depending on your age category means that your age is no handicap (even though I don’t pretend to understand it). Also there are no failures due to DNFs (but i did notice a negative score this year!). I suspect a bit of tweaking of the ‘fudge factors’ to calculate your ‘counting score’ is required though. Also, I think we should state in the rules how many ‘counting runs’ will make up a team score. That way team oganisers will know the minimum number of members to recruit.
Finally, it would be good if this was the main event in a weekend of competition, with a normal district event taking place on the Saturday with the Score on Sunday. The date would have to be no later than early October. How about mid-August when there’s no 6 Day Event, and early October when there is?
Sorry that this goes on a bit but I hope it usefully contributes to the debate.
Posted by Mike Rodgers on 11/13 at 02:59 PM
11 person. This is a great event for clubs. I think the handicap system works well - theoretically every team is in with a chance. Think its worth looking at 8 for smaller clubs (or even so that clubs can run a competitive B team). How many clubs run a non-comp B team where a couple of runners are doing their second run of the day?
Re the score. I do think its devalued by a lack of competition due to small numbers. This then becomes part of the problem. Any thoughts on taking away the age classes and running it along the lines of the OMM - short medium and long score with maybe a handicap prize in each? Not sure if this would be compatible with BOF rules etc though?
Posted by Andy Paterson on 02/18 at 06:02 PM
Most of the major races need to be multi-weekenders to get a good turnout.
Look at how the Harvester and JOC Chasing Sprint goes so well together.
Look at Scottish Individual and Relays - good turnout again.
With such a busy calendar and the desire to race when the weather’s promising it’s the only way.
And make more use of the summer period - gone are the days when whole flocks of people disappear for the Glasgow/Edinburgh fortnight - most kids are bored stiff after the first few weeks of the school hols - their parents have run out of money, time and ideas.
Posted by Jason Inman on 03/12 at 04:20 PM