This bulletin provides a brief summary of the state of play on a number of issues discussed at the SCOA AGM and the committee meeting on 21st June. It is not intended to be a record of those meetings.
SCOA Relays
The inaugural SCOA relays were held on Saturday 16th June 2012 at Southern Navigators' event at Bagshot Heath, which also hosted the SEAO relays. A total of 15 SCOA teams competed, alongside 28 teams from SEOA clubs. A list of the SCOA Champions can be seen on the SCOA website at http://www.scoa-orienteering.org.uk/events/2012/06/27/scoa-relays-2012.
SCOA League
A schedule of events for the SCOA League is currently being created. Only a small number of events have so far been scheduled for the 2012/13 league. Clubs are asked to put forward more suitable events.
SCOA has decided that SCOA League events will in future include an additional course, Short Green. This course will be particularly appropriate for older veterans. The course will have a course length ratio of 0.30, and will be Technical Difficulty 5.
JK 2013
Work on organising the JK continues.
Outline permission has now been granted for the use of Whiteknights, University of Reading’s campus, for the Sprint event on day 1. Locations for all days have now therefore been fixed.
Work is progressing on budgets, publicity, accommodation and appointing of key officials for the event, as well as work on remapping the event areas.
Staging this event will stretch the resources of the region. Please be prepared to lend a hand over the Easter weekend next year, and ideally beforehand as well.
Public liability insurance for mapping
British Orienteering has provided the following clarification regarding its public liability insurance. This covers individuals provided they are members of British Orienteering and are about business which is “part of our normal activity”, so mapping by members is covered. However, if a mapper is making £6,000 in a year from mapping then that person is not covered by British Orienteering and is expected to take out their own insurance cover.
Free Second Runs & British Orienteering Levy
British Orienteering has also clarified the position regarding competitors who run multiple courses at a single event but only pay one entry fee. They will only count once for the purposes of the British Orienteering levy calculations. However, it is important that both runs are recorded separately for the participation figures. The first run should be included as normal on the levy form, and any extra free runs by the same individual should be included in the “String and Other” box, which is not included in the levy calculations. British Orienteering are looking at altering the wording to clarify this.
Note that this only applies to free second runs where levy has already been paid on the competitor’s first run. Competitors who run one course but don’t pay any entry fee (ie. volunteers getting a free run) must still be included in the levy calculations.
SCOA Levy
Currently SCOA clubs pay a levy to SCOA, calculated as an amount for each competitor competing, when the number of competitors exceeds 100. In the light of the new British Orienteering levy basis (a levy for every competitor at an event, with juniors counting as 1/3rd), SCOA is considering moving to the same basis. Further information is being sought, for a decision to be taken at the September Committee meeting.
New controllers
Craig Blackford (BADO) and Kieran Devine SOC) have both been appointed level C controllers.
British Orienteering’s Whole Sport Plan
The Whole Sport Plan (WSP) for 2013-17 has been submitted to Sport England. British Orienteering is currently engaged in communicating its contents to members. The funding announcement from Sport England is due in December 2012.
YOUR ASSOCIATION REALLY NEEDS YOU!
Last quarter’s bulletin mentioned that SCOA’s Secretary and Treasurer of SCOA have indicated their intention to resign at the AGM. They have now done so, and SCOA is therefore without either of these two key posts. SCOA cannot continue to function without these officers in place. Please therefore give serious consideration as to whether you could undertake one of these roles.
Neither role is very time-consuming, but they are vital part in the smooth-running of our sport. Please consider whether you could do one of these roles, and if so then please contact Alun (chairman@scoa-orienteering.org.uk).
