British Orienteering Championships 1998
Comments and Reports
Co-ordinator's Comments
Overall Acknowledgements
Lost Property
Individual Controller's Report
Individual Planners' Report (Courses 1-9 & 24-29)
Individual Planners' Report (Courses 10 to 23 and Colour-Coded)
Individual Event Organisers' Report
Relay Controller's Report
Relay Planners' Report
Relayl Event Organisers' Report
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Co-ordinator's Comments
The role of co-ordination becomes a simple one when the people within the team are all of the same willing and enthusiastic mind.This year's British, was still in the balance until mid October '97. The loss of the first two choice areas did nothing for the morale of the team, however, at the end of the day I think that we achieved our sought after goals; quality orienteering events, on good terrain, with no significant problems. It is a mark of the dedication and hard work, by the many volunteers that I am able to say this. On your behalf I thank them.
I can now sit back and hopefully get back to a more regular sleep pattern, looking forward to BOC99. Maybe some of my friends will start to talk to me again without being bored by the continuous talk of BOC98.
Good luck, BOC99.
Steve McKinley
Overall Acknowledgements
Commander Deepcut Garrison
Surrey Police, Ash Office
St John Ambulance
216 (Para) Signal Squadron
Roger Thetford, Programme Editor
Katy Stubbs, SCOA Chairman, for presenting the prizes.
Lost Property
A few items were left on both the Individual Event and Relay Event sites . Enquiries to Steve McKinley telephone - 01483 476914
Individual Controller's Report
"It'll be alright on the night!"
After two false starts involving a tremendous amount of wasted time many organising teams would have given up. The planners had virtually finished planning the courses on Ash Ranges, the first venue, and I had visited the area several times to check control sites. Then we lost Land Permission for all weekends that would have been acceptable to us. We were then unable to gain access to the second chosen venue on a suitable date either.
Final permission for Mytchett, Old Windmill Hill and Frith Hill was obtained at quite a late stage and your thanks are due to Steve McKinley for always remaining optimistic , encouraging everybody in the organising teams and refusing to be beaten.
As we were starting late, the planners had to do a lot of work in a short space of time. Caroline, Dave and Ian did an outstanding job in difficult circumstances and I would like to thank them on your behalf. I believe that they planned excellent courses which used the land in the best possible way. Talking to competitors afterwards there were many complimentary comments. Many people seemed surprised at how technically difficult it was and how many mistakes they had made. The area is fantastic, and the Lake District excepted, there are parts that are amongst the best in England. The winners can consider themselves genuine British Orienteering Champions. It does seem a little unfortunate that this was the first British Champs not to have the Elite taking part, but so be it.
With 34 courses, 185 controls out on the day, and approximately 250 sites checked in advance for possible use, this was a big project. Due to the late decision to use the area, we did not have a really good map until late in January, which made the task even harder. An added complication was the fact that the Relay was going to be held on Mytchett as well, but thanks to Pete Jones's helpful co-operation this was only a minor addition to the workload. For a four month period, the project became my unpaid part time job. For the vast majority of the time I enjoyed it. Caroline, Dave, Ian and Bryce were a joy to work with. I felt extremely lucky to be able to run on such a wonderful area on the many sunny days we had in February. I was very conscious of the fact that there had been serious problems at several major events in the last year. It is very difficult with events of this size to ensure that no errors creep in. I was lucky to be able to devote so much time to it and to be working with a good team. Nevertheless, I was relieved at the end of the day when everything had gone so well. My biggest worry before the day was safety. Thank you for all being careful and not having any road accidents or falling into the canal!
Two issues caused some comment and looking at them now I wish we had done things differently. Firstly, control code 404 was in the right place and was described as a spur. This control was a very late change and did not go through all our checking procedures. It was really on a ridge, but there is no IOF control description for a ridge. Strictly speaking, I believe that the control description was correct, but I accept that it was confusing and led to some people losing time. The second issue concerned controls 350 and 650 which were about 25m apart. One was a spur and the other was a re-entrant. Several people did not look at the feature or the code carefully enough and mispunched. With hindsight I would not have used 404 and would have changed the code on one of 350 or 650 so that at least two digits were different. But these were minor gripes =96 all the controls were in the right place and all the maps were correct.
Since I first started controlling 25 years ago there have been some technological advances! This was my first event where the vast majority of the communication was done by email. It worked extremely well. The main advantage is that you can deal with issues at your convenience rather than constantly being disturbed by telephone at the most inconvenient time. It is also easy to keep all parties abreast of the latest developments. We were able to receive the latest map on OCAD within ten minutes of Steve having updated it and it is cheaper than using the telephone or post!
This was also the first time that I have used OCAD and Picover on my own PC. I have noted words of caution from other planners and controllers in the past and in some ways I would have to endorse them. They are superb packages, but they are not particularly easy to use and there are some parts of the controlling task where it is slower using the computer than the old manual system. However, if they are used properly, and Caroline is an expert, you have that extra degree of confidence that the system will not allow you to make many of the previously possible mistakes. On balance I would recommend using these computer tools, but allow time for thorough training and be aware that you can still make some mistakes!
I would like to thank everyone who helped at the event. It was a team effort that made it such a success.
I would also like to thank Mark Smith for being my eagle-eyed assistant controller. He noticed several things that I had overlooked and generally gave me that extra confidence that everything was going to be alright.
As a househusband I would like to thank my parents, George and Margaret, my father in law, Dr Geoff Creber, and Karen Jones (SLOW) for child sitting at various times so that I could go to the area.
Finally, I would like to thank my wife Jenny and our children Christopher and Katherine. They were extremely understanding about the house looking untidy, Dad not being available to play and the washing being badly organised. Now where is the hoover?
Peter Nicholls ( Guildford Orienteers)
Individual Planners' Report (Courses 1-9 & 24-29)
The area presented many problems, the main being the busy road crossings. We planned the more technical courses in a way to keep you off the extensive path network and encourage navigation through some very pleasant woodland. Mytchett was the only area that lent itself to longer legs between controls. As much of the area is quite open, we were keen not to over-load the sites and make them too easy. This, together with the constraints with crossing points, resulted in a large number of controls; 185 were used. When we were putting out the controls, we were worried that perhaps the area was too easy, as many stood out like beacons. On the day, it was pleasing to see so many of you having trouble locating your controls!
One might argue that a planning team of three and two controllers is unwieldy. Yes, this did create more work sometimes, but this was more than offset by additional pairs of eyes spotting things that others had missed. With the limited time we had, the team approach was invaluable and made the entire task possible in four months. Thanks to Dave for making the journey south so often, which enabled both of us to be involved, and for being so easy to work with. Pete Nicholls and Mark Smith were excellent controllers and our thanks to them both for their constructive comments and hard work in helping it all happen. With foresight, we should have put Pete and Dave on 'Friends & Family' for the duration.
We were disappointed to hear about a few competitors on course 29 whose courses were contained on Frith Hill and Old Windmill Hill, who decided to abort their courses to visit Mytchett. In our view, they parted from the spirit of the sport.
Congratulations to Bryce & Janet Gibson for their effective organisation. Steve McKinley deserves a special note of appreciation as not only did he co-ordinate and negotiate the event, but he drew the map as well.
Our thanks go to all those who supported us both in the run up to the event and on the day. Bill Davidson and Barbara Ralph, in particular, were involved at almost every stage, apart from the actual planning. Finally, we must thank Howard and Cilla Heath for taking charge of our children, Tamsin & Nicholas, for the duration of the weekend, which enabled the planning team to be in full operation for the first time on the area.
Ian & Caroline Moran (SOC/SPLOT)
Individual Planners' Report (Courses 10 to 23 and Colour-Coded)
Having planned BOC 89, I thought I knew what I was taking on initially but by the time we finalised the courses on Frith, Old Windmill Hill and Mytchett I wondered! Having said that, I have enjoyed it and must thank Ian and Caroline, my co-planners, especially Caroline who did all the OCAD and Picover work for us. Also the controllers - an excellent job. It was interesting to note that, with the area at its most runnable and course lengths originally set for Ash Ranges but judged to be still correct for Mytchett, the majority of winning times fell within the guidelines. This was achieved by using a base length for M21E even though this course was eventually not planned. Only three courses were significantly outside the guidelines, M16A (about 0.5km too long), W20L (about 1 km too long, but there were only 3 competitors on the day) and W60L (1.5km too short for Jenny Thompson). Overall I think the current guidelines worked well to give the correct course lengths.
Dave Stubbs (BKO)
Individual Event Organisers' Report
Our first feeling on the day following the event was an overwhelming sense of relief that competitors and helpers alike seemed to have enjoyed themselves. The main purpose here is to say thank you.
Firstly thank you to the competitors for coming and in particular for observing all the safety instructions, a main concern. We heard various comments on this subject, the most noteworthy being by a junior to his friends "------ if the cars don't get you then there's the canal, then there's the trains, then the bullets, then the barbed wire----" .
Secondly thank you to the helpers from BKO, SOC and TVOC, in particular Eric Harper, David Bonser and Neville Baker, for coordinating the work of the three clubs, and Tim Booth for dealing with the entries. The number of helpers was in excess of 200.
Thanks to the following who acted as Team leaders or provided support:-
- Roger Baker --- String Course
- SCOA Junior Squad --- Colour Coded Event
- Peter Bennett, Ian Cooper, Tim Booth and Julian Lyne --- Results and Results Display
- Martyn Must, Shirley and Richard Moss --- Championship Starts
- Robert Jackson --- Enquiries
- Nigel Hoult ---Entry Enquiries
- Chris and David Bonser --- Assembly Area
- Martin Ricketts and Richard Sharp --- Finish Computers
- TVOC --- Finish, Map Collection/Reclaim, Drinks, Car Park and Safety
- Eric Harper --- Road and Canal Crossings
- Neville Baker and David Edwards --- equipment
- Di and Terry Smith --- Time Machine
- Robert Gibson GAS --- logo, cover and mug graphics
- BOF Office
- Simon Bourne
- Clubs and individuals for loan of equipment
Thirdly we would like to acknowledge the help and support of our fellow Individual Event officials Richard, Peter, Mark, Caroline, Ian and Dave, and Relay Organisers Steve and Andy.
Finally we would like to record our thanks to Steve McKinley, Pete Jones and the Southern Navigators Club for continuing to accommodate the event on their maps as permissions became increasingly difficult to obtain.
Bryce and Janet Gibson (BKO)
Non starters' Maps
Maps for non starters are either enclosed with these results or will be posted separately. If you have not received your map within a week of receiving these results please contact Janet or Bryce Gibson, number as above.
Relay Controller's Report
Standing near the first bunch of controls while successive classes came through gave a good idea of the nature of relay orienteering. The leaders knew where they were going to, were not distracted by other controls or runners and smoothly passed through on their way to the next control. Later arrivals were much more likely to follow anyone who looked as though they knew what they were doing, to look at every available control and to sweep search the area. It was clear then that Pete had succeeded in capturing the 'essence of relays' and not simply provided three legs of individual orienteering for each team.
The legs could have been reduced in length and it might have been helpful to indicate likely lengths earlier, but the area is very fast at this time of year and I know that some people surprised themselves with their minutes/kilometre. In a month or so, when the bracken is up, it is a different area.
The assembly area received several favourable comments and served its purpose well. I do believe that an audible call-up is necessary, even with good sight lines on incoming runners. For those who ran through the clearing on the individual later on Sunday afternoon it was a shock to see how the miles of tape could appear so quickly - and by Monday evening they had all disappeared.
Well done to Steve, Pete and their helpers for all their hard work in staging a memorable relay championship.
Alan Rosen (HH)
Relay Planner's Natterings
One year to go, all courses planned in draft, all but a couple of sites taped - Relaxed.
Well things started well! We had progressed a fair way with Ash Ranges prior to English Nature pulling the plug. We had even planned a single mass start for all courses- with the size of change-over area we could have managed it. Things changed! We decided it was better to put the Relays on the same area as the Individual. Other options didn't have decent car parks, or were simply grotty.
A few facts
There were 38 overprints.
Each leg had one of 9 combinations (except for the classes with one short leg and the mini relay (M/W12-)).=20
There were 53 controls seven of which were only used by the mini relay.
Bagging and labelling maps took about 150 man (& woman) hours.There must be an easier way, though we managed to avoid using brown paper bags.
A few observations
I planned courses to get good technically challenging runs and didn't worry too much about the distance.
I made sure all courses used the 'good legs'. I didn't limit all the best legs to the Open Premier. You all pay the same money to run so the shorter courses shouldn't be sacrificed to the longer ones. You will have seen by now how similar many of the courses were.
I think the spectator control is an important part of a relay- hence all except the two shortest courses visited it.
No one complained (well not to me).
Lots of folk seemed to enjoy it and that's what counts.
An oversight
For the junior ad hoc it is important to give the technical level of the courses on the entry form (this could apply to all classes, but is particularly important for the juniors) so that clubs know which classes to enter. In retrospect the short leg of the Junior ad-hoc should have been easier to allow the less experienced to take part.
Thanks
To Alan, Steve and the bagging team (orienteers, friends and family), who put in many hours of hard work. Without them all, the Event would not have been possible.
Pete Jones (SN) peter.jones@biosint.co.uk
Relay Organisers' Report
Congratulations to all British Relay Champions for 1998, especially SYO who managed to take top honours in both the Women's and Men's Premier Relays.
We hope you all enjoyed your runs on Mytchett, the comments we heard suggested you did.
Owing to the necessity to produce a fast results service, we took the decision that the SN helpers would be unable compete in the relay. This ensured that the event went smoothly and was very much appreciated. So a big thank you to you all, especially Tony Painter, Brian Pilling, Adrian Wise, Paul Keeble and Alan Wallis, who also put in a lot of work prior to the day. Thanks also to Tony Ludford and BADO (car parking), SUOC for keeping you all refreshed, and Ned Paul for making sure you were kept informed.
A special thank you to Michael Napier and his team, who provided the results system. This worked brilliantly and enabled the prize giving to go ahead as planned. Incredibly provisional results were on the web site by 3.30pm, only 30 minutes after courses closing, with the final results appearing at 6pm including pictures from the day.
Other special mentions to:
- Richard Baldwin, Janet and Bryce Gibson, the individual organisers for their help.
- John Bates of Bates Sound for providing the radios and an excellent PA system.
- Allan Farrington and Nick Bateson for their help in liasing with the Military.
- Ericsson for providing some of the computers.
- Mr P. Heap for the allowing us to use his grazing field as a car park.
- To all of you who spent a little time to say thank-you to us, it means a lot.
Apologies to BKO for burning one of their tables, which didn't stand up to the barbecue test. Also for our ignorance as M21 bachelors, having not pushed a pram for some time we neglected to tell you about the walk from the car park, it's being noted will try harder next time!
Last but certainly not least, thanks to Pete Jones and Alan Rosen, the planner and controller respectively. They not only provided excellent courses, but also had time to help out building the relay site.
Steve McKinley, Andrew Heppel (SN)
Relay Results Queries
These should be raised with Michael Napier.
email - mnapier@cix.co.uk
Last updated: 20 May 1998 06:55:00