Mapper/Planner
Mapping a small park was an interesting experience. At a scale of 1:4,000 so many things can be mapped that the main challenge was — what do I leave off? The yardstick I used was would it be an aid to navigation or would it just be clutter? So anything not readily visible like manhole covers were the first to go then the seats and lamp posts which are everywhere and deflect attention from the paths. Next came the choice of contours interval. Using the OS supplied 5m ones would have meant loads of form lines to give the right land shape, so I interpolated 2.5m ones and then added form lines so that the gradual slopes and the embankments stood out. Now, how about what is open and what is not? That was the worst and I changed my mind many times before finally deciding on the balance I did and including the prominent trees in both.
The stadium area presented quite a different problem. Firstly, canopy or no canopy symbol? And then the levels which are impossible to portray on O maps so I decided to use the ”uncrossable wall• symbol to show where it was not possible to go. Quite a few of you came unstuck on that going to the last control and stayed on the lower level rather than going up the steps on the control side of the boundary. Was it shown clearly enough? Perhaps I could have extended the wall line a bit further.
Then to the courses. Unlike urban events there were no complex route choices to offer so I decided on lots of controls which micro choices and changes of direction using the irregular path network and multi junctions to keep you concentrating. I made the round the lake choices deliberately very even to give the advantage to speed of decision. The major choice was the leg from the park to the stadium where I think the best route was to stay in the park by going to the right and then cutting through the tiny path at the road corner. Entering the stadium was a challenge made harder by the lights not being on at the entrance. Judging by the times there, the course leaders eyes obviously adapt faster than mine !! The courses through here actually just ran along the walkway which is about 10m wide at its widest but with lots of controls where a few seconds could be lost with every slight lapse — especially getting on the wrong side of an uncrossable boundary !
The revisited Bandstand control was a must when I realised that a spectator point on the Terrace gave such a good view of a large part of the course.
The whole was intended to be fast and furious fun. I hope I succeeded.
Adrian Barnes
Controller
It was a delight to have the uncommon opportunity to put on a sprint event largely for the juniors. I think Adrian the planner did a cracking job of making the best of a small area. From the comments I overheard, the spectators seemed to enjoy being in the thick of the action from the splendid balcony provided, and most of the comments I heard from finishers were that they had enjoyed the area. Although at first glance it may have looked to be an "easy" stretch, the stadium proved tricky, partly because of the light change, but also because of the change of levels. Not easy to map, but the evidence was there for competitors!
Several people remarked on the sudden plunge from light to semi-gloom when entering the stadium. We did ask that the lights for that initial stretch of stadium be turned on, but were told that it was some kind of regulated system and could not be over-ridden. Despite this, we did want to present three different challenges in one fast race, and I think we achieved that. Thank you all for coming.
Fred Miller
From Assembly 07:30 Sunday Organiser My Rant Well it is 10 o'clock at night I am truely knackered (after 12 hours out of the house and an hour unloading the cars) but actually feeling that I have enjoyed myself this weekend! Must be mad!
It is times like this morning just after dawn as the mist burnt off in absolute peace and quiet (just the odd bird or animal for company) when you realise how lucky we are to be able to get out and enjoy the countryside. For me this is especially true after 9 months of serious/not so serious illness. Our thanks must go to the landowner Viscount Devonport for allowing us the access but can I just say how impressed he was by people today and hopefully the Club will be able to use more of his land in the future.
The rant bit; the organiser has to plan ahead and budget for an event and while the internet means people can enter late it makes the organisers life difficult. Toilets, prizes, first aid cover etc. have to be arranged in advance; with an entry of 100, five weeks prior, my "guess-timation" was rather wrong and for some things amendment proved impossible. For anyone statistically minded almost 50% of the entries were after the "first closing date" and 25% after the maps were printed.
There are too many "thank you's" to include everyone but a special thanks to the Padre (whoever you are) for sorting out the weather. Also can I thank the NATO club members (plus those from ESOC and AIRE) who turned out - small hicups here and there but please remember our usual attendance for events is about 50 and thank you for your patience and above all for coming.
For the no longer young competitors:
This event was a round in the Masters Cup. As part of the Senior Competitions Group can I remind you that you are welcome to comment on this competition using the mailbox masterscupfeedback@britishorienteering.org.uk . For those of you in the North East please feel free to mail me (see below) about any aspect of Senior Competitions.
NEJS Thanks
A thank you to both the creators and consumers of all the cakes! (£185.28 raised) Must say they looked very good - I just ran rather late and did not have much choice.
The Boring Notices
Lost Property. 1 "girls" grey plimsole.
Trophies & Prizes
The Northern Championship trophies left unclaimed (and the accompanying prize) can be obtained from Christine Roberts ( christineATrobertsmapping.plus.com ).
The unclaimed prizes for the runners up can be obtained from me ( patricksmythATlineone.net ).
Planner Planner's Comments
What a wonderful day on Ray Demesne at last. I had suffered blizzards, snow
drifts, rain, freezing cold during planning, and immediately before the
event I was navigating around in thick mist without a compass as I woke up
the SI units. When I first offered to plan I was semi-employed, a member of
NATO and living 15 miles from the area. By the time the event happened I
was fully employed by the Scottish Orienteering Association, a member of FVO
and living some of the time up in Scotland. This started to put a bit of
pressure on me, alleviated slightly when I was informed the 28 courses I was
planning was an administrative error and I only needed 20.
Fortunately the number of competitors started to increase closer to the
event, including more than one Elite - possibly spurred on by some slightly
tongue in cheek publicity on Nopesport (an orienteering forum for those not
yet acquainted). I had planned for a winning time of 90 min for M21E, so I
was impressed by Duncan Archer's astonishing 80 minutes. Other course
lengths are based on the Elite course length using a BOF formula, but on
areas like this the difference between the very good and the rest of us is
very pronounced. Though many found the patches of heather energy sapping, I
was very pleased with so many positive comments about my courses. I was
keen to make as much use as possible of the small areas of forest, and many
of you enjoyed the in-and-out of the woods controls near the end of the
courses. It was entertaining to watch from the top of the hill.
The map, originally drawn by Dave Caudwell (ex-NN) was excellent, and thanks
go to Jeremy Lakey and Paul Taylor for their minor updates. Maybe some of
the green in the first block could have been darker, and a pheasant pen that
had been remapped mysteriously moved back 100 metres to where it started.
Apologies to those who found the control description sheets a bit blurred,
confusing 5s and 6s. Control descriptions on the litho printed maps were
very clear and I was surprised these runners didn't think to check.
I was disappointed to see deliberate cheating by runners who knew that
crossing fences was prohibited. I assume you will add your real routes on
Routegadget?
Thanks to Paul Taylor who worked very hard as Controller, making a few
constructive changes to my original courses. Putting out and collecting
controls was an arduous task, so thanks to Andy and Andy (also crossings)
for putting out and to Paul, Josh, Simon, Fred, Alasdair and Dave for
collecting in.
Colin Matheson FVO
Controller A fine event on a fine area. Well done to Colin for his creative planning in an area with more physical than technical challenge. We were bound to have a bit of rough heather and bog on the longer courses even though we tried to avoid the worst of it. The fences and walls were also a limiting factor here, but at least they provided some line features for the TD1/2 courses.
Well done to Patrick and all the small band of NATO members who put in an awful lot of voluntary work to make the event happen.
We were bugged by the usual irritating problems, particularly the quality of the map which was expected to be fairly good but in fact needed a considerable amount of updating and probably could still do with a few amendments. Also, we had the overstretched officials trying to accommodate several different jobs and committments with the unfriendly weather of a Northumbrian winter.
My enjoyment of the event was marred by several annoying factors which seem small but are of significance to those who are affected. In particular, the quality of print on the loose control descriptions. On Course 4, control 125 was seen by the competitors as 126. As far as I am aware it only affected one course and after examining the splits there may have been about 5 people disadvantaged, particularly one competitor who might have won his course. To those people may I offer our profound sympathy and apologies, knowing how much I, as a competitor, rely on confirmation of correct control simply by the number. In mitigation perhaps we could suggest that the poor quality of print should have been apparent, and they may have checked the descriptions clearly printed on the map.
Paul Taylor
Sunday
