Potteries Orienteering Club West Midlands Orienteering Association

West Midlands League and District Event

Sunday 24^th February 2008

Contents

Results Summary and Index

Organiser’s Comments

Results Summary and Index

Organiser’s Comments

What an amazing turnout! From the queues at registration, it soon became apparent that we would be short of maps, despite running off well over 300, including some blanks of both scales. Thankfully, Jonathan Millward brought his photocopier/printer, to do results lists half hourly. These never appeared till very near the end because he had to constantly produce maps and course descriptions (we had printed extras already). There were 334 entries! We had nearly 200 in the car park. Over 100 people chose the Green course alone. Unfortunately, as they were patiently waiting at start, the weather decided to turn against us and it bucketed down, making it a cold wait. Some finishers very gamely gave up their maps and a few hardy individuals marked their own blank maps; had it not rained, perhaps more competitors would have done this. Nearly everyone said, as they came into download, they had never seen so many greens, browns, blues and light greens at a district event! They looked somewhat damaged by the brambles, but this is a problem with a Forestry Commission site. We need an influx of muntjac deer, as they eat brambles!

Firstly, I have to thank all the helpers, who gave up their time on the day. It was much appreciated and an event like this, with so many competitors, could not take place without their invaluable support (especially the Rowes, who are social members only, and yet kept registration going). Even more thanks have to go to George Lamplough and Jonathan Millward, who gave up weeks of long Wednesday evenings, at my house, sorting out the electronics. POTOC can be proud of them! It worked like a dream on the day and our future is secured.

I also have to thank two friends from WCH, Pat Murray and Tony Duncan, who helped put out on Saturday and Mark Stodgell WCH, who lent us equipment and gave advice and time, at his house while we were learning the ropes with the electronics. Perhaps, with the money generated by this event, we can now consolidate our electronics, so we become independent a.s.a.p.

North Staffs. Sports Club was a real asset, especially with the cold heavy rain, having inside flushing toilets, hot drinks if needed and a bar.

Lastly, a big thanks to Dave (and Alex) Sparks, who despite having to wait till nearly 3.30, in the cold, managed to get the results on the website by Sunday evening, including an apology for lack of maps due to the unexpectedly large turnout and a problem with the blue course. I have to say well done to the planner. He spent hours on these courses, to try and avoid the brambles and help every age group. He changed courses and control descriptions many times. The only accidental and annoying result of this was the computer printed the blue map, to include a previous site, no longer included. 65 People were disenchanted and upset when the blue map did not coincide with the course description sheet. 3 controllers did not spot this in time! One tap on the computer would have corrected this, had we had the correct printer on the day. We can only live and learn and apologies to competitors.

After much discussion with a number of orienteers in the league, the controller, Ray Collins, decided to stop the time on the blue course at control 12, to give fair points to league competitors. Several long standing orienteers would prefer control 13 omitted in time and therefore count 1-12 and 14 to finish. At least the problem was after control 12 and there were not many more to do. Also, thankfully, we lost no controls which would also cause a problem. The planner had to put out, on the day, alone, to give other people chance to run on the course.

Brenda Morgan (POTOC)