East Pennine Orienteering Club

The Orienteering Club for Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield
 

November 30, 2006

Note:  Please remember to refresh/reload this page every time you log on.  That way you will get the latest update! This page is now ready to accept comments on the Honley Woods event.   For example .....  What did you think of the event?  The area?  The organisation?  The courses?  How did you do on your course?  Which routes did you take?  Where did you go wrong, and how did you get back on track?
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Comment by Anthony G of EPOC.
Submitted at 16:44 on Thursday 15-Jun-2006.
SUBJECT:   Thanks
Thanks for all your comments regarding the event. It is a bit like having a chat after your run, back in the carpark.

I am closing the BB now after what we all think was a good event, with good courses, laid back organisation, and too hot!
Comment by Ali W of AIRE.
Submitted at 13:14 on Wednesday 14-Jun-2006.
SUBJECT:   Orienteering relies on volunteers
Mr Planner, what's there to be so defensive about? You planned an excellent set of courses. The minor moans and plaudits that this forum has expressed are just what forums like this are for.
Comment by Jackie of SYO.
Submitted at 12:09 on Wednesday 14-Jun-2006.
SUBJECT:   Green
I don't think it's reasonable to expect the organisers of every colour coded event between May and September to have contingency plans for drinks points just in case the temperature climbs over 30C.  People are always free to modify their choice of courses according to prevailing weather conditions, whether that is horizontal hail or a heat wave. Given the heat and climb I would normally have chosen the light green but 10 year old son wanted to see how much he could beat me by (answer is a lot!).  (By the year 2050 however drinks at events in the summer may be a reasonable expectation if climate change carries on as predicted).

I enjoyed the green - didn't take the top route on the long leg and I know some others didn't either.  My route choice was motivated by "head for the deepest shade possible" which indicated the path going diagonally down the slope.  
Comment by keith Foster of S Y O.
Submitted at 10:19 on Wednesday 14-Jun-2006.
SUBJECT:   I'm the guilty one.
Margaret Shaw, epoc.
 When I got back from my run on Sunday, A friend of mine who was parked next to me had gone, My wife thought he had left the stool, so I picked it up and took it home with me. When I got home I rang him and he said it wasn't his. I then sent a email to Guy Goodair to ask him if he new anyone who had lost a Stool. He pointed to your comment. I will return it to you at the next event that we go to. sorry about the upset  Keith Foster SYO

Thanks to the organisers of the Honley wood event, I really enjoyed it event though I was Jap laquered when I finished.
Comment by Richard Wren of EPOC.
Submitted at 08:45 on Wednesday 14-Jun-2006.
SUBJECT:   Orienteering relies on volunteers
I put a lot of effort and gave up a lot of my own time to plan some good courses in Honley, for all abilities.  I accept that some of the control circles obscured some important detail on the map - but no-one mentioned that, and anyway it was the same for all competitors. Similarly, the clear control descriptions conveniently located on your map - and the heat - were the same for everyone.

So what's my point?  It was a colour coded event - competitors need to accept that limited infrastructure will be provided.  A sport that relies on volunteers cannot become continually more formalised and more professional in this way without severe consequences.  Putting on events will require more effort, prices will go up, fewer people will volunteer to plan and organise.  More people will whinge.

Yes, we will learn from some of the things that happened, but so can all of you out there.  Volunteer, get out there, plan good courses, organise excellent events.  Then you'll realise how much hard work it can be.  And you'll realise that no matter what you do, someone will complain.
Comment by Margaret Shaw of EPOC.
Submitted at 13:26 on Monday 12-Jun-2006.
SUBJECT:   Who's guilty?
A great event. I have walked in those woods many times but a really good green course brought them alive.It was well worth the sweat lost. However, after leaving a camp stool strategically placed beside my car all ready to remove my shoes, on return I found someone had had the cheek to help themselves to it!!!How mean can you get?  
Comment by Ali Wood of AIRE.
Submitted at 11:54 on Monday 12-Jun-2006.
SUBJECT:   Water
I was a casualty of the heat. Despite consuming loads of water before the start, and being reasonably fit, and cutting short my course (Brown), I nearly didn't make it back to the finish! Sincere thanks to that gang of people who attended to me and poured gallons of cold water into my mouth and down my back! You were very supportive.
Yes, I think a drinks point was advisable under the circumstances. The temperature down in the exposed valley must have been about 33 degrees C. (Not everyone has the means or maybe the foresight to carry a camelback.)
No other complaints and thanks for a lovely event.
Ali
Comment by Hugh of NATO (ex EPOC).
Submitted at 11:31 on Monday 12-Jun-2006.
SUBJECT:   lovely event
Fabulous event although far too many hills on the Brown for my liking as I'm not fit enough...I should point out this is entirely my fault and NOT the planners!
Control #98 (19 on Brown) gets my vote for prettiest site - beautiful beech wood with no undergrowth in sight - nearly gave me enough energy to run up the hills again.
I appreciated the weather as it was 30 degrees warmer than my last time at Honley for a pre-Christmas event.
Thanks for organising a great event - well worth the drive down from Newcastle :)
Comment by Neil of Shuoc.
Submitted at 22:18 on Sunday 11-Jun-2006.
What a great event and good planning -thanks Richard.

In reply to Jack Black

As Craney mentioned water and control descriptions 'would have been nice' however I fail to see why being a 'semi-professional orienteer' would make a blind bit of difference? Care to elaborate? Surely you can unfold your map to look at descriptions or carry water in a camel-back if you think you will require it?
Comment by Anthony G of EPOC.
Submitted at 21:28 on Sunday 11-Jun-2006.
SUBJECT:   Green
I thought Green was a tad too long, and too much climb. The course made good use of the wood, and was really interesting, with good route choices.
4 to 5, the long leg, I suspect most people ran along the top of the slope, then dived down from the open area.
Other legs did not have the route choice, ie you went straight, but you could easily be caught out in the circle.
The car parking and assembly was brilliant!
Comment by Jack Black of POC.
Submitted at 20:19 on Sunday 11-Jun-2006.
SUBJECT:   Honley
control descriptions would have been a big help and I too would have appreciated water, if not on the course then at least at the finish - most of us are not semi professional orienteers.
otherwise a good event with plenty of route choice...unfortunately I appear to have opted for many of the wrong routes, can I do it again please!  
Comment by Craney of ShUOC.
Submitted at 19:33 on Sunday 11-Jun-2006.
Moan moan moan. Yes water and control descriptions "would have been nice" but I don't think the organisers should be obliged to provide them. Especially in low-key events like these. The opportunity to hydrate yourself is always there - drink lots of water and take a camel-back. You don't get loose descriptions in relays. Descriptions should never ever be on the web or sent out before an event.

Great event - beautiful forest, lots of interesting bits, quality course. Cheers EPOC!
Comment by Simon B of AIRE.
Submitted at 18:51 on Sunday 11-Jun-2006.
SUBJECT:   Water
On a hot day like today, a Water control for the longer courses would have been wise. Especially since a lot of the course was accessible by car. A number of people commented that this would have been nice. I suggest that planners should take this on board and liaise with their organisers, for any event between May and September so that when the forecast predicts temperatures 22C water can be provided. Dehydration is a major factor in sporting performance, so it is only fair opportunity is provided.
Comment by Chris Shovelton of CLARO.
Submitted at 16:40 on Sunday 11-Jun-2006.
SUBJECT:   Control Descriptions
Separate control descriptions would have been nice.  It is so easy to lose contact with the mpa when you are turning over to find the next control description.  Ideally on the web beforehand allows competitors to size them according to individual eyesight!

Otherwise a good event and an enjoyable day - thanks

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