Provisional Results (web page) - See note from Controller below and consider if it applies to you..
Routegadget (now available)
Split Times
From the Planner
Thank you for all those of you kind enough to compliment the courses. It's hard to plan an urban event with much technicality - I hope you enjoyed the courses as they came out.
Thank you also for all those of you who took the trouble to show me irregularities on the map. I'll update the map with your comments so that it is improved for the next event.
This may well be my swansong (at least on the planning side - I shall potter around one or two more events) with British Orienteering after 30+ years of competing and helping (in various ways). Thank you to everybody who's organised on an event, planned or controlled courses, done all the unsuing but vital jobs in the background of every event and told me how I got it wrong - and all just for my enjoyment! A special thank you to everybody who's come up with imaginative reasons why they should not be disqualified - it is possible to punch fully in the box, even at speed, and the electronics seldom go wrong, we usually notice before the competitor and work to avoid them noticing.
It's been great. I'll try and arrange a discount for any of my many friends who come to the next event I map/plan. It may be on a different continent (travel not included in this offer!)
Tim Booth
Note from Controller
A number of competitors were noted crossing the River Thames during their course using the main road bridge used by the route to the start as opposed to the Windsor Bridge despite the following:-
- This route was clearly marked as a forbidden route on the map
- Competitors had to run off the map to get to the bridge
- Each start lane had clear instructions and a copy of the map showing the correct bridge to be used and words stating that there was only one river crossing point
- The one crossing point of the River was clearly stated in the final details for the event
It is accepted that the wording on the map ‘keep left on bridge’, referring to the much smaller footbridge could have been placed in a more appropriate place on the map, but should have not been seen as an invitation to use the forbidden route. A decision was taken not to draw lines pointing to and from the correct bridge, to minimise the many lines on same courses, so to improve clarity and given the other information available requiring competitors to use the permitted bridge.
Competitors taking the forbidden route had a clear advantage over those who did not, so it would be appreciated if those competitors who used the road bridge should, in the spirit of fair competition, declare themselves to be none competitive. They will then be indicated as such in the results. Please email the organise at the following address: david.jukes@bko.org.uk
Organiser’s Comments
First I must thank Tim for his major effort in providing both the map and courses for today’s event. Surveying and drawing a map for such an area is a considerable effort and, with the subsequent adjustments to improve the clarity of map, it is all a significant commitment. I also appreciated Ian Moran’s effective controlling which ensured that I did not overlook important points in this my first major event as organiser for many years. The contribution of the many BKO helpers, particular Andy and Richard who arrived very early and left late, made my task on the day relatively easy.
An urban race creates problems with land permission but we did, I believe, eventually obtain sufficient to allow Tim to make interesting courses. One open space behind a square of houses which Tim had hoped to use proved too problematic since, with no known landowner, we were at risk of a confrontation with local people on the day. An urban race does however provide opportunities and being able to use the Leisure Centre was a bonus for the Registration and Emit team – it would have been even more valuable had it rained!
As you will see from the Controller’s comments, we are asking those who used the major road bridge (crossed on the way to the start) to declare themselves non-competitive. We will be publishing updated results over the next few days when we have received this information.
Many thanks for coming and making our efforts worthwhile.
Finally, it is very sad that the original organiser for today, Alan Springett, is still in hospital and was unable to join us. It has been a long time but we do hope that he will at some point be once again able to join us.
David Jukes
