British Orienteering Club Fixtures Newsletter

OVERALL PLANNER FOR EVENT SCHEDULING GROUP WORK.
This is a planner and not a definitive list so please treat it as such.  Red printing and ? show where the known uncertainties are.  Various notes on it are reminders of what we still have to do and check on etc.

2013 - 2016 LISTS OF INTERNATIONAL, A and B EVENTS.
These have been compiled from what is already on the British Orienteering fixtures database.  All B events for 2013 and 2014 are now settled.  Unless there are exceptional reasons, no more B events can be added.  All B events for 2015 and 2016 are provisional.  Others should be added to the fixtures database as soon as they become known so that the overall picture becomes clearer.  Most proposed dates should be fine but the Event Scheduling Group will not confirm them until later.  The first half of 2015 will be confirmed in October 2013.  Clubs and associations should be able to use these lists in plenty of time to plan their programme of C and D events.

EVENT SCHEDULING GROUP MEETING.
Full minutes of our meeting on 23 March will be available shortly on the British Orienteering website for those who wish to read them.

CHANGES TO BIG EVENTS.
Some unexpected changes to big events have been necessary.  BOC/BRC in the North East for 2014 was having access problems and so the March date had to be changed to 31 May/1 June.  The planned date for BOC/BRC 2015 has also been changed to 18/19 April to avoid a clash for elite competitors.  This does leave an opportunity for a Bank Holiday weekend of events if some club/association wants to exploit it.  Many different dates have been explored for the CompassSport Cup Final in 2014 after difficulties with the original date.  It will now be on Saturday 8 November.

UK ORIENTEERING LEAGUE.
You will know that this is now up and running for 2013.  2014 is almost sorted out.  Because of the implications for B, C and D events that clubs plan, it is important that UKOL details are known early.  We are still trying to catch up with this new competition and it is not possible to provide all the detail as early as is desirable.  However, we ought to be in a better position as UKOL 2015 comes up.  Much is sorted out already and it should be known in good time for planning other club events.  Most events involved are indicated with UKOL or UKOL? in their titles on the BO database so it is possible to see what is being considered.

Offers for 2015 have come in from clubs in response to the requests in the last newsletter and these are being discussed to find a solution which balances the types of event and spreads the weekends around the country.  There seem to be enough offers to fill in all that is required.

It is not too early to be looking at 2016.  Because the JK and all the British Championship events are included, the basis for 2016 is already known.  In an effort to include the Area Championships, provisional dates for these have been agreed but they are certainly not finalised.  It looks as if there will be possibilities for offers of an urban/sprint weekend in June/July and a final weekend in early November.  There may be carry over offers from 2015 but any clubs interested should make their ideas known, preferably via their Association Fixtures Secretary, or if necessary directly to me.

COMPETITIONS UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN
A number of avenues have been explored for the Harvester in June this year and the Midlands Championships in 2014.  Sadly, all these have come to nothing and it does now look as if both will not happen.  Last minute offers could still be explored though.

JUNIOR INTER REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2014.
We are still looking for a club to stage this competition.  The following years seem OK.  It is just 2014 where there is a problem and it would be great if an association/club which has not done these for a few years could come forward.  They must be held on 27/28 Sept.  Details can be found on the BO website or look up the details of how it has been organised in previous years.

OFFERS FOR 2015 EVENTS
There are still a few events for 2015 where a club is needed to stage them.  They are shown on the overall planner but specifically there is the Harvester, the YBT final, and the British Schools Orienteering Championships.  Often an area of the country or an association is suggested to try and get a reasonable distribution around the country, but this does not stop any club making an offer.  Please consider whether you can do anything.

SCHEDULING C and D EVENTS
National Fixtures Group does not normally interfere with the way associations and clubs schedule C and D events.  However, it is helpful if those involved do look at everything else before they make decisions.  Efforts are being made to get A and B information into the fixtures database much earlier so that all can see what is being planned.  Inevitably this early planning could cause a few alterations as unexpected situations arise, but overall it should help everyone.

INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPANTS
This matter has been raised by a number of members and it has been discussed by Events and Competitions Committee.  Much of what is expected is already in guidelines but it will be enhanced in the light of discussions.  It is rather more than just for fixtures secretaries, but as a group we can be a useful channel of communication to clubs.  It is about providing information before competitors enter an event so that they know what courses and terrain are like, what facilities to expect, and what access is like to assembly and the starts.  Many clubs provide good information, but the lack of it can be a source of annoyance to some members – particularly those who are older, younger, and with families.  It is in the interests of organisers to provide as much early information as possible so that competitors know what to expect.  They are then much less likely to grumble.  It would help if this message could be passed on to club organisers, but stressing that some clubs already do very well.

Mike Cope       April 2013

25th Apr 13  by Terry Smith

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