Learnings from a first time street setter

Monday, 8 February 2010

The Berkholz set their first street event last week. Here are some thoughts from Peter about what they learnt.

Make sure the Ocad version has the basics available eg location dots.

Make sure you can use the software before you collect your location info.

No ocad,  no course.

Do a sanity check on the contours. Previous revisions may not have been updated. Particularly in areas where bush has recently been replaced with houses.

Lewis did all the ocad work and managed location identification.

We identified about 50 locations, then Lewis selected what he thought would be a challenge to the good orienteer’s but also allow for an enjoyable course for beginners.

Based on feedback he would probably make the course a little shorter. Say cut out the 4 or 5 locations out near the shopping centre. But still have the 34 questions. This gives more locations in a smaller area.

People seem to enjoy getting a high score.

With regard to the OCAD comments......

In this case it appears Peter didn't get the correct copy of the default street symbol set. If you are planning an event it is always desirable to obtain this and then make sure you can utilise the software well before your event date. OCAD is not overly difficult to drive but does require some familiarisation and remember help is available if you do have trouble.

Thanks once again to the Berkholz family for a great afternoon at Ashtonfield

SSS15 - Ashtonfield

Thursday, 4 February 2010

Event: SSS15
Location: Ashtonfield
Weather: Warm, slighly overcast. 
Setter: Lewis Berkholz
Organisation: Peter Berkholz.
Setup: Mick Kavur
Start: Cathy Jones, Peter Newton
Finish: Lewis Berkholz, Peter Berkholz, Josh Blatchford
General Support (& goofing off): Nathan Berkholz
Entries: 88

This was a first go at organising a street event for the Berkholz clan and it was a job well done. I hope to have an paragraph or two from them telling us all about this inaugural experience, with all the joys and pitfalls that are associated with this important role.

On the results front it was a veritable domination by Steven Todkill, easily taking out the mens. Similairly Carolyn Matthews dominated the womens category.

This area used to be one of our great bush maps, but sadly we have had to develop it as housing due to all the immigrants to our area such as the Blatchfords. Imagine how our map stocks will reduce as the population grows to that 36 million the "economists" reckon this country needs. What a joke! Oops personal opinion/rant sliding in here so I'd better stop. Anyway below is some interesting stuff from Russell Rigby regarding the old map.

todays controls on 1989 bush map (4 Mile Ck)
the large cluster of pits and depressions along the ridge line between 3D and 2E was caused by the collapse of very shallow 19th century coal mine workings - some less than 10m below the surface - just the spot to build a new McMansion.

The assembly area for Day 1 of the 1989 Xmas 5 Day was near 1P in the NW corner of the map.

From the scorer's desk ...
Street series continues to grow, as reflected by the number of competitors committed to travel all over our region to attend events. Those who manage to attend many consecutive events deserve special mention, and the past couple of weeks has seen several competitors reach some impressive milestones for consecutive events attended:
20 Events: Carolyn Matthews
40 Events: Alex Massey, Andrew Haigh, Nicole Haigh
80 Events: Tony Hayes
Outstanding contributions to the series!

Note that Alex Orr and Greg Bacon are also poised to reach the milestone 20 events if they attend event 16 next week.

results
routegadget (4 Mile Creek version)
comments

IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGE

Thursday, 28 January 2010

In an effort to minimise the risk of vehicle and human contact, street event participants should consider the following two points.

1. Be Seen - Please consider you attire in regards to visibility.

From this point forward we advise that dark colour tops are not to be worn. At this stage it is advisory only but we may consider a penalty point system if participants fail to heed our warning. Day-Glo would be good but even a plain white T is much better than a dark colour.

2. Be Careful  - Don’t run down the centre of the road.

Fellow competitors have noted others running down the middle of roads, close to blind corners, (while looking down at their map). Please play it safe and not do this. While running on a street that is in a very low trafficked area where the visibility is excellent may not seem a problem, you need to make sure this practice doesn’t become a habit.