Results for NOC Robin Hood Trophy, Sherwood Forest, Budby and Bilbaugh, 11/01/2004

Comments: Organiser, Planner, Controller
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Found

A thumb compass with the following written on it 'NorCompass AB Typ1 Sweden'

Please contact Michael Napier 0115 928 9663

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Organiser

It is a privilege and a huge responsibility putting on any event - not least one with such a large turnout as this. There is a mixture of loneliness and belonging in this role, there is the need to be very singular and determined and yet to belong to and work with a very large team of volunteers possessing an impressive range of skills.

I am indebted to my controller and his assistant for their professional approach to their roles. All our communication had been by e-mail and I looked forward to meeting them on the day to say thank you - but our paths did not cross in a busy day. Formally then - my huge thanks to you both.

As a planner, Alan must be among the best in the land. I had reports of so many positive comments about the courses that I know he has done an excellent job. Many thanks to you.

There are many to thank - so thanks all - but with particular thanks to those who willingly responded to being asked to help with car parking on the morning to cover absence, and to those road crossing marshals on the A616. If the event was as successful as people are telling me then it is down to the excellent NOC team effort - well done!

One injured LEI runner asks me to pass on his thanks to the three people who interrupted their runs to offer assistance.

I have one big disappointment - that I was not able to run on my course in some new Notts woodland. Before the event I visited the oak forest approaching the finish several times. Perhaps I may not have had the joy of orienteering through there - but I have savoured it slowly so I can take away something to compensate for that disappointment.

Bob Alderson

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Planner

I was privileged to be first planner on the new map -- especially as in my opinion this is now NOC's best area. It is very varied, and requires applying a variety of techniques successfully to do well. There are few areas to rival the final Stag Oak section anywhere in the East Midlands, and it's been a delight to be in there over the preceding months, particularly as at planner's pace you can really appreciate the beauty of the trees. I planned courses avoiding the densest brambles and bracken where possible, and I hope you enjoyed them. Unfortunately there was an error on 2 Light Green Master Maps -- my fault entirely, but I think the Start team became aware of it early enough for most people not to be affected -- apologies to those who were.

Very many thanks to Ian and Monika Cooper for support, advice, and practical help, way beyond the call of duty. Thanks also to Dave Cooke for sorting out the details which made the event possible at all, and of course to Bob Alderson for hours of time behind the scenes to make it all run smoothly.

Thank you for coming in such numbers.

Alan Beardsley

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A tribute and special thank you to Ray Barnes.

Ray was I/C the Sport-Ident equipment for both days of the weekend. Not one box failed, and all equipment was where it should be and with the right people, which is what you would expect of Ray. His job included re-programming and sorting about 35 of the control units after the Saturday event, so they could be re-used on the Sunday. Without this there could have been no Sunday event.

But Ray fell during Saturday's first race, and injured his shoulder -- later diagnosed as a displaced collarbone fracture. He stayed at the event, despite the severe pain, until after the equipment was collected from both races, supervised the sorting of it, and then spent at least an hour working on his computer to get the boxes ready, and only when he had made sure everything was OK did he allow someone to drive him home.

Everyone involved in organising, planning, controlling, and helping on both days is indebted to Ray. Above all, every single competitor on Sunday is indebted to him -- his heroic effort meant the event went ahead as it should.

Alan Beardsley

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Controller

Not much to say except :-

Thanks for coming. We really hope you enjoyed the event, despite the storm in the middle of the event. The area is relatively clean and good for a nice fast run. Apologies for the road crossings and walk to the far start (to get better courses).

Thanks to Alan Beardsley (Planner), who it was a pleasure to work with. He took our comments into account where they made sense and put a tremendous amount of personnel effort into planning the courses and ensuring the map was as up-to-date as possible - NOC and the competitors owe him great thanks. Alan's hand drawn courses (many many more than intended because of late entries) were virtually the best we have come across in almost 30 years orienteering.

The stag oaks area near the end of the courses proved difficult as people tired and switched off; a difficult area for Peel's to map (which oaks?).

Thanks to Monika for her significant help to me, as controlling was required while I was changing jobs and moving south to London.

Finally, thanks to NOC for asking me to control the event (more preferable than being team leader for parking at recent Blacka Moor event!) - it was really good to have this opportunity, with a 'professional' team. Happy to do it again.

Ian (and Monika) Cooper (SYO)

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Any queries, errors, or omissions should in the first instance be addressed to Michael Napier, tel 0115 928 9663,

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