Results for NOC District Event, Byron's Walk, 09/01/2005

Organisers

We were very lucky to be able to hold the event at all - the previous day's gale saw 4 trees fall across the White Course! Thanks to the sterling efforts of Richard Llewellyn, the paths were made passable again.

A very big thank you to everyone who contributed so much to the success of the event, especially those who stood in the cold at road crossings. The club really does appreciate your help.

To those who are wondering if they can manage to organise an event - if I can, you certainly can! The task is far more manageable than it used to be, given the team system where leaders know the capabilities of, and problems faced by, their team members. The background organisation within the club, with detailed guidelines, superbly organised equipment (thanks to Angela Lucking) and experienced and helpful Controllers like Alan Beardsley make the task enjoyable even for disorganised people like me! The rewards are a real sense of satisfaction, seeing so many people enjoying the event, and making closer friendships with ever more club members, both old hands and newcomers.

Hilary Hodkinson

Planners

As far as planning junior courses is concerned I believe that White and Yellow should be distinct courses with few legs in common. This enables juniors who are moving up to run both courses and those running Yellow with a parent to run a different White on their own. Having planned these two courses the start and finish were fixed. It was a pleasure working with Andrew and Alan. Andrew learnt quickly and readily followed the advice I gave him but in the end the courses he produced were his.

Andrew Llewellyn and Jim Clarke

Controller

A low turnout, I'm sorry to say, especially as both the planners did such an excellent job and made such good use of the forest, despite there being large parts of it too overgrown to go anywhere near, and a large chunk of very nice stuff in use by the Archery Club. I heard nothing but praise for the design of the courses, and this is especially creditable given Andrew's age, and the fact this was his first event as Planner. Well done Andy, and let's hope this is the first of many. Jim produced some interesting and imaginative Junior courses, and must take credit for 'tutoring' Andrew so well. Thanks also to Richard Robinson for control checking on the day. And of course very many thanks to Hilary for her thoroughness and attention to detail in Organising, and in persevering so long in order to get all the helpers we needed. It appears that the problem of recruiting helpers is a real headache, for the Team leaders as well as the Organiser, and events simply can't happen without enough people to ensure safety and fairness.

Thank you to the alert competitors who reported 3 lads near a couple of controls -- I spoke to them, and I was satisfied that they had not done any damage or moved anything, and fortunately that remained true until everyone had finished their runs. Very fortunate, in fact, as afterwards one of the boxes was found smashed to pieces, and another one had gone missing.

The only criticisms I heard were to do with my own input: I produced the course overprints, and missed an obscured stumpbank on Blue and Green, and also failed to spot a couple of map errors which should have been included in the revision. Apologies to everyone affected.

Alan Beardsley