Discussion: 2019 Ontario Orienteering Championships

Some more info and map snippets on the event page:

https://attackpoint.org/eventdetail.jsp/event_4365...

Follow this thread for future updates/whatnot...including more vintage map snippets.

This event is going to be a beauty!

Registration will be cleaned up by the end of the weekend with respect to course/class offerings...

With that said, we’ll be following the same template as last year’s Ontario Championships.

http://ottawaoc.ca/OFest/index.php/2018-race-info#...

Scroll to the top of the page just below the ‘Race Details’ heading.

All of Arkell Hills is made up of private land.

Although we haven't received permission to use the whole map proper..(we're still trying, and will eventually get there!!!)...we are super grateful to the landowners who have welcomed us, listened to us with an open mind, tried to understand what the heck we wanted to do on their land, and were generally tolerant with uninvited visits, phone calls, and emails.

Every lot within the map has a different character, and in the end this is what might make the map so special. Remnants of old farms and homesteads, planted trees maturing, rough open land thickening up, new trails appearing/old ones vanishing...

To celebrate this, instead of posting full versions of the old maps, I'm going to post map snippets of different vintages of the different properties every once inawhile...

Here's a couple to start:

Sloot Property (1985):



Hamilton Property (1976):



More to come...

A couple more peeks...

Ireland Property (2002)



University of Guelph - Arkell Research Station (2019)

Green dashed line?

Distinct Vegetation Boundary in ISOM2017 and ISOM2017-V2. Mappers have the option of using either the dashed green or the traditional linear black dots.

For areas with lots of trails and rock and minimal thick vegetation, the dashed green line is a better option to improve legibility.

Update:

Minor change...

Day 2 will be a traditional long/classic, rather than a chase. Same course! No chase.

Course details/lengths coming soonish!

In the meantime, some lovely terrain pics from February!

>>>>>>>>>>> There will be t-shirts! <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Looking for some feedback to make them as cool and fun as possible. :)

Will be posting some images soon.

Awesome Mark! I'm really looking forward to this race weekend. Arkell Hills is one of my fave areas to orienteer in Canada. Looking forward to running on Jeff's new map! The map samples look great.

Ya Mike!

Jeff's map alone is a treat.

The town of Puslinch is kind of the eastern extent of this portion of the province's LIDAR data...we were very lucky.

Here's a neat little piece of Jeff's map:

Ireland Property (2019)



I think everyone will especially appreciate the mini lines of rocky ground to represent the many ruined stone walls.

Not only does it accurately depict what’s going on out there...it’s aesthetically quite pleasing.

What are those paler thicker brown lines?

In 100% Yellow you have smooth open ground (the long linear features I think you are referring to) which I would guess represent trails of mowed grass in the terrain. I am guessing that they would have no physical tread in the vegetation (and thus cannot be mapped as trails), but have big increases in runnability compared with the rough open ground around them. If I am right, the other way to map them would be to use a narrow ride surrounding by minimum width 100% yellow.

Looks like a really fun map!

Ski trails are often represented like that in marshes for examples so like dbakker said it is probably mowed grass.

Is it possible to view course selections on the confirmation page instead of just Junior and Adult?

dbakker and Sudden are absolutely right. These are strips of mowed grass that aren't technically a trail due to a lack of physical tread. Also these mowed strips aren't prominent enough in the terrain to be marked using the trail symbol which shows up extremely prominently on the map. I found this solution felt more natural.

Robbie:

Oliver is on it. Should be sorted out by the evening.

So...

Here are some fun images:

1.



2.



3.



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My neighbour Robb is an illustrator and cartoonist...

https://www.robbmirsky.com/

His wife Rebecca has started to silkscreen his designs on T-shirts:



Robb and Rebecca are making T-shirts for our event. Gross sales will go to Canada's HPP Program.

The fun images above are Robb's first designs. I've already given him some feedback and look forward to his second pass.

In the end I was thinking this will be an event specific T-shirt, with one (or two) of the Gators pictured as focal points.

Who's your favorite?

1. Dave
2. Dan
3. Doug
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Comments and punditry are welcome...

Sidenote: The font is a work in progress...but in the spirit of the 1985 Arkell Hills map:



Print shop Arial!! Tried, tested, and true!

The Arkell sample looks more like Helvetica to me.

Ha!! I didn't think it was Arial! The spacing seemed off...

So that's what it is!

Right on.

Now I don't have to digitize the suckers in OCAD...(like the image I digitized above).

Funny and sad.

The spacing/kerning has some irregularities, probably because it's from the 1980's.

The letterforms are definitely Helvetica (the R, S, s, e, t).

As far as artwork goes, I strongly prefer the first one, especially for a t-shirt.

1980's? The process was transferring from Letraset stencils. You had to be very good at it to do a good job.

#1 (#2 was probably just for yuks; #3 gator in a boat??)

I remember drafters working pre-CADD with Letraset at my work in the early 80s. The characters had to be pressed-on with a ball-point -- not a pen, but a small hand-tool with a metal ball on the end.

I meant the map (and process to get the letters on the map) was from the 1980's. Helvetica is from 1957.

The irregularities in the letterspacing is from that process, not from the typeface itself.

Going to the Orienteering Canada newsletter archives for the late 1970s to mid 1980s when I was editor you can see how not good I was at using letraset and how Bruce Brenot, an orienteer and professional draughtsman, upped the quality of the magazine's art work using not only letraset but also stencils.
As to the gators above I think the original GGO gator, now also used with permission by Suncoast Orienteering beats all three - colourful, keen, running and smiling; not going to scare anyone.

100% agree Gord. Love this guy:



Pink Socks: What is the 'Guelph Gators Orienteering Club' font? And are the credits Helvetica?

Here's another iteration:



I probably wasn't clear enough, but this is not an exercise to come up with a new Gators logo. Just looking to put together a fun and event-themed shirt!

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The Guelph Gators (nor the Gators), are recognized as an actual club in OOA's eyes these days. We are the UKR Gators...or...the Gators - a chapter of the Ukrainian Orienteering Club.

Maybe we should go with:

'The club formerly known as the Guelph Gators, now a chapter of the Ukrainian Orienteering Club'..

Either way, all of it is a bit of mouthful.

Armel Property (1976)



Armel Property (Google Earth)



(The terrain in the Google Earth image will not be used for this event.)

I'd love to be running/ navigating again at Arkell but I'm sorry I'm going to miss the event as Florida beckons.
As to a theme for the shirt that captures the event may I suggest a drawing illustrating those rolling hills with smiling orienteering gators (or people) running up and down all over, a control marker here and there. I'd buy one even if I wasn't there.

My idea is very similar Gord!

I sent Robb the Google Earth image above...

I said to try to set ‘Doug’ in the pond in the boat (I love the absurdity of him being confused and orienteering in a boat)...

...and ‘Dave’ spiking a control in the rolling rough open land beyond.

A ‘helvetica’ Arkell Hills somewhere in there is a must.

Maybe the old ‘specialists in swamp orienteering’ slogan will make an appearance.

Looking forward to seeing what he comes up with.
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Side note: I have a soft spot for Doug. :) But maybe a bunch of Daves running around makes more sense...we’ll see.

Doug and Dave? I love it! They helped carry GGO for so many years.

#3 by a mile for me, don't care that there may not be much boat use!

Just wanted to get this out there.

If you like ‘orienteering map themed’ event T-shirts - this one is for you!

$25.

Every dollar will go towards Canada’s HPP.

Over Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend (until Monday, October 14th), all American registrants will receive a free t-shirt and a beer (after the long) on us. :)

$25 donation will still go to Canada’s HPP.

We give thanks for American orienteers.

So incredibly thankful for the opportunities put in place here for Canada’s HPP. (Not to mention how dope that tshirt design is...)
Just as background information, you donations help all junior and senior national teams travel and race in large races all over the world. It allows everyone on the HPP to have access to coaching and resources through the year. On behalf of the entire HPP, your donations are greatly appreciated, thank you in advance!

Just a little back story here..

I was very lucky to compete for Canada at 2 JWOC’s....(Belgium 1997, Bulgaria 1999). These trips brought me onto orienteering maps in and around Eindhoven, Leopoldsburg, Frölunda, Borlänge, Umeå, Grimstad, Arendal, Varna, Inverness...and others.

Orienteering aside, I also got to explore cities like Antwerp, Copenhagen, Göteborg, Stockholm, Oslo, Prague, Budapest, Bucharest, Sofia, Thessaloniki, Athens, London and Edinburgh.

I met long lost cousins in Pescara, Italy. I hiked with my teammates and slept overnight in a cairn overlooking the Jostadalen Glacier near Stryn in Norway. I laughed and danced to Barbie Girl in a disco in Arendal with other juniors from around the world... :) ...I watched Wil Smith do a one hand ‘raise the roof’ coming home in 8th after the 1st leg of the 1997 WOC Men’s Relay, and soaked in a sea of Union Jacks as Yvette Hague won the 1999 WOC Short Distance Race in Inverness...etc...etc...etc.

These were life defining experiences for me at 17 and 19.
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Now, I wasn’t a good orienteer. I was a talented runner, but that’s about it. I had potential, but didn’t put the work in.

It’s a different story these days with our ‘elites’. These are dedicated people who put in the training and want to get better.

I have a feeling national team members only get a fraction of the funding I received back in the day. Both OOA and my local club, (the Guelph Gators) were extremely generous.

They deserve more. Let’s help’em out!

Nicely said Mark!!

Hello again!

In attempt to get some accurate t-shirt quantities, I sent a mass email a couple days ago with a Google spreadsheet to fill out any requests. Here it is...

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/107Y6dvlrJB...

There were a few of you who expressed interested in purchasing a t-shirt, but were unable to come to the event. If still interested, add yourselves to the list above.

T-shirts are $25 each...(or more if you wish to donate).

They are available in unisex sizes which I’ll try to describe...

XS - women’s small/kid’s large
S - women’s medium/men’s small
M - men’s medium/women’s large
L - men’s large/women’s XL
XL - men’s XL

They pretty much fit as advertised above, and in general I don’t think you can go wrong with your gut on this one.

The deadline for the t-shirts is tomorrow evening!!
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Other than that, a couple pics of a rock pile and some open forest to wet your whistles!!





And a map snippet:

Kukovica Property (2019)



AND...

Registration for the event closes next weekend! Come and get it!

Registration deadline is tomorrow night!

Direct link to registration -------------> https://zone4.ca/register.asp?id=21375
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And some caricatures of 1980's Ontario orienteering giltterati...



Who's who? :)

L-R:
Top: Ron Lowry or Chris Robert?, Ben Sidney or Jan Pearson?, Magali Robert
Middle: Ted de St. Croix
Bottom: Glen Geddes, Me, George Baldock?

Glen Geddes - not Oivind?

Magali Robert - not Nancy?

100% Glen (you can tell by the Clash or the Jam T-shirt he is wearing and all those punk rock safety pins).

100% Magali (you can tell by the laugh)

100% Magali with the pigtails.
I say Jan middle centre and Ben Sidney or Seligy bottom right?

Big thanks to everyone who has registered - looking forward to a lovely weekend!

The leaves have laid themselves to rest...



Our stadium is looking sweet...



My only advice for the weekend is to ignore the noise and attack the circle.

Simple game. lol

Where's the Like button?

As per Gators O Cup tradition...

Free bread for all registrants!

https://www.rudolphsbakeries.com/

Sadly, we won’t be serving my dad’s chilli though.

Of all the things I should be thinking about right now, this isn’t one of them...

But...

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I’m discouraged to think I may not find the time to make up (an intensely curated) set list of music to shuffle through inside the clubhouse and in and around the finish.

The last time I found myself in this situation was when I DJ’ed my wedding. My solution back then was a mass email to every guest to send a music request for any part of the reception. Then I was able to smatter the list with my own tracks.

So...

Please add your music requests to this thread!!

Just know they will be vetted...in the worst music snob way. :) (very much kidding)

The themes are ‘good music’, ‘good orienteering music’, ‘good music that is Canadian’, ‘good 80’s music’, and... ‘really good music’. Your song has to incorporate only 2 of the 5 themes. lol Anything and everything will be considered.

Also, if you want to suggest a song that should never be considered...I’m down. It’s important we establish some boundaries. ;)

Kidding aside, this will really help me narrow my focus, and make for another layer of fun for the event!

You may make 3 suggestions only. One post.

First poster is a guarantee play!

Theme to "Trailer Park Boys".

REM - Stand. And, Orange Crush for my son who's turning into a big REM fan.

JJ isn’t registered - so no Trailer Park Boys.

Back to back REM it is.

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New rule:

5 themers are guaranteed plays, such as...

Gowan - Strange Animal

https://youtu.be/-4eT_0tnj1w

You didn't say I had to be registered. And it's 3/5 on the criteria. Oh well.

True.

I should have specified about the ‘guaranteed play piece’.

I welcome all suggestions though!

But...requests from non-registrants will be heavily vetted.

An Arkells triple play for racing at Arkell Hills

or is that the Arkell(Hill)s ?

Relentless
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sLAVU5ROB0

Knocking at the Door
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQvp6EghJ18

People's Champ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce-K2joeCWU

Manfred Mann - The Runner.
Oh, did I already post? ... well, that's okay. Great retro '80's song, and hey, written about Terry Fox!

If it is a local connection we want, I'd say Jane Siberry. The challenge is to find a song that people will be energized from.

The Constantines I think are from Guelph and have some good stuff. Just no Bry Webb solo material please.

Just blast Neil Young out all day.

Some inspiration..

The Hip gets 4:

- Nautical Disaater
- Grace, Too
- Bobcaygeon
- Ahead By A Century

Gordon Lightfoot gets 5:

- Sundown
- Carefree Highway
- Rainy Day People
- Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald
- Canadian Railroad Trilogy

Neil Young, The Band, etc, etc...

Funny...

hillanddale...we posted simultaneously.

Ya, Neil Young can have the rest.

Does Rush have any orienteering songs? The Trees?

Freewill

(to run wherever we like)

Long Time Running - The Hip
The Trees - Rush
BC Orienteering - Said the Whale

You and Me - Nick Manfredi
Winner Takes It All - ABBA
Are People People? - Depeche Mode

Long Time Running isn't a good Hip song to play at a sporting event unless Hammer is retiring. Go with At the Hundredth Meridian instead.

How have I not come across ‘You and Me’?!?!?

My goodness, what a stunner!!! :)

That man's entire repertoire is pure gold

A Forest - The Cure

Just to check, does daylight savings (clocks back an hour) take affect Sunday morning? Google says yes but wanted to make sure.

Yup, 2am!

If you forget, you'll just show up early.

Predictions:

Women Middle*:
1) Molly Kemp
2) Sydney Fisher
3) Cherie Revells
4) Laura Teutsch
5) Tara Doherty

Women Sprint*:
1) Tara Doherty
2) Sydney Fisher
3) Molly Kemp

*That Emma still runs M21.

Men:
Ottawa.

End of the Line - Travelling Wilburys

I like the chances of a male Ottawa sweep, too. You folks should have seen the races Alexander, Eric and Rob were having against each other this fall.

Destination Unknown- Missing Persons

**That Emma still runs M21**

What, Nev, you don’t think that I’m up for the challenge ?? ;)

* His prediction is that you run M21.

I believe in the Ottawa boys to fend you off Emma!
And apologies I mixed up my DGL JR Women: For rhe Tara selection above I meant Sienna Dorsey, who won Canadian Sprint Champs this summer.

Middle distance was a blast! M21 course was a lot of fun. Thanks Gators and TOC for a great day of orienteering.

Results posted somewhere?

Results : https://torontoorienteering.com/events/event/2019-...

Middle 7:



Middle 8:



Long 7:



Long 8:


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Pretty busy longs - more like long middles - maybe should have done a map exchange.
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Unfortunately have to nap and go to work in a few hours...

so...I'll try to wrap things up over the next couple days!

In the meantime, big time thank you's to all competitors and everyone involved. Because of y'all, the event turned into a beauty!

...and sorry about the epic fail on the lack of music. I’m actually pretty disappointed about it.

Bit of an archaic music situation at the clubhouse that my iPhone couldn’t support. Wasn’t able to jimmy anything up.

Me troubleshooting any technology is trouble.

Looking forward to shuffling through my 124 song playlist this week though - a great silver lining!

I thought it was a nice gesture for the map layout of the new Arkell Hills map (first area ever used for orienteering in Canada) to be the same as the 1984 version of the map. Classy.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/21676557@N05/3274698...

Thanks for a wonderful weekend - great venue and nice courses -everything was spot on. Brought back memories of my ill spent youth in the Arkell woods and depressions.

Thanks to everyone for an awesome weekend, will there be a RouteGadget available?

Robbie - I think someone from your club will be sorting out the RouteGadget. I spoke with Jeff today.
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Forgot I had this on my phone...

From back in February. It was my first visit to Arkell in 25 years.

It contains an appropriately placed expletive - induced by beautiful terrain. :)

The terrain clearly took your breath away.

Beauty eh!

My internal monologue sounded a lot like that!

Does anybody have the golf course map from this event? Was there ever a route gadget or similar of the golf course event? I'm working with a golf course to create a map and plan a future event and could use any data on past golf course events.

The golf course was out of bounds

The last part of the easiest courses was on the golf course for the middle.

See route gadget here: https://orienteeringca.nationprotect.net/cgi-bin/r...

On the few golf course maps I've run on, all greens were out of bounds.

Yes we'd expect greens and sand traps to be out of bounds.