Discussion: Potential Schedule Conflict

The Board previously awarded the 2005 Short and Long Champs to DVOA for an unspecified weekend in November. We have now been notified that after arranging with the park, their preferred date is November 11-13. This appears to conflict with a "Raid the Hammer" race. Is this a serious conflict or should the Board approve these dates for DVOA?

Well, I'm in DVOA so this may be a conflict of interest, but I definitely think it should be approved.

First, the Raid the Hammer is at least as much of an adventure race as it is Orienteering.
And it is in Canada.

Of course it is a great race run by great people, but I think you've got to be circumspect when considering US orienteering scheduling conflicts.

Team Foreigners will be seriously pissed and those are two guys you don't want to get mad.

Our "Raid" is a 25km orienteering race in teams so the long-O Champs weekend would be attractive to the top particpants that do our race BUT only a few are American. As the course planner / event director of the Raid I don't see a problem with this conflict but it is a shame that attractive races within (albeit long) driving distance are held on the same weekend (this isn't the only example for the 2005 autumn schedule).

Nev has a point about the Foreigners though! But if Mihai doesn't do our race we'd miss that great Team Foreigner team dynamics - and besides Mihai wouldn't have a chance to win new trail shoes (yet) again.

Note that the DVOA event is the Long Champs and a regular A day, not the Short Champs. The Short Champs are at the Flying Pig, the first weekend of April.

I just went to the Raid 2004 registration site. Only two teams (of three) registered as from U.S. clubs and only one member of those two (me) would even consider the Long-O championships. I know there were other Americans there (e.g. Mihai), but there weren't many. Some Canadians who would probably be competitive at the Long-O will also face the confict. I'd put the number at about ten total - on the outside. I think it's a shame that the events will conflict, but these things happen. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't seem that this particular conflict (ten possible/probable entries) would merit asking DVOA to change plans.

I would say there is an 80% chance that I will attend the DVOA-hosted Long Champs on Nov. 11-13, and there was maybe a 5-10% chance that I would've attended Raid the Hammer*, so this is a fairly minor conflict from my point of view.

* Raid the Hammer looks like a very cool race, but it's far away from Seattle, and since I'm not well-off, I'm very picky about which events I choose to spend travel money on. I've never even run a Billygoat!

sorry folks, my bad. Sandy is right, this does not involve the short champs, only the long.

Also, Hammer notes that there are other apparent conflicts in the 2005 Autumn Schedule. I can't find these by going to any of the spots that I regularly check. What are they? It is important that event organizers get their info to places like Sandy's website so that conflicts can be avoided. I think it's quite reasonable for Sandy to list anything likely to attract a non-local crowd including Goats, major B-meets, etc.

Clare

I think Hammer is talking about the fact that the Highlander conflicts, like every year, with the Ontario Championships and the Western Canadian championships. This has been true for years and acts to the detriment of both sets of races every year. My personal preference would be for the Highlander to switch weekends but since I am grateful to HVO for putting it on (it's a great event), I don't want to whine... Clearly there's not a huge overlap in clientele for the two events, but there is some.

It also makes sense for the Highlander to move because it's (typically) a one-day meet, and it doesn't need to be squatting on a three-day weekend.

(To Eric...)

I had never run a Billygoat either, while living on the West Coast (and Sweden one year), but then I just solved that problem by moving to the East Coast, where I have now driven to two...

And speaking of that, I'm almost certainly going to my 3rd this year (where I hope to earn a few more points...). Where is it being held this year? (All this Highlander talk is making me think people have forgotten the original...)

Whereever it is decided that Highlander is going to squat, I hope something is worn under the kilt. And does this have anything to do with Boris' posterior? (...sorry, I'll go away now.)

I don't think I've seen Boris' posterior. Is it worth traveling for?

To Cristina - Yes. Come see him in to Alabama in two weeks (he is the Registrar).
To Eric - You have to run Billigoat while you are in your prime, and more, than. So, come and face it.

Sweet. So if I orienteer poorly in AL, the trip will at least have been worthwhile to be able to see what you all are going on about.

Man, with all the hype, it can only be a letdown....
See what you started, Neil??!

maybe you could post a picture, that way those of us living too far away to travel to Alabama could also join the fun? there must be a copier somewhere near you :-)

Boris, from the picture it looks like you've lost a little weight.

Awww, shucks, Eric, thanks for noticing. You sure do know how to make a girl blush.

Hm. I don't know if that's worth it. You think the airline will refund my ticket fare?

And back to the conflicting events.I am planing every year to make it to the long dist US Champs, but so far I attented 4 in 12 years other than that it was just out of reach for me , mostly to far or not in shape for long race. the competition should be great this year, but since the Raid the Hammer is such a great race (and great prizes as well) is most likely that I will go to the Raid and try to revenge our 2004 defeat (finished in 3 rd. place) after winning the previous year, even when now the Long dist. Champs, will be in my home club area.To bad, I will have to miss it again .