A Few Comments

I've been off for the last week now, and it was thanks to Stephen for getting the results online for the Belvoir Forest results last week. We've been experimenting with a new facility for allowing organiser's to post results directly onto the website. Feedback will be used to improve the procedure and potentially provide the same facility for the mainstream orienteering websites.

As for what's been going on - there's been some debate over people who mis-punch at WEE Series courses. The official line is that they should really be disqualified, but this doesn't fit in with the friendly and informal approach being sought at the WEE Series. The suggestion after the Ormeau Event was that missed controls should be penalised as a time penalty. Two minutes was used on this occassion, but a ten minute penalty might be more appropriate. Comments are welcome from all competitors on this ruling. The idea was to allow people to still be clasified and earn points, but not to encourage simply running around a loop missing out all controls.

Finally, in relation to handicap percentages allocated to competitors. Any requests to have your value modified should be made before the end of first series. All comments will be viewed fairly, but any allocated handicaps will be fixed for the second set of events in August. You have your opportunity to make comment now.

I'll leave it to Stephen to comment on the enjoyable (if damp and slightly stingy in shorts) courses. The final event of the first series will be taking place at Ballyclare. If you're stuck for a lift out to the event, drop me an email. I'll be driving out from Belfast, and can offer a lift to anyone stuck for transport.

Declan

What Happened- An Organiser's Report

Unfortuantely no-one tried a beautiful yellow course, planned by Josh Gilmore - a guy who really knows what a yellow course should look like.

The WEE Wizzard has decreed (rather generously) that missed controls should incur a 10 minute penalty rather than a disqualification. The results include appropriate time penalties for Michelle Rainey (controls 1 and 2), Paul McArthur (controls 1 and 6) and Daphne Hamond (control 11). Possibly Daphne was still suffering trauma following her box being punched in last week's WEE, but I can report that Prof Armstrong punched perfectly this week.

Next week's WEE, the last of the May series, starts from Ballyclare Leisure Centre. Then for June and July, join LVO for Wednesday evening cycling. Contact details are on the main LVO website: www.niorienteering.org/lvo. Don't forget there is Summer Series orienteering this Saturday 21 May at Slieve Croob. Call inf-O-line 07020 963986 for full details.

Finally to all our new faces you can find a membership form at http://www.niorienteering.org.uk/pdfs/2005 Mem form.pdf