Bits and Pieces
By Stig Skarborn in Fredericton
New Brunswick Orienteering Championships
Several participants on Course 7 and 8 had considerable problems with
a control on a cliff located approximately 1/3 of the way through the
courses. Detailed checking of the control area after the event
revealed parallel features which were not correctly represented on the
map. While it was decided to let the results stand, the event will
not be used when determining rankings for the purpose of establishing
provincial squad status.
The Remarkable Success of the New Brunswick Elite
What a year! Just look at some of the results from the COCs below:
On top of the above great results, with several very tight battles
decided by seconds, the Fundy Falcon team of Mike Smith, Doug Mahoney,
Sandy Smith and Wil Smith won the relays. On the basis of the COC's
being a selection race for the Canadian National Team, Wil and Sandy
were selected to the team which will be competing in Norway for the
World Championships next year, along with fellow Maritimer Pam James,
and Catherine Hagen, Mike Waddington and Brian Graham. Up to two more
men and women will be selected based on a two- day A-meet to be held
in the spring in NE USA. I would think Doug, Mike and Cherie all have
exceptionally good chances to make the team also if they train
diligently over the winter.
In addition to the above, several of the same individuals turned in
excellent results at the American Roundup held in New York immediately
after the COCs and continued their great performance in the fall where
a Canadian team won the North American Cup at the North American
Championships held in the St. Louis area. I believe the Cup is
awarded to the team with the best finishers in the men's and women's
elite categories. In this event Pam James won an astounding 5 out of
6 races.
We may have to start plans for a trip to Norway in order to cheer our
Canadian team on next summer.
Are You Moose Enough???
Set aside the weekend of May 17-18, 1997 to truly punish your body for
6 or 24 hours by participating in the first major rogaine to be held
in the Maritimes. For details see the enclosed flyer. A rogaine
involves a tremendous amount of effort in preparation. Therefore note
that entries must be received by Monday, May 12. This is very brave
of the organizers. Show them your appreciation of being adventurous
enough to put on such an event by planning to attend now and by
registering as early as you can.
Orienteering North America
Do you want to keep up to date with orienteering, read regular
articles on subjects such as "Developing Your Skills"
or "Nutrition",
and see the results from major O-meets? A great Christmas present
would be (would have been - Ed.) ORIENTEERING NORTH AMERICA. One can
subscribe to it by filling in the form at the bottom of the page.
(Note to Web readers: Sorry. I forgot to convert the subscription
form.)
UNB Woodlot Map Update
According to a recent telephone conversation with Lyman Jones, his
work contract was extended until after Christmas. We have his pledge
to finish the field work in the spring and therefore have the map
ready by June 1, 1997. This should enable us to hold an inaugural
meet on it in the fall.
Web Pages
The COF home page can be found at
http://www.merak.com/users/jimgw/cof/main.html-ssi.
What I found especially interesting there the last time I checked was
the extensive OCAD mapping program information. It is well worth
visiting for anyone who uses the mapping software. There are more
problems with OCAD than I ever imagined, which just goes to show how
talented those of you who regularly use it are. Another interesting
page is
http://www.ts.umu.se/inbjeng.html where you can find the
information on the 1997 Swedish 5-day O-ringen competition, the
world's largest orienteering meet to be held in the northern city of
Umea.
Membership Program
For many years the COF has identified membership growth as a priority,
but at best we have maintained the status quo. No concrete plan has
been established and followed in the years I have been involved in
orienteering. It is therefore suggested that the following program be
initiated in each province, including New Brunswick, in order to allow
orienteering to grow, become stronger, and become more financially
viable:
Step 1) Solicit a volunteer to be responsible as an instigator and
resource person for Provincial Membership Growth, through the
implementation of this Membership Program. If need be, solicit club
counterparts.
Step 2) Immediately identify those within your province who can teach
orienteering or can be encouraged to do so. Approach them personally
on an individual basis and ask if they would be willing to teach an
orienteering class in the spring. DO NOT forget talented older
teenagers. DO consider paying them for teaching = coaching.
Step 3) Have a program THIS WINTER to implement NCCP Coaching Clinics
for all instructors who do not have this accreditation. Encourage
anyone teaching orienteering to participate, or anyone who can be
encouraged to teach. Consider having provincial associations paying
the fees for new coaches. ADVERTISE the clinic in the press through
press releases, suggesting that it would be suitable for teachers who
may want to introduce orienteering in their schools and for others
such as recreational personnel active in the community who have an
interest in a healthy, outdoor, family oriented activity (Appendix A -
Draft Advertisement to be available through E-mail to any club or
provincial association).
Step 4) Run clinics for BEGINNERS and INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED orienteers
in the SPRING, and possibly also the fall. The clinic format should
be SIX 1.5-2 hour long sessions and be held in EVENINGS during the
week (Appendix B - Teaching Plan). The clinic costs should include at
least a recreational membership in the provincial association for
beginners and a full membership for the intermediate/advanced group.
(What is included will vary from province to province depending on
their fee structure).
Try to arrange pre-registration through your community recreation
department but also have registration at the clinic. Have HELPERS
available at the clinic so that you can avoid delays and provide
assistance to varying skill and age levels).
DO NOT put a number on the minimum number of attendees. Hold the
clinic for whoever shows up. Participation for the next term will
grow. ADVERTISE THE CLINIC WEEKLY and tailor instruction so that you
can start participating anytime, even if you have missed one or more
earlier sessions.
Step 5) In New Brunswick, I believe that we are losing too many
orienteers through:
- not having enough informal fun events such as Street-O's and other
non-traditional events;
- making courses too hard, clearly violating A- and B-meet course
winning time criteria and standards;
- not having all meets properly controlled and control locations
field vetted; and
- using maps which are of questionable quality.
The answers are obvious: try to hold more FUN type events, adhere to
course setting criteria when running traditional A and B meets, use a
CONTROLLER and vetters (if at all possible), UPDATE or scrap poor
maps, and be very judicious where controls are placed during an event.
The terrain at, or in the vicinity of, the attack points and control
must be correct.
Appendix A
not started
Appendix B
not started
Conclusion
Please forward comments and suggestions for improvement to the above
suggested programme. Also, if you are willing to help run clinics in
any community where we have orienteering maps (Alma, Bathurst,
Edmundston, Fredericton, Grand Falls/Plaster Rock, Hillsborough,
Kouchibouguac, Moncton, Oromocto, Saint John, Sussex, Woodstock)
contact Stig Skarborn at:
E-Mail:
skarborn@brunswickmicro.nb.ca
1996 Swedish 5-Days
The budget for this year's event was CAN$4.5 million. Over 3,000
foreigners participated, including Doug and Cheri Mahoney from
Hillsborough. The organizers were accused of making many courses too
tough for the recreational orienteer. (Where have I heard this
before?) The cost of medical services during the event was
CAN$60,000. The medics had over 200 patients. Apart from three
broken legs, a hornet's nest was the worst cause of injuries (I had
that happen at Woolastook, where a young lady tried swallowing a
hornet. Not good.)
Provincial Team Members
After appraisal of the results from ranking meets held during the 1996
orienteering season, the following individuals have been named to the
Provincial Team and the Development Pools by the Provincial Coaching
Committee (David Cameron, Bryan McEwing and Stig Skarborn).
A Pool - Provincial Team
Doug Mahoney, Wil Smith, Sandy Smith, Jeff Mahoney, Michael Smith,
Cherie Mahoney, Graham St-Laurent, Alex Whaley, Heather Smith,
Victoria Smith, Victoria Whaley, and Charles Smith.
B Pool
Gregory Cameron, Kathleen Cameron, Rachel St-Laurent,
Timothy Davidson, Daniel Smith, and Ann Hughes
C Pool
Jonathan Smith, Michael Burns, Kathleen Smith, Roisin Whaley,
Lucy Hughes and Graham Smith
This page is maintained by:
Benjamin Lee.
Last updated: 1997-05-25