Event Report

Please check your results carefully for spelling/club/age group/correct timing and score, and let us know asap of any errors. If your score is not what you were expecting, and you don't feature in the wrong-answers list, one of us has made a mistake.

Don't forget that if you can't make a particular event, you can get the map and questions from Grahame , and run by yourself before or after the day, and have your score included.

Wrong answers at Knutsford NSL

Controls for which wrong answers were received are listed below – along with the number of people who got them wrong, and the answers given. I haven’t published the names of those involved. The number of controls affected is significantly higher than is normal, and we can’t lay all the blame on those (much-maligned) lamp posts. The conditions were slightly more challenging than usual, and I heard many bemoaning the failure of their eyesight, pens, and memory when trying to decipher their answer sheets prior to handing them in for marking. It was a tough job for the marking team too, as we tried to ensure that all hieroglyphics were translated into points.

We debated long and hard over all the wrong answers and have tried to be fair to everyone in our judgements. I know there will be some who disagree with our decisions, but if it’s any consolation, the NSL co-ordinator couldn’t persuade the jury to accept a typo on #69, even though his RG trace goes through the control.

I am grateful to Steve and Peter who did the usual great job before, during and after the event. Steve has published his Planner’s comments and has offered to provide more detailed analysis to individuals if they contact him directly.

Next event in Macclesfield in a couple of weeks’ time – let’s hope for better weather!

Grahame (NSL Co-ordinator)

“Wrong ‘uns”

#22 (correct answer 11); One person (10)

#24 (29); 1 person (23)

#27 (93); 3 people (7), (92), (91)

#29 (7); 1 person (8)

#30 (12); 1 person (2); points allowed after review

#32 (1C); 4 people (3 10s + 1 12); points allowed for 3 10s after review

#35 (3); 3 people (4), (2), (4)

#36 (25); 2 people (10), (10)

#37 (20p); 10 people affected (all given 30 points)

#38 (10); 1 person (9)

#39 (85); 1 person (84)

#41 (4); 2 people (3), (3)

#45 (3); 1 person (2)

#46 (2.30); 1 person (8.30)

#48 (6); 1 team (5); points allowed after review

#50 (760; 1 team and 9 others (20), (73), (39), (74), (75), (79). (41)

#51 (2); 1 person (1); points allowed after review

#52 (03); 1 person (02)

#54 (2); 1 person (1)

#57 (7); 1 person (3)

#60 (3); 1 person (2)

#63 (51); 1 team and 2 others (53), (3), (42)

#69 (25); 1 series co-ordinator (35)

#72 (2); 1 team and 1 other (4). (3)

#74 (26); 1 person (32)

#77 (78); 1 person (12)

Planner's Comments

Thanks you all for coming along to the Knutsford NSL event despite the atrocious conditions.  From comments I overheard in the pub, most of you seemed to have enjoyed yourselves despite the rain.  Oh what a strange group of people we orienteers are!

Unfortunately there were a large number of incorrect answers provided – far more than I would have liked and I must apologise if the control sites selected did not appear distinct enough on the map.  The most serious situation related to #37 (“Cost of Toilet”).  This was clearly displayed on the notice board at entrance to the park two weeks prior to the event.  Unfortunately the council had subsequently posted notices on the board that obscured the toilet information.  We have decided to allow the 30 pts to anyone who wrote a comment in the box to #37 and also to anyone who visited both #77 & #20 (on the basis that they would be most unlikely to miss out #37).  However the lack of an answer will have caused many of you loss of time and considerable frustration for which I must again apologise.

As far as other “incorrect” answers are concerned we have discussed each of them in great detail (including measurement of the exact distance between the correct and incorrect feature).

The “incorrect” answers for the following controls have not been allowed:-

#22, #24, #27, #29, #35, #36, #38, #39, #41, #45, #46, #50, #52, #54, #57, #60, #63, #69, #72, #74, #77

The “incorrect” answers for the following controls have been allowed and points will be credited to the appropriate individuals:-

#30, #32 (answer “10” only), #37 (as described above), #48, #51

I have not included the reasons for the above decisions as my discussion report on the subject extended to 3 pages of closely typed text.  However I am quite prepared to explain the rationale behind any of the decisions – please contact me by e-mail () or phone 01928-787397.

I have been involved in a considerable amount of discussion recently concerning how lenient we should be in marking answer sheets and, as you would expect, there is a wide spectrum of views on the subject.  The decisions relating to the Knutsford event have been made jointly by myself and the Checker (Peter Ross).  We had a good healthy debate about a number of answer sheet errors and we believe we have reached the most sensible compromise.  Again I am most sorry if you feel you have been unduly penalised.

This was my first attempt (after 40 years orienteering) at planning a “street-O event” and I must thank the following people for their superb support in the preparations leading up to the event:-

• Ian Gilliver for his excellent base map of Knutsford and for organizing the pub venue (super food!)
• Grahame Crawshaw for providing a tremendous amount of helpful support to myself as a novice NSL planner
• Peter Ross (Checker) for his wise words of wisdom relating to the event and for all his active encouragement.

Finally a big thank you to all the MDOC & DEE helpers who ensured the event ran smoothly and in particular those brave stalwarts who stayed out in the heavy rain manning the Start/Finish.

Steve Ingleby

Pre Event Info

Venue: The Legh Arms, Brook Street, Knutsford WA16 8EB

Register 6.00 to 7.00pm. Starts 6.30 to 7.30pm. Fee £3/£1.50.

Score event with 40 minute, 60 minute or 75 minute time limit. Under 16s MUST be accompanied by an adult. 16 and 17 year olds can compete alone but ONLY with written consent from parent/guardian. Lights essential (+ back-up). High-visibility clothing compulsory.

Further information on the format and event schedule, including tips for beginners, can be found on the Night Street League Series 2016-17 page.

Additional information from the organiser

Map updater and planner Steve Ingleby (of DEE) has provided the following information:

The pub has a small car park, so we request that you park on Legh Road,  which branches off the main A537 a few metres to the south of the Legh Arms, taking care not to block any entrances.

Due to the pub's location on the busy A537 Chelford Road (to Macclesfield), the Start/Finish will be located some 150m from the pub. The recommended route to the Start/Finish will be signed & taped. 

A chicken curry and rice is available @ £5/head.  Vegetarians (and others) will also be able to select suitable meals from the standard menu. 

Reserving a map and food

We are required to pay for the curry order beforehand, so please let Grahame Crawshaw  have your reservations for maps and curry by no later than 21:59 on Thursday 3rd November. 

Location

Nearest town: Knutsford

• Grid Ref: SJ757782
• Postcode: WA16 8EB
• Latitude: 53.30020
• Longitude: -2.36551
• Google Map
• Streetmap (OS 50k)
• Bing Map (OS 50k)
• OpenStreetMap

Registration & Start Times

Register 6.00 to 7.00pm. Starts 6.30 to 7.30pm. Fee £3/£1.50.

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Steve Ingleby (DEE)
Checker: Peter Ross

Series Co-ordinator: Grahame Crawshaw (0145 786 6264; mob 0758 720 6420)

Enquiries to 

Safety and Risk

A comprehensive risk assessment will have been carried out by the organiser, but participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety during the event.

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