ORIENTEERING CANADA Published by the Canadian Orienteering Federation -- Box 62052. Convent Glen P.O. Orleans, Ontario, K1C 71-18 E-MAIL [email protected] Tel: (613) 830-1147 FAX: (613) 830-0456 OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE CANADIAN ORIENTEERING FEDERATION Vol. 28 No. 2 SUMMER 1999 ISSN 0227-6658 CONTENTS EDITORIAL Front Cover 1 Editorial 1 A New Team for Orienteering North America 1 This issue of the magazine has been expanded to double Orienteering Standards and Guidelines 2 Beginner Instruction • 3 the usual size to allow inclusion of complete Canadian COF Drops 4-5 Championships and GLOF results and also results from International Cartographic Assoc. Orienteering Event 5 the 1999 World Orienteering Championships. As these Map Award Winner 5 events were being held only a month apart the decision was Comments from the COC Controllers 6 A GLOF '99 Six Day Retrospective 7-9 made to delay publication of Orienteering Canada until Canadian Championship Results 10 after the WOC. The Fall issue will revert to the normal 16- Eastern Canadian Championship Results 16-18 20 pages. GLOF-99 Six Day Results 19-25 WOC Classic Final 26 WOC Short Final 27 COC features are presented in two very different formats: Relay Results 28 Controller Comments; GLOF' 99 Six Day Retrospective. 1999 World Championship • 29-31 The COC controllers, Jim Waddington and Julie De Pass National Junior Training Camp 32 COF Ombudsman 32 submitted reports to the COF that focus on the Performance Enhancing Substance 33-34 organization of the championships and the people who Sanctioned 'A' Meet Schedule 34 make them work. In the GLOF Six Day Retrospective, Items for Sale 35 Bill Anderson, 'walks us through' his 6 days. A section of COF and Association Contacts 36 one of the GLOF maps is included. A New Team for Orienteering North America The bulk of the WOC results and information were obtained from the Norwegian web site N3sport who were Earlier this year, the publishers of ONA, Larry and Sara able to obtain and post results much quicker then the Mae Berman, advised they would cease publishing the organizers. With the Norwegian team performing so well magazine with the July 1999 issue their final issue, Although the N3sport administrators were sometimes carried away a private publication, ONA has served as the official with their success but they provided outstanding coverage magazine ofthe United states Orienteering Federation for ofthe competitions and related news stories. the past 15 years. From a Canadian perspective, the wonderful 20" place by A search for a new publisher resulted in Donna Fluegel being the successful applicant. Donna willbe the primary Pam James in the WOC Short is the best result by a publisher with support from her husband, Steve. USOF Canadian since the 1985 WOC in Australia when Ted de will continue to use ONA as their official magazine. St Croix and Denise Demonte placed 10" and 18" in the Classic (there was no Short Distance prior to 1991). This The new publishers live in Wilton, Connecticut, and are was Pam's 5" WOC and by coincidence Ted's 10" place members of the Western Connecticut 0 club. also came in his 5" WOC. CANADIAN SHORT DISTANCE ORIENTEERING STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES by Geraint Edmunds Standards - fast terrain with good runnability 1. Short 0 courses shall require a high level of not hilly concentration throughout the courses with detailed map reading and frequent decision making. availability ofmany small or point features as control locations 2. The target wining times shall be 25 minutes for all categories, except the M20 category which shall have a fairly dense trail network is a plus, provided that a target winning time of 30 minutes, and the M/F 12 offtrail running is easy categories which shall have a target winning time of 20 minutes. To achieve Standard 2, above, the course lengths for the various categories should probably fall within the following 3. For courses 2 and 3 (advanced beginner and ranges, depending upon the climb and the speed of the intermediate courses) control features, handrails and terrain. catching features shall use the same course planning criteria as for Classic Distance events, but course lengths category course length range km and leg letigths should be reduced to meet the F65 1.8 1.8 requirements of concentration and winning times. F55 1.8 2.0 F45 1.8 2.2 4. For course 1 (Beginner course) the course planning M65 1.8 2.4 criteria should be the same as for the Classic Distance F17-19 2.0 2.4 event. F35 2.1 2.5 M55 2.2 2.7 Guidelines M45 2.5 3.2 F20 2.8 3.6 To achieve standard 1, above; M35 2.7 3.7 M17-19 3.0 3.8 The courses should have the following attributes; M20 4.3 5.3 a variety of leg lengths between 100 m and 375 m Considering the large overlap of some of these ranges, the long course planner has some flexibility in grouping categories on the different courses. The following might be a - average leg length between 230m and 275 m. reasonable arrangement. - significant changes in direction at most controls, F45, F55, F65 1.7 - 2.0 km averaging 55 to 75 degrees. M55, M65, F35, F17 - 19 2.0 - 2.5 km controls on small point features for advanced courses. M35, M45, F20, M17 - 19 2.7 - 3.6 km - for the M20 category include one or two longer M20 4.3 - 5.3 km legs of 500 to 700 m to allow some route choice, This will increase the average leg length for this If necessary, the two short courses could be considered in category. the 2.0 - 2.3 km range. The map and terrain must, as far as possible, have the The background to these Standards and Guidelines is following attributes; provided in the "Supporting document for Standards for Short Distance Orienteering in Canada" July 1999. This - a 1: 10,000 scale map supporting document also provides a discussion of other aspects of short Distance Orienteering, such as "Seeding", - technical terrain with good contour detail "Start Intervals", "Spectator Controls" etc. BEGINNER INSTRUCTION Most orienteering meet flyers include statements that Lesson I - Compass instruction. Taking a bearing; orienting "Newcomers Welcome", or "Beginner Instruction the map, safety bearing. Newcomers are eager to learn Available". Organized instruction is seldom available. how to use a compass and feel more confident of going Instruction usually consists of the meet organizer or into the woods with the knowledge they can use a compass. registration official asking someone to spend a few minutes explaining what is going on and what orienteering is. Lesson 2 - Map legend and feature identification. A map walk provides a great deal of information. e.g. re-entrant The introduction to orienteering for most newcomers is a - how it is shown on the map and how it looks in the terrain. local club ' B' meet. These meets are generally organized Same thing for knolls, spurs, depressions, etc. by 2-3 officials who have many tasks to handle: registration, time-keeping, checking control cards, posting results etc. Lesson 3 - Symbolic Control descriptions. Map walk Newcomer instruction is not usually included in the job with copies of written & symbolic descriptions. Visit description of a ' B' meet official. selected sites and discuss how the control location appears in the terrain and described in written and symbolic format. Newcomers may receive a 10 -15 minutes introduction on control markers, control codes, punches, control Lesson 4 - Orienteering techniques (course 2 +). Hand descriptions and a few other basic points. Newcomers are rails; catching features; basic route route - trails or compass; invariably informed: "you learn orienteering by doing", climb versus long way around. "getting lost is half the fun".. It is recommended 'Beginner instruction' be held in This 10-15 minutes of instruction is often the only instruction conjunction with a regular meet. This eliminates need of ever received by newcomers and long time participants alike. another trip; reduces work of instructor (maps, controls Some members are making very basic errors after several already available); instruction given on map/area newcomer years in the sport. There is little formal instruction available will participate in (familiar terrain); permits technique to learn proper techniques. learned to be practised in meet. Lack of coaching/instruction for all levels, beginner to elite, It is not necessary that the same person be responsible for is the weakest area of orienteering in Canada. Associations all sessions. Instructors can be determined in the same and clubs organize good meets but do a less than satisfactory manner as meet directors and course planners. When job of providing instruction. preparing meet schedules for next year include Beginner Instruction in the planning process. A Beginner Instruction program should be developed and offered at every 'B' meet. The program should consist of a Beginner Instruction modules can be repeated. Given at number of modules covering the basic skills required to Spring meets and again at Fall meets. This provides complete courses at least one level above Beginner. additional opportunities for persons unable to attend a Modules should be 30-45 minutes and offered 1 hour before session to attend at a later date. the meet start. Meet flyers can include an item: 'Instruction available one hour prior to registration'. Associations and clubs may already have a Beginner Instruction program and are invited to forward details to A possible four module instruction program. the COF office for publication in a future issue of Orienteering Canada. Lesson 1 - Basic information. Registration procedures; control markers & punches; control cards; control Let's make sure that newcomers to orienteering become descriptions; master maps; whistles, reporting to finish.