From: Paola Mancini <hvcma@tin.it>
Date: Mon, 25 Oct 1999 16:57:54 +0200
Subject: Information about Trail O.
Message-Id: <38146FF2.992F0391@tin.it>

I' m an italian pysical education teacher specializing in sport
for the disabled at The Rome University, I'm particulary interested
in Trail Orienteering, which is going to be my thesis sybject
Unfortunately Trail O. competitions does not take place in Italy,
I Know the I.O.F.  rules, and I read the  book of Anne Breaggins,
(the Chairman of Trail O Committee) but I'd like some information about
trail O in your Country, how many Trail O. evnts .? Hoy many  competitor
?
How many class ?
Sorry for my English!, and thank you very much for your kind attention!
 
                               Paola Mancini
                                E-mail: hvcma@tin.it

From: you@somehost.somedomain (speck)
Date: 26 Oct 1999 07:50:23 GMT
Subject: Re: How many Day-of-Entry maps to print
Message-Id: <7v3mfv$sgc$1@pheidippides.axion.bt.co.uk>

In article <199910260018.UAA32594@hannah.msc.cornell.edu>, 
ensmith@ccmr.cornell.edu says...
>
>I'd be willing to bet that this particular aspect of human behaviour
>has a strong statistical correlation with the weather on the day,
>which in many areas can be considered a complete unknown a few days
>before the event.  On the other hand, the marginal cost of the extra
>maps (which are, if unused at the event, worthless for anything
>afterwards but training events or use as stationery) is only a few
>pennies apiece, and the total cost for producing lots of spares for
>every course will be paid for easily by a doubled entry fee for
>on-the-day entry by even a very small number of runners.
>
>Eric Smith
>
Interesting logic.    We must print extra maps but must recover
cost,  therefore we double eod.    I would expect the result of that 
would be even less eod and so costs aren't recovered.... so threble
eod...  so less eod    ...  until the single poor eod ends up with
a bill for #174.00.....

This attitude by some in the sport against eod does make us seem very 
bureaucratic and unfriendly.... is its suprising we can't 
attract and retain newcomers to the sport.    We seem to be chasing
more and more technology and organisation and loosing sight of
the fact that Orienteering at its best is essentially about having
as good a map and course as the available area can allow and letting
as many people as possible have an interesting run on a Sunday 
morning.

Simon P


PS   If anyone want's this I've planned an event just north of Ipswich
(Shrubland estate,   SP N & S from A14,  entry by Timberyard on old A140)
on Sunday which has (a) only eod
                    (b) master maps (and 2nd master maps on 2 courses)
                    (c) courses from 2km to 9.9 km  (white to brown)
                    (d) brand new maps (survey to 30/9/99)
                    (e) entry fee of only #2.50 /#1.00
                    (f) me praying for a dry day to make it more pleasant