|
First test run employing the "selective parallel start system"
Dear friends,
please find hereunder my report on the first test run of the "selective parallel start system"
employed during the international German ARDF Championship held near Buckow east of Berlin on August 12 and 13, 2000.
Foreword :
The draft of the New ARDF Rules provides in part B, annex no. 5, for categories with more than 40 participants that two runners of that category start together. To minimize "following" of the two sportsmen during the competition a selective system arranges that a "top-runner" starts together with a "non-top-runner".
So far the experience with selective parallel start systems at ARDF competitions is rather small. Having obtained the consent of the IARU Reg. I Executive Committee first test runs were to be arranged at the international German ARDF Championship near Buckow east of Berlin on August 12 and 13, 2000. Thanks to the visit of many ARDF friends from a large number of Region I - societies about 100 participants started on 144 and 3,5 Mhz. Compared to the numbers at World or Regional Championships this is rather small, of course, but the system was tested successfully and without any problem.
As the "critical number" of 40 participants could not be reached the three categories seniors, OT and women with 31, 20 and 21 participants were started according to the new system by reducing the critical number from 40 to 20. The positions of missing participants were filled by "blanks", a necessity which can arise with 40 and more participants as well.
The devision into "top-runners" and "non-top-runners" was done by selection of the various sportsmen considering their usual performance at local or international competitions.
Evaluation :
Employing the data provided by the electronic marking system at the transmitters the new programme written by Karl-Heinz Schade, DL 7 VDB permits a detailed study on the proceedings in the forest. These data are completed by informations provided by the guards at the transmitters and by my observations when wandering through the terrain during the two competitions.
a) Following : there is only one case worth a discussion : two seniors, Kai Buchhold and Victor Tzenkov started together at 10.05 in the 144 Mhz competition. From the start to transmitters no. 3 to 1 to 2 and 4 they run very close to each other but then seperated choosing different courses to transmitter no. 5 and the finish. K. Buchhold finished in 85:11 and V. Tzenkov in 94:42. Kai comments his run as follows : "I have been running to all transmitters by myself reaching some a little later and some a little earlier than Victor but I cannot remember having seen Victor on my course between the transmitters."
There are no reports from the transmitter guards on the subject of following. Although I did my best to see competitors running in the terrain I have had a hard time to see more than a few. They were all running as singles. The situation near the transmitters has been different, of course, but this is not unusual.
b) Concentration of competitors in the terrain : it is obvious that the reduction of the start period provides for more competitors in the terrain during the competition. Nevertheless the concentration of runners at the various transmitters was quite normal, e.g. of 98 participants in the 3,5 Mhz competition reached 26 tx no. one in the active minute, 36 in minute two., 15 in three, 10 in four and 11 in the fifth minute. The situation at the other transmitters was similar.
Also the statistics on arrival of the various participants at the transmitters during ten-minute periods show a single maximum of 12 and an average of perhaps 7 or 8 runners, figures which are considered as standard. For larger events, as World Championships with 300 runners and more one must consider that the start period will be twice as long as in Buckow and the above figures might rise to 50% higher values. But even these should not reduce the fairness of a competition. If the terrain is of a certain size and allows transmitter placing to offer route choice for all categories the concentration of runners at the transmitters becomes of secondary importance.
This test-run was carried out successfully but others should follow. An excellent opportunity should be the Region I ARDF Championship in France next year. Please let me suggest to obtain again the Reg.I EC's permission and let us try to obtain more fundamental data to verify the practicability of the parallel start-system.
vy 73, Karl-Heinz Mols, DL 9 ME
|
