Over the last two weeks there have been only a few queries and feedback comments that are of general interest. Most feedback has been specific to a person, we’ll try to address these generally rather than specifically.
PLEASE NOTE: We have been experiencing problems with the National Office internet service provider (ISP) and whilst this does not affect the website and ranking/results system it does mean that when we change the office ISP in several weeks time the old ranking list will become unavailable. If you need to access the old ranking list please do so before 15 March 2010. We apologies for this problem, we had intended to leave the old system active during 2010. We now intend taking a ‘snap-shot’ of the pre-2010 ranking table for displaying on the British Orienteering website but it will be a static display and not interactive.
FAQs
25. My name is spelt incorrectly – personal details are incorrect; can you correct them?
The personal details such as names, year of birth, club are taken from the membership data. Names, spellings etc and year of birth can be corrected by the member logging in to the website using their personal login details and then correcting the error.
26. My results are wrong in a particular event or my BOF number is missing; can you correct them?
We are working through the list of reported errors, but I’m afraid it will take some time as we have to source the result file from the club that organised the event; we then have to correct the file and upload it again.
We are also aware that there are still a couple of significant 2009 events that have not been uploaded; we are doing our best to source these missing results.
If you didn’t use your BOF number to enter an event or if the entry person at the ranking event chose not to enter your BOF number then your score will be calculated and shown in the results but will not be attributed to you for the ranking list. You need to ensure your BOF number is used.
27. The results are wrong please correct them!
For events staged in 2010 you will need to contact the organising club directly to have corrections to results made, the National Office does not hold the result data files.
28. When and how are ranking results uploaded?
Rankings points are automatically calculated through the results of Ranked Events being uploaded into the website, these are shown in the results of an event. The Ranking list is then updated each Thursday.
Club Results Secretaries (CRS) can upload results into the system and each club can nominate up to 4 CRS. Club Chairs are asked to email the National Office with the Name, British Orienteering Membership Number and the Email Address of nominated CRS. CRS will then be sent a user guide and offered support via the National Office.
29. When I filter the ranking list by sex, club or age I would like it to show the ranking list number recalculated to be based on the filter ie if I filter to Male 21s then I want my position based on M21s.
This is not currently possible but may be considered in a future development.
30. Why are adult members awarded ranking points for running the orange course?
All courses are included in the ranking scheme; we appreciate that there are some anomalies and are looking at several changes to the algorithm that should address these. You will appreciate that making changes, testing them and then recalculating the entirety of the results and the ranking list takes time.
31. How are Long courses and Short courses compared in terms of ranking points? Can they be separated out?
As stated in previous FAQs the participants on all courses are compared against the other participants on the same course, whether it is long or short is irrelevant to the comparisons made on each course and both long and short are awarded ranking points. They ranking points for long and short courses cannot be separated out and there are currently no plans to add this facility.
32. M60s running a blue course at a km/sec rate earn less points in an event than M60s running a much shorter green course at the same km/sec rate, surely this is unfair?
The points awarded are based on the average scores of the participants on the course, therefore whilst the speed of participants on two courses can be similar, the rankings points can easily be different. The ranking scheme is based on awarding points by comparing participants on the same course not participants on different courses.
Rankings and Results Feedback – FAQ 29th January 2010
Firstly, many thanks for the feedback we have received regarding the new Results and Ranking System.
1. Why are there incorrect results in the system?
It is worth stressing what was stated last week. Most of the results have been sourced directly from the old ranking system. There are some errors within this data although so far we have reports of only a small number of errors being found. These are being resolved.
There were 2 files that had been uploaded incorrectly these have now been uploaded correctly.
There are 6 other sets of results that had problems, 3 have now been deleted from the system and will be uploaded again if results files can be obtained. The remaining 3 will be uploaded correctly over the next few days.
2. Why is the ranking list changing when it is only supposed to change once a week?
The ranking list is currently being updated as new results are uploaded. This will be necessary only for a few days and then the ranking list will only be updated early Thursday morning each week.
3. Can club officials now upload results?
A user guide is available for registered Club Results Secretaries. Only those people registered by a club will be given access to use the system. If your Club Chair/Secretary has not already registered a Club Results Secretary, please contact the National Office.
4. I have comments or queries about the way in which ranking points are awarded how should I raise them?
5. Are juniors part of the Ranking Scheme?
A short term decision was taken that the Ranking Scheme would initially include those aged 18 and above in the year the competition took place. This decision is being reviewed in conjunction with other British Orienteering Committees and Groups. At present only competitors born in 1992 or earlier will be shown in the Ranking List. The function to filter by those aged 18 will not be fully populated until those born in 1992 have competed in 6 or more ranking events in 2010.
6. What Events are included in the ranking scheme?
The results from all National (Level 1) Events and all Regional (Level 2) Events that are not Night events, Relay, Score and other mass start events will be included in the Single Scale Ranking Scheme. The scheme will include relevant Urban Events. International Events are excluded from the scheme.
7. Can I see my personal scores for past 12 months?
On the old system it was possible to obtain a list of all the ranking scores a person had during the previous 12 month period; this facility is not currently available although is on the list of possible inclusions for a future development phase.
Similarly the facility to link from a score to the relevant set of event results is also being considered for future development.
Rankings and Results Feedback – FAQ 29th January 2010
8. How do I know which events are Ranking Events?
All National and Regional Events that fit the criteria previously stated will be ranking events. These events will be marked on the Fixtures List with an “R” Symbol, following next week’s system update.
9. Will more functionality/filter options be added to the Ranking list?
Yes, more functionality will be added to both the Results and Ranking scheme as part of the second phase of development. This will include the ability see the results from all the events you have entered, as long as results have been uploaded. We have collated all the feedback received for possible future functionality and these will all be considered in due course.
10. Why is Year of Birth displayed?
The year of birth was displayed for several reason; a) it is friendly to both experienced and less experienced participants, b) it enables you to look at those competitors with a similar year of birth, c) it means you understand who is moving out of your age class – or into it, d) because the year of birth is constant it is more meaningful than an age class when the age class may be incorrect for events last year. The small number of people that have commented on the inclusion of year of birth have passed comment about possible security risks but our advice is that the date of birth could be a security risk whilst the year of birth is not.
11. How do I know which events make up my Ranking Score?
To see which events are included in your top 6 ranking events, you need to hover over the scores in the combined scores column. You will then be able to see which event generated the ranking points. To see how your points compared to others at the event, you need to go to the results page and click on your chosen event/course. The ranking points achieved at that event can then be seen.
12. How do I know if the Results have been uploaded into the Ranking System?
If the results are not there the data has not been uploaded.
13. Who is included in the Ranking List?
Both National and Local members are included in the ranking list. However you will only score ranking points if your BOF number has been included within the results file.
14. Who can upload Results?
For ranking events that took place in January, the National Office has been sourcing and uploading the results. Clubs are now being asked to upload the results, with the National Office available to provide assistance.
Clubs are being asked to nominate Club Results Secretaries (CRS) to upload results into the system. Club Chairs should nominate CRS by emailing info@britishorienteering.org.uk
We originally limited each club to two CRS so that we could offer sufficient support. However we are now in a position to extend that to 4 CRS per Club (if required). We have also offered Associations the opportunity to nominate Association Results Secretaries, who could upload results for any events that took place within their Association.
15. How soon should Clubs upload results into the system after a ranking event has taken place?
While training of CRS is taking place and the system is bedding in, we are quite flexible. However, once the system is established we would expect Ranking Results to be uploaded within 7 days as stated within Appendix K: The Rankings Scheme.
16. Do Clubs have to upload Local Event Results?
Local Events are not included within the Ranking scheme and it is therefore not essential for Clubs to upload their Local Event Results into the system. However we have consistently received requests from members to develop a page where all results can be archived in a single place. We would therefore encourage Clubs to upload their Local Event Results. The uploading of these results is done in exactly the same way as the uploading for Ranking events. We fully appreciate that clubs have their own website and we are in no way wishing clubs to stop publishing their results on their site – in fact we strongly believe that they should. We have no plans to add SplitsBrowser, Routegadget to the British Orienteering Results system so results on club websites definitely add benefit.
17. Who is responsible for rectifying errors in the results?
The National Office is correcting (where possible) result errors found for 2009 National Events and Regional Events that were uploaded into the old ranking scheme. We will also try and correct errors found in other Regional Events that took place in 2009. As the ranking list is a rolling system that uses the last 12 months of results we have taken the decision to concentrate on supporting clubs with uploading events for 2010, and will therefore spend a limited amount of time correcting errors from 2009. As CRS become adept at using the system, the responsibility for correcting errors in results will become their responsibility. Obviously any errors caused by the software will be the responsibility of the National Office to correct.
18. Why are some courses missing from 2009 Event Results?
Many of the results were imported from the old ranking scheme. The old ranking scheme only uploaded courses for M/W18 and above and excluded information about the colour coded courses.
19. What event have had result errors reported?
The errors reported for events vary from a query about a single participant, to courses being mistakenly combined or missing. The events that have had errors reported are:
· British Sprint Championships (These missing results will be uploaded next week)
· OD Sutton Park (Individual query)
· WAOC Thretford Park (Individual query)
· 2009 British Champs (Individual error on W50L)
· Compass Sport Cup, Shouldham (Individual error)
· Haslingden Grane, SELOC (Course error)
· Midland Championships (Colour coded courses missing)
· SOL Events (Course errors)
· Tay Event (Course error)
20. How does an event organiser obtain a seeding file?
21. Can I see all of my results and scores? Can I see other people’s consolidated results?
The second phase of the system will allow participants to check personal score and will therefore be able to help you analyse your performances over an extended period. It is not yet decided whether or not you will be able to see similar information on results for other members.
We will not be providing score calculations on every event and the personal average score will not be shown although the personal results will enable you to calculate it fairly easily.
Algorithm Questions
22. Older competitors (M35, M40) are compared to younger competitors (M18, M20) on a course
Yes the new Single Scale Ranking Scheme compares the result of every member of British Orienteering running the same physical course. Although this does lead to the comparison above it does not appear to significantly disadvantage people although the longer the system runs the easier it will be to spot issues if they exist. We will be keeping an eye on this issue for future consideration.
23. Why do people get 0 points?
If you run a course and your time is long it is possible that your finishing time when processed could earn you negative points! To prevent this happening there is a score minimum of ‘0’ that can be awarded.
24. Do I have to run on the recommended ‘age class’ colour course to gain ranking points?
No you can enter any of the courses and you will be compared to the results of the other runners on the course. Some people have already commented what a massive benefit this is, they can now choose the course that is appropriate to them and still compete for ranking points.
This does mean that if a W40 entered one colour course and another W40 entered a different colour course they could each receive ranking points but not by directly competing against one another.
Therefore it is correct to say that the recommendation of which Colour Course any particular Age Class should run is now less important; you can still score ranking points by entering a different Colour Course. |
