Just wondering if I\'m alone in thinking that the M50L course length of 5.2 km is too short. I\'d be expecting a course for our class at a Leinster Champs. to be around 7 km.

Paul, this is part of an overall issue. So rather than solely dealing with this specific case/course it would be also worth having a general discussion on championship course lengths as I think the issue arises with other classes as well. Adjusted course lengths are guided by IOA guidelines. Adjusted course length is length plus 10x climb, which means that provisional course 4 (M50 & other classes) adjusted length is 7.8. (5.2km 10x260m)

The guided adjusted course lengths are a ratio of course 1 (M21E) which is 18km. (Will probably be about 17km but using 18km for calculation for other courses)

So the critical figure here is the ratio figure. The guidelines are being reviewed and a draft was published in early January. We are using this first draft for the Leinster Champs. This first draft was discussed at the Major Events conference later in Jan and following this a 2nd draft was done. This is available here
I believe this draft is being folowed for IOC2015 long distance.

The original (last year) guidelines had recommended winning time of 60-70 minutes and ratio of 0.49, so if M21E adjusted length is 18km then this would make 8.8km adjusted lenght for M50.

The early Jan draft guidelines that we are following has recommended winning time of 60 minutes and ratio of 0.41 giving adjusted length of 7.4km

The late Jan draft guidelines has recommended winning time of 55 minutes and ratio of 0.46 giving adjusted length of 8.3km

Currently course 4 adjusted length is in between at 7.8km

So this is the reasoning for the lenghts.

Looking at my own class, which is course 3 it seems shorter than what I\'d expect as well though the ratio for it has actually increased in the draft.
Last year 0.49
Early Jan draft 0.53
Late Jan draft 0.52

Paul, I don\'t think you\'ll be alone in your feelings that their course is short. I don\'t know if there will be significant amendments to the Leinster Champs courses but I\'ve just thought that it may be worth asking for feedback from each competitor afterwards. This to compliment the IOA questionnaire last month

Just has discussion with controller and course lengths focussing on courses 3, 4 & 5 will be reviewed. May be a few days before there\'s anything definite.

Angus could he look at all the lengths? Course 6 looks extremely short too, even with the climb

Yes Eileen, I probably shouldn\'t have mentioned specific courses. The only courses that are signed off are the Oakwood courses, which are 9, 10, 12 & 13.
Some of the classes on course 6 have had high winning times in recent years and this may have influenced the low ratio in the guidelines.

I know that a lot of research, looking at previous championship results went into the drafting of revised guidelines.
We\'re working on a raito of 0.27 for course 6. This has been further reduced to 0.26 in the late January draft.
The guidelines last year suggested a ratio of 0.3 for the classes on course 6, more than 10% longer

I\'ll mention here that entrants can change class until 8th April. Just in the case that course length influence the class entered.