Below is an email that I\'ve already sent to the Leinster council members

Hi Val,

I am no expert on matching technical and physical standards to the recommended colour courses. This was a topic of discussion at an IOA planning/controlling workshop in 2009; there is a presentation still available here: http://www.orienteering.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ioa_p_c_workshop_5_dec_09.ppt&ei=O1v2U4CyBImG4gS-0YCgDA&usg=AFQjCNFfbf4voHXdQhNfyS-zYgALZb4W_A&sig2=BuKRDKCLOF1C-rChHDA8FA&bvm=bv.73373277,d.bGE&cad=rj a">Planning and Controlling workshop dec 09

However, that map that you posted looks like a very difficult area to send a complete beginner out on. The course itself looks like easy navigation, but only to someone who has a grasp of the map symbols, can interpret contours and use a compass. I would say it is TD 3.

In my experience (and I\'m sure yours and others), when complete beginners arrive at registration, they tend to want to choose a course based on perceived physical difficulty (i.e. length and climb), as they haven\'t yet had enough experience with the different types of technical difficulty. Unless the planner or controller (someone who has seen the courses) is present at registration to talk with them and steer them to the appropriate course, unfortunately they all too often end up on a course that is too technically difficult, and they have a terrible time. Add in a good soaking on the open mountain, and this tends to turn all but the most stubborn people off orienteering for good!

I would actually discourage first-timers from going out onto an area like this. Maybe I misunderstood, and you are aiming the Red at improvers rather than complete beginners?

All the best,
Rob
CorkO

Hi Val,

That\'s a great idea and long overdue. It should make orienteering much easier to market to the likes of IMRA etc. but it will take time to bed in so I wouldn\'t be surprised if numbers are low during the first season. However, with a bit of perseverence hopefully it\'ll pay off.

As you mention, Mall Hill is a very challenging area for beginners but I think your suggested course is good. It follows the ridge line and presumably the controls will be on obvious features and easy to see from a distance. If planners wanted, they could even reduce the number of controls to allow participants to spend more time running and less time navigating, but again this depends on the area and how easy the features are to see.

To the Leinster Councillors, I\'m sure Gavan has mentioned it, but the IMRA Nav Challenge series (for which he is League Director) are about to take off and interest is running high. It would be an ideal time for clubs to market their new courses on the respective IMRA race pages (assuming all his competitors survive)!

Stuart.

Hi Val,

I don\'t think that course would count as red. I certainly wouldn\'t class it as TD3. Here\'s my attempt (in blue). It\'s half the climb and I believe the correct level of technical difficulty. Route is intended to be counter-clockwise. Obviously an examination of the control sites might require changes. Feel free to critique!

The specification for TD3 from the O.ie site states:

More variation in leg length
Frequent controls on short courses less so on longer ones
Any line feature, prominent point, or contour feature that can be easily found from an Attack Point on a line feature
Basic use of compass to allow short cuts between line features

Able to navigate short legs on rough compass bearings to a control, at or in front of a line feature
Able to make simple route choice decisions
Simple route choice Along line features to an obvious Attack Point
Should be a collecting feature close behind all controls that are not on a line feature