I concur, these sound like fair reasons. And at an international no one would dare alter the course, unless there was over whelming evidence to do so.
The problem being this is not what actually happened at interclubs or else where.
The actual reflection at Interclubs 2012
On Saturday,
The course was adjusted at Lunch Time, lowering all the poles because apparently the river level had 'dropped'!!
Outcome,
Div 1 Men - 8 of the top 10 went slower on their second run than first
Prem B Men - 7 of top 10 went slower on their second run than first
Prem A Men - 8 of top 10 went slower on their second run than first.
I am no statistical expert, but this seems to me to show an over whelming negative impact on the course.
And in my opinion, I have been going to Interclubs since 1998, there was no change in water level, nor any need to change the pole heights.
As I was winning after first runs, this actually helped me. Hence I believe it is my duty to complain for the rest of the field. It ultimately makes the sport a one run race, and not a fair race across the day. But simply a best on that first run. If you have aggregate runs, then you remove this issue, but we don't have AGGREGATE RUNs any more, and hence this is a much bigger issue.
On Sunday, it was a worse error.
The Course was not adjusted at Lunch time (nor checked). The last breakout had dropped for unknown reasons (I presume because one of the previous competitors had hit the pole and it had dropped.
But It was ~1 inch from the surface of the water.
The second runs race was started. K1W Teams second runs, one team completed the course (Team No. 1 - Hence I was watching, was Stafford and Stone CC), two of the girls picked up touches each on the seam line of their slalom boats as the exited around the ridiculously low pole.
So, Bill Simpson, also watching at this point, and was the course designer, raised the pole to a proper height (lifting it approximately 6 inches), before the next team (Team 2) of competitors came down.
Hence, knowing Bill I told him that wasn't acceptable. He was obviously aware his actions were wrong, but he believed he was doing what was best for the race. He said 'Well what am I supposed to do? Its obviously far too low!'
Outcome:
No Comments were made to the jury. No request for the Team manager of S&SCC was made to explain the issue. The penalties were a direct result of the low pole, and stood. The time take trying to avoid the poles was obviously increased, and nothing was done to resolve this obvious inconsistency.
As it happened the S&SCC K1W Team, were happy to make it to the bottom of the course after capsizes earlier in the day, and felt they didn't want to risk having to do a re-run.
But this in no way removes the issue. This in no way resolves the unfair approach to the days racing.
The problem being this is the incident i saw with my own eyes, how often does this happen when I am not watching, or not at a race. Coupled with the changes on Saturday, it leaves me thinking that volunteers/Jury of the sport need guidance to update the way in which they interpret the rules, to enable a fair competition for competitors on BEST RUN COUNTS Racing.
Whilst we are on the subject of being specific.... Don't think these issues are only limited to Interclubs, or my first example at the Div 3/4 race in Stone.
The Graveyard Prem race, at the End of September.
The Course was set the racing started. One K1M paddler completed his first run at the start of the category, and then took his second run 45mins later at his designated run time. Hence having complete 2 runs before the category had finished. (this is not a particular issue, he like most paddlers was caught out on his first run by the excellent tricky course. On his second run he improved massively securing an excellent run time.)
After K1M first runs, the Section Judge at gate 5, decided that the pole (down in the eddie) was too high to judge, easily) So had the Jury lower the pole. This meant the move went from being a flowing move to an awkward move, where many people hit rocks, hit the bottom, hit the pole, or wasted several seconds in avoiding it.
When I approached the organiser of the event and course designer.
His comment; 'Absolutely no poles, have changed height!.'
When I insisted that I along with several other paddlers in the top 10 disagreed and felt the pole had changed; His Comment; 'I am the course designer and organiser. I have not been asked to adjust any poles, and though the bearer lines might have contracted/expanded the poles are at the same height as they were on first runs!'
I agreed to disagree, and would leave it with him.
Later, the organiser approached me, to inform me that I was indeed correct! He was apologetic and said that there shouldn't have been a change, and he had now told the jury not to make any more changes without him there!
Hence, I come back to the issue of guidance required, when section judges/jury personnel do not know the impact that their actions have on the race. Whether they speed up or slow down the race course, this is an inappropriate action if done at any point after the first run has been started.
This also has an effect on %, so I'm sure GB Canoeing would not appreciate the changes that are beginning to occur very frequently.
On a positive note, to state that this is not a issue that affects everyone, at the McConkey, the Jury (Tracey W and Mark
S) did an excellent job.
There was a low pole on gate 12, Where the Section judge had asked at the start of the day for it to be placed only 2 inches off the water, (the rules do state 20cm's (~8inchs) but at the olympics this was generally 8-10 inches, due to the 'surgey' nature of the course) but back to the positive, This pole remained low, throughout DIv 1 1st runs, Semi Final Prems, and Div 1 2nd runs.
It was looked at and adjusted before the Prem Finals only. This is the perfect interpretation of the rule, as everyone in the Final is on Zero, and only this run counts.
Hence I come back to the need for guidance.
How can people be working within the rules, and be able to interpret them in two different manners to come out with different racing implications for those people taking part.
Now I know none of the events would happen without those people there to support it. So lets help those people who are volunteering to produce a race for the paddlers, and guide them so that they can produce the best racing environment for all the paddlers, and remove the possibility of contention (or misinterpretation of an individuals comments or actions) before the race day has even arrived.
