AV News 187 - February 2012
Reply To Chris Noble
Keith Scott FRPS
As Chairman of the NAVC committee may I respond to the letter published in
issue 186 from Mr. Chris Noble, concerning his disenchantment with 'The
Nationals' pre-selection process.
Categorically the RPS AV Group DO strive to expand the skills and
techniques of individual workers by encouragement, guidance and
involvement. They do so by providing numerous AV days spread across the
country where members (and non-members) can attend. Attendees are
encouraged to bring along sequences which may be complete or work in
progress for help, advice, and constructive discussion. However to benefit from
such events you actually need to attend, then take on board the help and
advice available before entering major competitions. I'm curious to know
how many such events Mr. Noble attended.
He asks: – "how was it possible to view and judge all the sequences in one
day when there were too many to be viewed and judged on the two days of the
Championship?" The answer to this isn't rocket science. The Championships
are a great socialising occasion carefully scheduled over a full weekend to
allow ample and frequent relaxed breaks, lunches, and reasonable start and
finishing times and socialising times, all aimed at the welfare, comfort, and
enjoyment of a large knowledgeable paying audience. Pre-selection had no
such parameters. It started sufficiently early, had just a few short breaks, and
the team worked incessantly until task completion, it was also blatantly clear
quite quickly those sequences achieving or failing an acceptable standard. But
of course this level of commitment, inconvenience, and conscientious effort
from a whole team of volunteers giving up their weekend isn't seen,
understood, or appreciated by those not involved.
Regarding Mr. Noble's suggestion that the organisers should contact
entrants to obtain their preferred choice of sequence to ease or prevent
pre-selection. Let's be quite clear about this. It is Not the event organisers
responsibility to chase entrants for information, it is up to each entrant to
ensure such information is provided in the first place, especially when it is
asked for within the rules. Organisers have more than enough to do without
chasing anything from anyone. Furthermore this action would have been
insufficient to reduce running times to the required levels. Therefore Pre
selection was a necessity. It certainly wasn't something the organisers wanted
nor was it undertaken lightly. Because it was deemed necessary it was decided
that all sequences from everyone would undergo the same process, and yes
that also included entries from officials who received no special favours.
"We entered for the experience and the hope we would learn something that
would help us develop as individuals and as a group". It's been said before but
I'll say it again. Anyone wanting to learn does so before entering a major
competition, once entered it's far too late. Nobody enters a motor race without
first learning to drive! Those wanting to learn should first attend AV days or
workshops and also attend major competitions to see and hear what is
produced by others to gauge the style and standard.
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