Selecting a Venue

[slinger]

sam said:

Bedford is great because it has a bar, a stand, two run ways, and an indoor area along side the track PLUS it is the best place in the UK to throw spears.

fact!

there's nothing wrong with an extra hours drive or two [or 30 mintues on a plane] if it means you are going to have the best chance of good throwing.

stadiums are nice, but don't always equal to decent winds - birmingham's shocking and sports city is worse [unless you are a discus thrower] sheffield would be my only reccomendation along with gateshead maybe..........but they would again be expensive and there'd be something else going on at sheff..............maybe an elite athlete will have booked the whole stadium for a bit of long jumping or something??? ;D hehehehehehe

[lifebeginsat40]

Sam

What is the chance of having it over 2 days?

Also having more than 1 comp?

Handicaps, or other ideas?

[robyn06]

What about Stoke or Telford? hey Wrexham!

[Patience]

I think we all need to realise that there are many things that affect the choice of venue. Cost will be one of them. It's great to see Bedford as a potential venue as it has such a good reputation for javelin distances. For some, Bedford will be convenient, for others it won't. As with everything in life, we need to make choices and it's up to each individual if they can or want to travel. For some, this will mean the additional cost of overnight accommodation (so thanks Chris for suggesting having it over 2 days - that's 3 nights accommodation for some of us - so we are all staying at yours? ;D). Some people will have a relatively short journey and minimum cost, others will be away for a few days and the cost will be between £100 and £200. Sadly, that is the reality of competitions are for everyone in the country. I would like it to be further north - Scotstoun, say. This is not always a possibility.

It is great that we have this opportunity of a competition and some socialising just for javelin throwers. ;D

[robyn06]

Is their anywhere in the midlands or up north that this competition could be held?

[lifebeginsat40]

Patience, I got a big shed and a big tent too!

Unfortunately travel and location problems are a fact of life. No one person is going to be happy!

Although Bedford is only 35 mins away from me, I would still go for the weekend if it was in the Outer Hebredies!

I know some people cant afford it too, I have no idea where we would go with that one though!

Sadie and I had the Hammer Circle re union a couple of weeks ago in Slough, they come from Miles and Miles around the country. The main reason being the wealth of talent available to EVERYONE in the same place, at the same time. That sort of thing is unheard of and must be grasped at the 1st oppurtunity you get.

Also, strength & Conditioning Workshops, comps over 2 days (handicaps as well as normal age ranges and opens) Guest speakers, club shop, lunches, coaches areas (for coaches to learn). We even had a quiz at the hotel, and not only for the grown ups!

I am not suggesting for one minute that we copy everything as there are things to consider (£50 for Sadie & I to turn up for 2 days comps for 1). But it may be an idea to start some sort of working group or commitee, even if it is just for Javfest4

Also, let us not forget, we are a social bunch, it would be nice to get to know peeps too!

[Patience]

Robyn, there are plenty of stadium. Sam only has a limited budget plus he needs to take into account throwing conditions. It's pointless having a javfest at a stadium which isn't friendly for jav throwing and people rarely get pbs there.
I would very much like to be able to get there and back in a day, plus be able to compete, without having to pay the costs for flying and the exorbitant costs for transporting javs by plane. However, unless it is held in Scotland or Carlisle, I don't have that option.

Of course, if someone could get enough sponsorship to hold it up north (say pay for the stadium and pay some money toward people's travel and accommodation) it may be a different matter.

[slinger]

at the end of the day, not everyone's going to be happy with the choice of venue, will they?

[Patience]

I'd rather throw at Bedford than just about any other stadium im the UK. The only exception would be Pitreavie with a wind diagonally over my left shoulder. However, I wouldn't recommend holding a jav fest there atm. Although next year it will have an indoor training area and there is already a bar in the playing field complex!

[robyn06]

Hey what about Cardif? I have got a picture of Tessa Snaderson throwing their and I know a few people from Wales have thrown some pb's or sb's?

[sam]

Bedford is the furthest north out of all the other Jav Fests..

southampton to bedford is 117.4 miles
leeds to bedford is 150.2 miles
Manchester to bedford 160.7 miles


the last two have been at eton
southampton to eton 62.9 miles
leeds to eton 198.7 miles
manchester to eton 192.3 miles

by taking it to bedford it makes things a little easier for those comming from the north and a little harder for those in the south.

there were comments last year and the year before that the festival favours those in the south due to it's locality. so this year i am trying to arrange a better for some in terms of distance and better for all in terms of throwing potential.

discuss

[Patience]

Thanks Sam. If anyone else would like to comment on the distances involved, perhaps you would like to consider the travelling that those of us from Scotland will need to make to get there.

Smiler lives in Dundee, it's 463 miles to Eton, 423 to Bedford, 360 to Birmingham, 284 to Manchester and 460 to Cardiff.
I live in Prestwick, it's 383 miles to Eton, 360 to Bedford, 297 to Birmingham, 221 to Manchester and 397 to Cardfiff.

It we are "happy" with it being at Bedford........

[Jim]

Thankfully being in Worcester i'm right in the middle of the country so it's not too far to any of the venues (unless we do go north of Gateshead!)

As has already been said we're never going to please everyone but we could try and make the journey a little easier by sharing lifts etc. I know Rob came down with Slinger last year and I travelled with Sam Cater. If you don't live near anyone else you may be able to meet at a convienent place on route and travel part of the way together. This would obviously take a little sorting out but maybe we could post our travel routes to try and car share as much as possible.

Think green people!!!

[Patience]

Car share. Good plan, although possibly unlikely from Scotland to Bedford as it's at least an 8 hour drive and much longer on a Friday night (horrible memories from the BAL Cup Final cone to mind). Fortunately Luton airport is sooo handy.

[slinger]

BEDFORD! BEDFORD! BEDFORD!