On a cool and cloudy (but dry, for a change) day, EMPO officially entered the E-punch era. "E-punch" is a shorthand for the newest technology in orienteering, whereby the entire course is electronically timed from Start, through every Control, and on to the Finish line.

Twelve competitors on the Green course registered using their own or one of the Club's loaner "dibblers" or "bricks" or "dipsticks", then cleared, checked, and hit the Start box. From there they ran to 13 little blue Sport-Ident boxes set up at the 13 control points along the course which EMPO President Gabor Bobok had set, which were also marked by standard orienteering flags. After all that, it was a long haul (650 meters) back to the Finish box, and a recording of their total time.

Upon catching their breath, they downloaded the times recorded on their dipsticks into one or both of the two computers being used to gather the data, and got the printout of their results. Then they started doing what orienteers do after they finish: compare splits and routes, but this time armed with precise data recorded at each control point.

Of course, sometimes this precise data can be pretty embarrassing. At least 3-4 of us (including yours truly) got the EMPO E-punch era off to a horrific start by initially missing Control #1 and heading off to various odd locations, before we figured out what we had done and got back to finally find that flag. However, the positive side of this is that now you may have the data to prove that "if only I hadn't messed up Control #x, I would have had a great run".

EMPO hopes to expand our ability to offer E-punch on more of our courses. The major issue is that it's expensive. In round terms, each control box costs about $100, and there are initial setup costs. We have used a major part of the profits from our "A Meet" of May 2006 to purchase our initial setup. As we earn more, we plan to expand our capabilities. However, this expense competes with the expense of developing maps from our limited funds, so it is a constant balancing act. But for now, let's just put those "budget" questions aside, and simply enjoy the fact we have the gear, and we made it work.

Thanks to all who came, after managing to find the place. Several people pointed out there were problems with the directions on the web site, and they will be corrected. To anyone who never found us: Sorry! The club leaders have been there so many times we never look at the directions, and didn't realize there were problems. We hope you'll still try to come again another time.

E-punch will be back in action for our next meet at Moreau Lake State Park on May 5. The current plan is for it to be used there with the Green and Red courses. In the Fall we plan to try using E-punch for White and/or Yellow courses at some of our more "secure" locations. Stay tuned.

As a final side note, pointed out by next Meet Director Bob Lange, everyone should be aware that at the May 5 Meet at Moreau Lake, the Park (not EMPO) may be charging $7 per car for entry. The positive spin on this situation is that the Lake should be open for swimming, before and/or after you run your course. Bring your bathing suit (or perhaps your wet suit if the weather doesn't warm up!), along with your O-gear.

See you there!

-Phil H-T

The first e-punch finish

Grant and Sue inaugurate e-punching

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Schenectady Nature Preserve - 14APR2007 - Bobok                                                                              Sun 4/15/2007 11:53 AM
SPORTident results
-----------------------------------------------------------OE2003 © Stephan Krämer 2006------------------------------------------------------------

    Pl    Stno Name                       Time                                                                                                                       

                                                  1(32)    2(33)    3(35)   4(39)   5(40)   6(54)   7(51)    8(63)   9(78)   10(95) 11(101)   12(99)  13(96)       F 

     1         Grant Staats              40:05     3:43     7:18     9:37   11:57   13:33   15:53   17:35    20:56   22:36    27:12   29:05    32:00   35:08   40:05 
               EMPO EMPO                           3:43     3:35     2:19    2:20    1:36    2:20    1:42     3:21    1:40     4:36    1:53     2:55    3:08    4:57 
     2         Glen Tryson               46:04     2:50     6:19     9:25   13:30   15:34   18:57   20:44    24:52   27:32    32:09   34:19    37:00   40:24   46:04 
               EMPO EMPO                           2:50     3:29     3:06    4:05    2:04    3:23    1:47     4:08    2:40     4:37    2:10     2:41    3:24    5:40 
     3         Dylan Thies               47:16     3:04     6:47     9:25   12:22   14:54   17:44   19:44    23:52   26:17    34:37   37:33    39:38   42:24   47:16 
               EMPO EMPO                           3:04     3:43     2:38    2:57    2:32    2:50    2:00     4:08    2:25     8:20    2:56     2:05    2:46    4:52 
     4         Bruce Beesley           1:09:43     5:29    10:40    18:25   22:39   26:22   30:33   32:35    37:42   40:27    50:52   55:54  1:01:08 1:04:21 1:09:43 
               EMPO EMPO                           5:29     5:11     7:45    4:14    3:43    4:11    2:02     5:07    2:45    10:25    5:02     5:14    3:13    5:22 
     5         Will Kennerly           1:18:45     7:18    13:11    16:58   20:45   23:26   28:26   31:05    37:24   40:47    51:44   56:04  1:00:22 1:07:07 1:18:45 
               EMPO EMPO                           7:18     5:53     3:47    3:47    2:41    5:00    2:39     6:19    3:23    10:57    4:20     4:18    6:45   11:38 
     6         Philip Hawkes-Teeter    1:18:54    19:22    24:16    27:16   31:01   33:26   37:08   39:23    44:56   51:51  1:00:50 1:04:01  1:06:51 1:10:37 1:18:54 
               EMPO EMPO                          19:22     4:54     3:00    3:45    2:25    3:42    2:15     5:33    6:55     8:59    3:11     2:50    3:46    8:17 
     7         Bruce Shenker           1:26:42     5:08    16:32    22:10   28:06   31:03   36:09   39:57    45:32   53:05  1:07:09 1:11:01  1:17:14 1:21:01 1:26:42 
               EMPO EMPO                           5:08    11:24     5:38    5:56    2:57    5:06    3:48     5:35    7:33    14:04    3:52     6:13    3:47    5:41 
     8         Robert Lange            1:31:54    14:54    20:50    28:05   33:27   37:51   42:21   45:09    52:08   59:11  1:10:34 1:14:35  1:17:49 1:23:25 1:31:54 
               EMPO EMPO                          14:54     5:56     7:15    5:22    4:24    4:30    2:48     6:59    7:03    11:23    4:01     3:14    5:36    8:29 
     9         Larry Ducady            1:59:48    10:37    18:17    31:34   35:45   40:05   46:10   50:58    57:59 1:04:54  1:16:53 1:23:13  1:47:04 1:52:10 1:59:48 
               EMPO EMPO                          10:37     7:40    13:17    4:11    4:20    6:05    4:48     7:01    6:55    11:59    6:20    23:51    5:06    7:38 

                                                  1(32)    2(33)    3(35)   4(39)   5(40)   6(54)   7(51)    8(63)   9(78)   10(95) 11(101)   12(99)  13(96)       F 

     1         Janet Tryson            1:14:10     8:49    19:18    23:10   27:17   30:30   34:57   37:24    43:53   47:20    54:47   58:13  1:01:35 1:05:54 1:14:10 
               EMPO EMPO                           8:49    10:29     3:52    4:07    3:13    4:27    2:27     6:29    3:27     7:27    3:26     3:22    4:19    8:16 
     2         Dorinda Hamilton        1:17:00     4:33     9:00    12:18   15:23   17:31   21:11   23:48    29:00   31:19  1:02:12 1:04:35  1:07:25 1:11:06 1:17:00 
               EMPO EMPO                           4:33     4:27     3:18    3:05    2:08    3:40    2:37     5:12    2:19    30:53    2:23     2:50    3:41    5:54 
     3         Sue Hawkes-Teeter       1:29:57    21:22    26:32    30:07   33:28   35:59   44:02   46:28    53:42   57:59  1:06:15 1:10:23  1:14:33 1:19:22 1:29:57 
               EMPO EMPO                          21:22     5:10     3:35    3:21    2:31    8:03    2:26     7:14    4:17     8:16    4:08     4:10    4:49   10:35