Downloadable route descriptions are not always possible, but some groups manage it (London and the Founders Challenge ?). Routes aren't always finalised until a few days before, and sometimes include permissive sections. No organiser wants people trying out a route which is only open on the day of the event. As for SEFs, they may work for some, but how do you tell the entrants what the rules of the event are ? Longer Strider future events lists with all the details is one answer. But many people pick up entry forms from the table at other events - they want information, not a pile of SEFs, so we still have to produce something, and it may as well inlude a form. After all, the differences between Local Groups make the LDWA what it is. We don't want all events to be organised in the same way.

Well, it's good to see that the LDWA has been dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

Joking aside, it's a breath of fresh air to see the huge improvement to the website. I was actually able to renew my subscription online - Fantastic.

Shortly after I joined the LDWA, way back in 1986, I wrote to Srider asking about the possibility of a Standard Entry Form for events, as many other organisations had adopted this method.

To say that I was sternly put in my place for having the audacity to suggest such an 'improvement' is an understatement.

It took another 17 years for this to happen. So don't expect new innovations to happen quickly.

On-line entires to LDWA organised events would be a real benefit, but when you look at how many local groups don't even have their own website or even an email contact, then this isn't going to happen. Even if it was organised centrally, there would still need to have an infrastructure to get the details to/from the local group.

So, I think for the time being, we will still have to take the trip to the post office to send off our entries.

However, I do not think, given the new expertise with the website, that it is not beyond the realms of possibility to have downloadable route desscriptions and final details ?

<Puts tin hat on just in case..>

Regards

Paul

Not to take away the point about entering online, but for a lot of events you only need to download the form (from a local group website), fill it in and post it off. One step (registration sent in). Sending out acknowledgements (registration sent out) is optional (for Norfolk and Suffolk events), that's up to the entrant.

A couple of points: firstly, the 'Region' field in the events list is misleading, and maybe wildly inaccurate. For example, the Berwyn Mountain Walk is entirely in Wales, not at all in Central England. I guess the Region is derived from the organising group - it would make more sense to use the group name rather than the region.
Secondly, and this is probably under consideration already, it would be really convenient to be able to enter and pay for events online. At present we need to use four items of communication: application for entry form, entry form sent out, entry form and fee sent in, registration sent out.