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So what is a Biathlon then? Are darts involved somehow?

Yay, the SLAM is on a Saturday.

Bad news is that I may be ringing a peal somewhere else in London

As one of the people who formulated the SLAM idea, I'd just like to say how happy I am to see it finally going ahead. I can't be there myself, but I wish you all the best of luck

JoeGJ1984 wrote:I'm thinking of attending the R15. Can I make a reasonable request? Could you not have a start time earlier than 12:15 please? I ask this because I'll have to travel into London by train, and I've only got one choice of train, which reaches Marylebone station at 11.15. Now there should be enough time (I've glanced at the tfl journey planner) to get to Canada Water before 12:00, but I'd much rather have a bit more margin for error; I'm coming a long way and don't want to be worried that I won't make it. I can't see a start time of 12:15 as opposed to 12:00 making anyone unable to attend, so I think this is a reasonable request (using a poll doesn't really take factors like this into account).

Also, can somebody tell me the format of the R15 day please, and what pub you're going to use to meet afterwards?

I think it might be a good idea to include a post in the R15 championship thread and/or create a new thread for round 4, as people looking at R15 threads might not think of looking in here.

Hi Joe, start time will be 12:15 as requested. The format of the R15 is to visit 15 randomly drawn stations in the fastest possible time. All competitors are given the same 15 stations to visit and these are contained in a sealed envelope. The watch starts when everyone opens their envelopes, so you have to plan a route to visit all 15 stations as quickly as you can. Please note that you don't have to visit the stations in the order they are printed, you can visit them in any order you like, as long as you visit all 15. Normal Guinness rules apply (i.e. Hammersmith is two different stations so if it is drawn be sure to visit the correct Hammersmith, stations must be visited on a tube line, so if West Hampstead is drawn it must be visted on the Jubilee line a visit on London Overground would not count. Closed stations such as Blackfriars might be included and for these you must "pass through" the station to count as a visit).

greatkingrat wrote:So what is a Biathlon then? Are darts involved somehow?

The Biathlon will involve darts, drinking and tube challenging. The Biathlon will have teams competing in pairs and will start at the Horse & Groom, followed by two other pubs (venues to be confirmed nearer the time).
At each pub the team must complete a game of "Round the Clock" finishing on bullseye or semi-bull, also at each pub you must consume at least 1 pint (for non-drinkers a pint of coke etc. is okay) before moving on to the next pub. more details to follow shortly.

Soup Dragon wrote:

JoeGJ1984 wrote:I'm thinking of attending the R15. Can I make a reasonable request? Could you not have a start time earlier than 12:15 please? I ask this because I'll have to travel into London by train, and I've only got one choice of train, which reaches Marylebone station at 11.15. Now there should be enough time (I've glanced at the tfl journey planner) to get to Canada Water before 12:00, but I'd much rather have a bit more margin for error; I'm coming a long way and don't want to be worried that I won't make it. I can't see a start time of 12:15 as opposed to 12:00 making anyone unable to attend, so I think this is a reasonable request (using a poll doesn't really take factors like this into account).

Also, can somebody tell me the format of the R15 day please, and what pub you're going to use to meet afterwards?

I think it might be a good idea to include a post in the R15 championship thread and/or create a new thread for round 4, as people looking at R15 threads might not think of looking in here.

Hi Joe, start time will be 12:15 as requested. The format of the R15 is to visit 15 randomly drawn stations in the fastest possible time. All competitors are given the same 15 stations to visit and these are contained in a sealed envelope. The watch starts when everyone opens their envelopes, so you have to plan a route to visit all 15 stations as quickly as you can. Please note that you don't have to visit the stations in the order they are printed, you can visit them in any order you like, as long as you visit all 15. Normal Guinness rules apply (i.e. Hammersmith is two different stations so if it is drawn be sure to visit the correct Hammersmith, stations must be visited on a tube line, so if West Hampstead is drawn it must be visted on the Jubilee line a visit on London Overground would not count. Closed stations such as Blackfriars might be included and for these you must "pass through" the station to count as a visit).

One or two points to add: Do you know what pub you're going to use to meet afterwards? And would we all meet somewhere outside Canada Water station?

Based on the previous R20 from Canada Water, there's quite a few seats in the spacious area just outside the ticket barrier line. There's also a shop there, and apparently toilets in the bus station above if you have time beforehand.
Last time the early people met above ground and drifted down to catch the late-runners.

It's usually the Horse & Groom on Great Portland Street, unless we're planning otherwise?

Quick question for the TOSA regarding the SLAM.

Will we have a mass start at a set station, or will teams be able to choose where they start and finish, then give an honest time in to you at the H&G afterwards?

Mitchell&BrownLook wrote:Quick question for the TOSA regarding the SLAM.

Will we have a mass start at a set station, or will teams be able to choose where they start and finish, then give an honest time in to you at the H&G afterwards?

We also have the "thorny" issue of what train we are allowed to use to visit Clapham Junction

That was going to be my next question, once we'd resolved the first!

I'll just edit this to say that the original discussion can be found here: http://www.tubeforum.co.uk/forum/viewto ... hilit=slam

Mitchell&BrownLook wrote:Quick question for the TOSA regarding the SLAM.

Will we have a mass start at a set station, or will teams be able to choose where they start and finish, then give an honest time in to you at the H&G afterwards?

Thats a good question cos i know what station i like to start at.

Going Underground wrote:

Mitchell&BrownLook wrote:Quick question for the TOSA regarding the SLAM.

Will we have a mass start at a set station, or will teams be able to choose where they start and finish, then give an honest time in to you at the H&G afterwards?

We also have the "thorny" issue of what train we are allowed to use to visit Clapham Junction

I would have thuoght it would have to be Overground as that is the only 'SLAM' line that serves there. It does make things a little bit interesting doesn't it... It would be worse if you could not cross the river

I think I know my ideal starting station too Andi!

Rich, if you were to not permit any river crossings at all, how do you visit North Greenwich?

I'm afraid that I've yet another question for the TOSA. (Sorry!) A decision was hardly previously made about the ELL replacement bus service, however it was never really made all that firmly. Obviously we need a ruling for those 4 stations prior to commencement!

So Soupie, what is to be the ruling?

Previously Matt seemed very keen for them to be included, and while Guinness rules when applied to this challenge suggest that it should be included (Heathrow T4 is the precedent), there were some counter arguments. I wasn't around then, but I understand that the whole reason for originally appointing a TOSA/BERC/Snake Tamer/whatever was that rather than trying to reach a majority rule, the event organiser would be given ultimate control, and if you didn't agree with his or her rules you could go and play bat and ball somewhere else.

I genuinely don't mind either way, but with Matt's point of view, I say no pressure mate!

Can somebody tell me what the SLAM and the Mouse involve please?

Mitchell&BrownLook wrote:Rich, if you were to not permit any river crossings at all, how do you visit North Greenwich?

Erm...

OK...

How about you make it your finishing station and arrive there on foot? You would have to leave it by Tube, so you would probably have to finsh the timer when the doors close, thereby still arriving/departing at a station served by a SLAM line, yet not crossing the river

It's all academic anyway as you can cross the river

(I would assume you could start by starting at Imperial Wharf and start the timer as soon as your train is across the river, thereby getting Clapham Jcn in...)

Mitchell&BrownLook wrote:A decision was hardly previously made about the ELL replacement bus service, however it was never really made all that firmly. Obviously we need a ruling for those 4 stations prior to commencement!

Obviously I'm not the TOSA, just the mere Olympic Webmaster (hopefully somebody can think of a suitable acronym for me ) but I would say that as the ELL Bus Link is not required under Guinness anymore for the FNC record, and also that it is not on the current Oyster Map in any form at all, it is my opinion that it would not be required.

(again, academic as I'm not actually able to make it!)

Plus, the ELL isn't on my SLAM map either