York uses a double funnel marked with small cones very successfully, and brings out the letter cards when it gets really busy. They don’t use a tape, just a marshal at each end of the first part of the funnel directing runners. Only (occasional) problems I’ve noticed have been when tired runners don’t understand, but nothing the marshals haven’t been able to sort, I think.
LD - Edinburgh have had similar issues this year as numbers increased and have tried double and S shaped funnels but neither really worked. They have managed to find a way to make it longer and basically the marshals need to bully people to move faster and close the gaps. I was timekeeper on Saturday and it was almost OK ,only 2 or 3 times that we threatened having a Q back over the line.
I'm pretty sure the ED at Bushy doesn't have a diagram of a three funnel finish system because I'm the ED at Bushy and I don't have one! There may have been one created before my time but we do all we can to avoid a triple funnel! The diagram before is great, as suggested we use letters every time you switch lanes and we're lucky to have experienced volunteers but would suggest the most crucial roles are at the front of the funnel switching the lanes and then at the 'back gate' as we call it getting people back into the right order before the get their tokens...
MazH, it sounds worse than it is, I couldn't properly work it out from the descriptions but seeing it in action it was quite straightforward, as Yazoo says, all you really need is a couple of funnel managers who know what they are doing and it works well.
Double funnel isn't necessary until you're somewhere above 700 - difficult to say an exact number but we had 685 on 25/12, single funnel, no problem.
If you have space for a double then you've got space for a double length single.
You can't give double funnel management to any volunteer who offers, it needs to be someone who's been trained, so you're tying up core team members or frequent vols so it's best not too do it unless you absolutely have to.
Before looking at double, can you say Yes to these questions. -Is your funnel as long as you can make it? -Do you have 2 token distributors who are giving out tokens like they are dealing cards and know not to get into any discussion with people who don't want a token, just drop/pocket their token?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuvagW6qMmY -Are you saying (as nauseum!) 'Left/Right hand out palm up' as runners approach tokens?
Once you've done that and are still backing up over finish then consider double.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT0z3AGfANY
shows how fast people can move down a funnel, thus was with 640 runners.
(I have experience of double and long S single as RD & ED because we have tried both, settled on the latter because it's much easier to manage.)
Very interesting, thank you all for your comments. I don't know which way we're going to go this weekend (I'm not an ED and nor am I RD this weekend) but I know we'll do our best
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