Trailblazers KL Motor Hunt
Update: ckoh dedicated 3 postings, tearing the questions apart. Read and learn
I had to leave before the answers presentation because I had to chair a Toastmasters speech contest and miss out on all the drama. Raj the CoC got in touch with me this evening and said they will issue a statement.
But first the results.
- 95 - Adrian Wong, Teck Koon, Soo Kian, Michael Pang
- 94 - Sanjay, Rahmah, Sumita, Steven
- 94 - Muhammad Razif, Darmataksiah Abai, Ben Lau
- 93 - Alex Hoh, Andre Teh, Mawar, Shahrin
- 89 - Julie Tan, Claire Chin, Kwee Onn, CC Wong
In a hunt where the route questions are as manageable as this hunt, one silly mistake and teams will pay a high price for it. Also, we knew it will most likely be decided by the non hunt portion of the hunt. The non hunt activity this time around was to name/identify 10 KL landmarks. We were not sure of only one (turns our our wild guess was correct after all) and on top of that we drop one treasure. By the time I left, I was so sure we will not be placed so when Adrian called to say we won I seriously thought he was joking.
This is Trailblazer’s own sort of coming of age hunt. The work of the CoC is not only to set the questions by which you are mostly judged by but also to ensure that hunters are well taken care of in terms of venue, food, organising skills, prizes, services etc. In fact, this is the area that would consume the most time and effort compared to the actual setting of hunt questions. Trailblazers can certainly do better in this area given a few more hunts under their belt. A CoC I spoke to this morning also suggested that Trailblazers should participate more often in other people’s hunt and experience for themselves what works and what doesn’t.
The hunt questions - keep it tight. Yes, some newer hunters might say “what is the fuss all about?” “why so petty” “taking the fun out of hunting” Here’s the thing. Making the questions easy for beginners is not the same as accepting wrong but popular answers. If CoC wants them to learn and grow, start them on the right footing, make sure they learn the basic correctly.
I remembered my very first public hunt. I had done a container clue question where I only refer and wanted the “inside” word. I completely ignored the remaining “outside ” letters. My sifu had this to say ” Mike, you might just get away with that but not very elegent huh? I drop that question. Another thing, if the answer is a brand name, say Pizza Hut, you cannot just ignore the second word in that brand name.
One thing I know about Raj is that he openly ask and listen to feedback from regular hunters. I am sure we will continue to see and experience significant growth in his art of setting questions and enjoy many more hunt from them.
Other review here
Raj said:
I wish to personally extend my sincere apologies for the hunters who were not able to get their fair share of lunch and the poor quality of the spread after the KL Motor Hunt. The venue chosen for the answer presentation ( a last minute change) was just too small for all of us to enjoy it as well.
For future hunts, I will personally see to it that lunch is satisfactory and adequate and a conducive environment is laid out for all of us to enjoy the answer presentation. It is a commitment that I will undertake to ensure that the Hunters are well taken care of during and after the Hunt.
Raj (aka Captain Jack Swallow)
for and on behalf of The TrailBlazers.
cglow said:
hi Jack Swallow -
here’s a few improvements for future hunts -
, but always in the spirit of improving ourselves and that means knowing where we are in the crowd.
1. Declare answers concisely and faster in pace. Treasure hunters are obviously impatient people!
2. Tabulate and publish standings on the spot. Treasure hunters are extremely kiasu
3. Venue and Food. I guess you know all about this but not entirely your fault as your hunt was more popular than you expected. Maybe a cap of participants once you guys have more sponsors to control the quality of experience?
4. Have more hunts in the city. In case you wonder, some except the really dedicated sometimes find it hard to spent the whole saturday tired out. So it is refreshing to have a quick hunt and still have the day to spare.
Good Luck in your future hunts. To a better next hunt - organizer and participants alike !
haji suhaimi said:
It was a good hunt generally. We did well in the treasures and the hunt questions but failed in the Super Quiz of identifying KL landmarks (got 4 wrongs) and the MKJR question (1 wrong). So we just missed the top 5 placings. Well, not bad for a last minute team of Suhaimi, Richard Si and Kuma. Overall, it was a GOOD Hunt. Thank you Raj.
ckoh said:
Mike,
Looking at your comments regarding this hunt, I’m itching to see the questions & answers. I’ll try to get hold of ‘em one way or another, and probably discuss some of them later (for the sake of learning, of course).
As a person who’s obsessed with precision, I’d echo your comment, viz:
“Making the questions easy for beginners is not the same as accepting wrong but popular answers. If CoC wants them to learn and grow, start them on the right footing, make sure they learn the basic correctly.”
And I can imagine that with an audience consisting of a fair number of master hunters—many of whom are CoCs themselves—I suppose the requirement for precision is even more significant. But I shall refrain from commenting further on the questions until I see them myself.
Just to share with your readers, Mike, on the psychological aspect from the hunters’ point of view. Whenever I clerk a hunt, I have the habit of inviting feedbacks from the hunters for possible ways of future improvements.
Apart from some interesting discussions about my questions, quite often I’ve noticed that a number of hunters wanted the recognition. It may be surprising to many new hunters, but some regular hunters are not only all out for the top prize. Rather, they want the recognition of being one of those teams within the top finishers. For this reason, I think Trailblazers should have allowed for more placings—say up to 10th place, if only for the announcement of the 10 best teams in the hunt, especially if there a big crowd. I think it doesn’t really matter if all they get are miserable KFC vouchers or hampers worth RM50 each. The satisfaction will still be there.
I believe a similar situation arose during a recent hunt where the top 3 teams received prizes (Beijing tickets?). And I was given to understand that they all got full score too. In fact, even the fourth team, which ended up with nothing, almost got full score. Had they too acheived full score, it would have been very, very painful to end up without even the recognition, I’m sure!
Just my 2 cents. Now back to work!… hahaha!
claire said:
Hi Mike, our 2 other team mates are Kwee Onn & CC Wong (5th place). Thanks.
Regards,
Claire
Beatrice said:
Hi Raj
We power puff girls left before the announcement of the results and lunch.
Anyways could yoube so kind as to email me the answers.
Can’t seem to find your email anywhere.
Thanks
Beatrice
Raj said:
No problem, Beatrice. We’ll revert to you.
Michael Pang » 2008 Merdeka Motor Hunt said:
[…] is doing this hunt in his personal capacity and as resident of the place. This is not part of the Trailblazer Hunt. As in all Raj’s hunts the route/sectors will be in Bangsar, Brickfields and […]