Masters in Open ?
Nov 18th, 2008 |
A reader “sunhunterz” posted a comment a few days after the Sun Hunt but it didn’t appear and went straight to the moderated folder. I didn’t see it until today. I’m posting it here because I thought it warrant some attention.
The reader wrote:
I notice that
1) Open Category 7th placing Song Eu Jin is a former champion of Sun Hunt Open Category, Year 2005 (The Hunt-O-Holics)
2) Open Category 8th placing Chen Poh Loong is a current master.
Both shouldn’t hunt at Open Category.
Les Kwong said:
Michael, it would be best to clarify the situation raised by one of your “avid” hunters on the blog. Song Eu Jin although was one of the winners of Hunt o Holics in 2005 Sun Hunt, he was only in a capacity as a replacement drive for that team when one of their original drivers could not make. It was his first hunt after all.
I understand that in 2006, he sought clarification from the organisers of Sun Hunt when he was placed in the master’s category list when he enrolled with another novice team. His name was then removed from the Master’s list after the organisers were satisfied that his participation did not warrant him to be moved to the Master’s list.
Never in the other records for the hunts had Mr Song joined the other members of Hunt o Holics and categorised as Master (perhaps you can check with all other hunt organisers). Would it be fair to Hunts to so call attract “new hunters” but then “condemning” them to the Masters category after the 1st hunt (which inadvertently won by his teammates)?
Perhaps hunt organisers should designate that should a person win more than twice or three times in a particular major hunt, then they should be moved to the master category? my 2 sens worth.
It would also be point to note that as a team member who won the 7th placing, Mr Song did not even join the hunt that morning (due to high fever and throat infection) and we raised this issue to the organisers. We had only 2 registered participants (Mr Lenny Wan and myself) and only at the 11th hour (5:20am) to be exact did we find a replacement driver to assist us. The hunt went on with 3 participants. At the finish control we requested the organisers to acknowledge this fact but were told only if you register with 3 participants could you get an advantage, not when you start/finish the hunt.
So, my question is, are we so sure that hunts registered under novice’s/open category’s name do not necessarily have any masters (posing) in the team? Case in point is comment number 2 above.
Song Eu Jin said:
Dear Sunhunterz
Let me add to Mr. Kwong’s clarification on the matter.
1) While my name appeared on the members list, I did not participate in the this year’s Sun Motor Hunt at the last minute as I fell ill. I have an MC from the doctors which proves this.
2) As Mr. Kwong correctly indicated, the hunt in 2005 was my first hunt. Where I stepped into the team as a replacement driver. You will of course notice that my name has never appeared in any hunt prior to that SunMotor Hunt in 2005. Since you obviously have alot of time on your hands, I challenge you to prove otherwise.
3) I registered and participated in the 2006 SunMotor Hunt, under the team name Sitting Ducks. In that year the Sitting Duck came in 67th place. As mentioned by Mr. Kwong, the team I was in was registered in the open category after clarification with the hunt organizers (Dominic).
There was also a separate team called the “Hunt-o-holics”, the team I won the 2005 hunt with, in the Masters category in 2006. That team consisted of all the original members and another driver.
4) I am not on any Master’s list.
If anything, this is a good example of how to “hook” someone on to treasure hunting, and my team-mates and my slow but steady progress is an indication of how one can improve by frequently participating in hunts and persistently trying, even though there may not be much success in the beginning. Actually, it appears without my participation, my team has fared better than ever before.. This is the Sitting Duck’s best performance in a the SunMotor Hunt. Perhaps that is an indication of my “contribution” to the team (It appears I don’t add much value).
My message to you is not to be a sore loser, but like my team and I, to keep trying. Maybe one day you too can win a hunt. The Sitting Ducks haven’t reached our ultimate goal of winning the SunMotor Hunt, but believe me we will keep trying until we succeed.
Treasure Hunting is a team game (Sport), Why have 3 other guys tagging along if I can win it all on my own?
Now that we have clarified and made clear the matter, I hope everything is clear. You know what they say about the word “ASS U ME”.
Song Eu Jin
ckoh said:
Song Eu Jin,
I’m not sure what are the intentions of Sunhunterz when he raised the example which, unfortunately, had a specific mention of you name.
Giving the benefit of the doubt to Sunhunterz—and I stand corrected on this—I think the purpose of raising the issue was to demonstrate some inconsistencies in TOS’ criteria when they induct hunters into its Hall of Fame. And as I said, it’s unfortunate that the very example that Sunhunterz had quoted turned out to be unjustified, as there is a valid explanation for it. I am convinced that the example that he raised was not meant to be personal; rather from the general point of view.
As a matter of fact, there are obviously serious flaws in the TOS’ Master List, since there is sufficient evidence to support the claim that they have not been able to abide by their own criteria.
I myself was a bit surprised when I got a personal call from my friend at TOS, informing me that I’ve been promoted to the master status. I tried to argue against the promotion, but was told that all CoCs—whether professional or not—shall automatically be inducted into the Hall of Fame. So I was powerless to argue further if that’s indeed the selection criteria. It was like a “take-it-or-leave-it” deal, you see.
Based on the same criteria, therefore, Captain Jack Swallow of the TrailBlazers, for example, was also promoted to the master status. Yet one must wonder how come the Co-Captains were not promoted too?
And beyond that, there are reasons to believe that other CoCs, although probably not regularly clerking hunts, have also escaped detection by the radar of the selection committee, and was therefore able to hunt in the Open Category. For example, the name Jamie Lim comes to mind.
This is not intended to point fingers at each other; rather it is an issue which warrants at least an explanation from the good fellows at TOS.