Discussion: How the course is presented makes a big difference

That miss #7 instead of #1 might seem like the runner's fault but sometimes the planners and controllers don't look for potential misunderstandings and folks get burned. It might have been possible to eliminate that trap by moving the number or adding another control. A common trap is arranging 3 control sites in a straight line. When that's done someone usually mispunches by not perceiving the middle one.

Agree with 3 controls in a line issue - often the middle control is not needed or at least moved sideways enough so the line bends. I recall having this pitfall in the Worlds Masters Long Final here in Australia - by the time I realised I had to go back 200 to 300 metres thru pretty tough terrain. On the sprint issue yesterday I appreciate it is hard for planner and controllers to understand how a mind can be easily muddled - i also need to take a few more seconds looking at the map before moving I think.

Unfortunately in this instance it is the runner's fault

Agree