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36 The Irish Orienteer The Irish Orienteer ~ outgoing secretary Rosarie Kiernan. ones who buy tbe best gear? As it was, the THE O-ZONE: question seesm to have been a bit academic, since Orienteering news from Ireland and the World Tbe Colin Dunlop Trophy for the winning tbe number of finishers was very small M/W50 at the Irisb Championships is to be (described as "a higb attrition rate"). TIOAT 100 eomponcnt. There continues to be a strong cross- awarded to LVO's Bill Simpson. over between mountain-racing and O. The social Social and Personal: Congratulations to LVO's aspect is very important. Perhaps the big The meeting was held in Dublin, clashing with a Steven Linton and Violet Cordner on their recent lOA Chairman, Frank Ryall, writes: challenges for the future are to make the sport rugby match on a Saturday afternoon and almost engagement. more sociable and to attract and keep all those present (maybe about 30?) were from "Congratulations on The lrisb Orienteer's 100th newcomers ... Leinster. Last year's meeting in Tullamore was The old O-oet is dead. welcome to the new Birthday held in conjunction with the Irish Championships o_net: To subscribe to this group, send an email And does TIO have a future? I hope so. no now and attracted a crowd of 82. There's a lesson to: [email protected] On my own behalf and on behalf of the Trish faces competition from the e-groups and the web- there somewhere. There seems to be a problem with getting off the Orienteering Association 1 wish to congratulate pages. But this is healthy for the sport. 'It allows old Ovnet, however: since nobody is maintaining you on the 1OOthEdition ofThc Irish Orienteer. It open access and bestows complete freedom of Due to the foot and mouth outbreaks it was a bad it, it seems to be impossible to unsubscribe! is only fitting that the work, time and effort that speech. Ideas are easily shared and debates can year for orienteering, reported Chairman Frank you have put into the production of the Irish happen in real-time. Participants feel Ryan. Nevertheless there was an excellent Irish Grid References: Finding orienteering event Orienteer over thc years should be publicly empowered. Still the e-group is fairly chaotic Championships (run at the Leinster Champs at locations can be a difficult task at the best 0 r acknowledged and great credit is due to you for when it comes to archiving and retrieving Mullaghmeen) and we had II team in the World limes. Some recent conversations' with frustrated continuing with the magazine in this era of information ... so we'll need advances in this kind Championships in Finland. would-be oricnteers again high lighted how electronic communication. I hope that it will of technology before it will replace a well- useful it is to have grid references to help you continue for a long time to come. structured periodical. The time is probably not Frank asked orienteers to get involved in running find a forest, or even the exact location of tJ1C car too far away when TIO does become a web the sport, particularly in setting up a finance sub- park or assembly area. While everyone may not agree with your point of periodical... committee to raise funds for the Association. This The grid refs. in TIO's fixture list are simply to view at all times, as expressed in TIO, I think could enable us to have paid Development help you find the area: they do not refer to the everyone will agree that your intentions have I wish TIO a happy 100th birthday and good Officers to spread the sport to new areas of the exact location of the event. always been honourable and in the best interest fortune." country. A word of caution, however: there was a story of of the sport of orienteering. Once again Iwant to a car load of orienteers who couldn't find the congratulate you on the 100th Birthday of The Aonghus O'Cleirigh Frank Ryan then gave a short presentation on the event despite repeated attempts ... until they irish Oricntccr and I wish you wcll both in the AJAX Orienteering and Hill-Running Club. Sports Council code of ethics and good practice realised that the 6-figlll'c number they were forest and on the computer." for children's Sport. This is II comprehensive navigating to was the crganiser 's telephone - Frank Ryan, Chairman lOA SOME CHANGE AT THE TOP document with some interesting insights into number, not the grid reference! ( ... and, no: it The IOAAGM on November 17th was a poorly competition, fair play and so on as well as the wasn't in Kerry). In an effort 10 stimulate some response, the attended affair, despite the promise of a safeguards which are unfortunately considered Editor posed the following questions recently on presentation on orienteering for children. necessary nowadays to ensure that children arc Tried to use the lOA Jnf-O-line recently? It the Irish orienieeringe-groups e-mail news Some of the officers remain the same (Chairman not put at risk from adults or others during their seems to have become defunct since the lOA group: "Does TiO have a future?" and "Does Frank Ryan WEGO; Fixtures & Environment time spent involved in sport. AGM, perhaps in tbe absence of a Secretary or a orienteering have afuture?" Ruth Lynam; Technical Standards Aonghus PRO. In early January the events listed were for OCleirigh AJAX, High Performance Justin May ODDS and ENDS and ODDS '" late November ... Aonghus O'Cleirigh replied: "To answer your 3ROC; Development Brendan Cryan 3ROC); Tile night event at Portumna (originally planned second question first, we've bad many positive some changed (Treasurer John Casey WATO; as the Irish Night Championships) on the eve of HOME INTERNATIONALS 2001 developments recently - a solid strategy for the Juniors Mary Healy GEN; Mapping Dave the Connacht Championshipsthrew up .sorne Tbe Senior Home International, held in Northern sport, some good international results, a Weston SET) and Some are now vacant interesting discussion on the electronic news Ireland in September, resulted in another win for resurgence of map-making witbin Lcinster, many (Secretary, PRO, Coaching). group. The organisers decided to offer different England with 23 points to Scotlands 19. Ireland young people taking a keen interest both in high classes of competition based on tbe power of finished third with 10.5 points and Wales fourth performance orienteering and in organising The Silva Award for services to orienteering went competitors'torcbes! Comparisons were made witb 7.5 points. events. Change is happening - orientcers are not to Lindie Naughton for her coacbing work, the with orientcers who are prepared to invest in content to restrict their orienteering to the foot Silva Trophy went to former International decent orienteering shoes versus those who run in The Junior Home International in south Wales variety - they're trying MBTO, Sk-O and old training shoes with no grip: should they be ended with a convincing win for England (134 adventure sports with navigation as a major Officer Faith White, the Mactire trophy went to competing against one another? Why penalise the points) to 4 The Irish Orienleer Tile Irish Oriell1eer 5 Scotland's 110. Wales finished with 72 points and driving force behind the National Waymarked new thwnb compass he will attach a magnifying GENNEWS Treland 44. Ways system since the early 1980s. lens to it and send it back to you within ten days. Congratulations to TIO on reaching its 100th The cost of this service is €38.00, including post issue and thank you to everyone involved in No Irish team ran at the Veteran Home loss has published many books on walking in and packing. producing it over the years. International because of the foot and mouth Treland, and is the general editor of the "Irish Contact Colm Rothery, 26 Deelisb Park, disease outbreaks. England scored 138, Scotland Walk Guide" series of guidebooks. Not content Beaufort, Co. Kerry. (Phone 064-44536/086- OEN members have been doing very well since 96 and Wales 64. Next year's VHI will be in with this Joss also edited the "Irish Mountain 8969336). orienteering returned with several champions in south Wales on October 11/12, organised by Log", the quarterly publication of the MCI, from n... L J T'Ll. the Leinster /Irish !Munster and Connacht SWOC (or on September 28/29, depending on the first issue in 1978 unti I he retired from the rOIl a n e , a~ Champs, all four events taking place over the 1st who you believe). The 2002 SHI is in Cornwall post ill 1999. f three months of the 0 year. Paget McCormack on September 14/15 and the Junior event in Scale 1.15 000 Contours Sm..,.=,~ M60 and Wyn McCormack W50 are our most Scotland on September 21122. loss, the doyen of Irish mountaineers has been regular winners. well called a Prophet of the Outdoors and on The 200012001 Leinster League prizes were TeD HONOURS JOSS LYNAM behalf of his many climbing partners and presented after the LOC AGM in the Curragh and Declan O'Keeffe, PRO of the MCI writes: associates, his many friends and acquaintances, again GEN members featured. We had 3 M60 "Dublin University recently announced that the and the Irish climbing and walking community winners in the green course: Paget Me Cormack Senate of the University has awarded a Doctorate the Mountaineering Council ofTreland wishes to the overall winner with A B Law and Mick (Honoris Causa) to Joss Lynam. The award of salute Dr Joss." Kellett also getting prizes. Tna fitting end to her this Doctorate constitutes a formal recognition by orienteering life the late Diana Large at W60 won Trinity College of the singular achievements of Joss is, of course, well known to oricntcers too. the light green course, her daughter Jenny was one of its most distinguished graduates in more He was a founder member of Irish Oricnteers, invited along to collect her prize. In this case the than 50 years of unstinting and enthusiastic and later of Three Rock OC. His map of prize of a plaque with a sheep on being very service to Irish mountaineering and to the Irish Poulanass in 1974 was the first colour appropriate. outdoors. orienteering map in Ireland and Joss is still a regular competitor at Leinster events. His Congratulations to Andrew O'Mullane who has The central focus of Joss's activities has always daughter, Ruth, is prominent both in competition again taken up the challenge of Chairman of been mountaineering. and as lOA Fixtures Secretary. Leinster Orienteering. Mary Healy has also The Crohane Lake map as seen with Colm In 1948 he was a founder of the lrish joined higher orders being the new lOA Junior Rothery's modified compass. Mountaineering Club and subsequently of the Congratulations, Joss. Affairs Officer. Mary has started out as she Federation of Mountaineering Clubs in Ireland means to continue organising a very successful which was the first all Ireland mountaineering NEW AJAX SEC training weekend in West Cork. Four GEN organisation and forerunner of the Rory Wallace has taken over from Brendan VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED Juniors went along and enjoyed themselves, Mountaineering Council of Ireland (MCI). Joss is O'Connor as Secretary and Treasurer for Ajax. Remember the last Adrenalin Rush? The multi- They and their parents thank Mary and all the a hill-walker, climber and mountaineer with Rory Wallace, Kilmore, Kilcock, Co. Kildare day advanture race in Northern Ireland, with orienteers who gave up their weekend to help out, experience in Ireland, Britain and abroad. He has Phone 086 8305027 snow, gales, floods, tempests etc all laid on? it was appreciated. Several senior orientccrs were been the Leader or Deputy Leader of Irish e-mail [email protected] Well, it's on again. there to help and pass on their 0 tips and skills. Expeditions to the Alps, to the Andes, to The event will take place from May 25th to June Our Annual General Meeting and social night Greenland and to the Himalaya oflndia, Pakistan MAGNIFY YOUR COMPASS I st in the north west. will be on Friday 25th January put it in your diary and Tibet. Do you find it hard to see detail on I: 15,000 scale now, This is the weekend after our Sprint 0 event maps or in complex areas? The answer may be at For details (to enter, or to help), contact the in Carriekollogan where everyone will be Joss was one of the moving forces behind the hand, because Colm Rothery has developed a Personnel Co-ordinator at gmc [email protected] lending their time on the day. establishment of the Association for Adventure modification for thumb compasses which, he or check out the adrenal in rush web site, We are organising next years Leinster Sports, of Tiglin, the National Mountain and reckons, makes detail stand out 50% better. www.adrenalinrush.co.uk Championships on our new map of Brockagh and Whitewater Centre and of the Centre Standards ifhalfofwbat I am being told about tbe map is Board, the first approving authority for outdoor Colm had many enquiries from orienteers about The race will be featured on Discovery Channel true we all have something to look forward to, activity centres in Ireland. For many years Joss where he got his own magnifying thumb and be broadcast to more than 150 countries. The Mick Kellett is planning so good courses are sure was heavily involved with the Department of compass. winning team will get a paid entry to the to be available. Education in the structuring of the curricula for Colrn has now started marketing the modified Discovery Channel World Championship Nora Lalor Secretary GEN the outdoor pursuits courses of the VECs. Joss compass himself. If you send him your old or Adventure Race 2002, has also been the 6 The Irish Orierzteer The Irish Oriellleer 7 lOA CONTROLLERS' COURSE CONNACHT CHAMPIONSHIPS 2002 LEI NSTER AGM Following the meeting the prizegiving for the The lOA is running an Event Controllers Course Tbe Connacht Orienteering Championships The Annual General Meeting of the Leinster Leinster League took place. This was attended based at the Glendalough International Youth organised by Galway Orienteers "The Western Orienteering Council took place on the 2nd by Jenny Large who accepted the late Diana's Hostel, Co. Wicklow, commencing on Friday 22 Eagles" will be held on Sunday 7th April in December 200 I, at Lumville House, on the first prize on the Light Green Course. Diana also Feb at 8:00 pm, running all day, Saturday 23, and Knockbarron, near Kinnitty, Co. o ffaly, Grid Curragh. The attendance included had the highest score for a woman in the League - concluding on Sunday 24 at 3:00 pm, Reference N 172063. The map scale is I: 10,000 representatives from GEN, Fingal, Setanta, 268 points. Carol McNeill of the British Orienteering with 5 metre contours and was surveyed by CNOC, Ajax, 3ROC and DUO. In the absence of Federation is delivering the course. (We're very Padraic Higgins in 1993/94. a Chairman, Vera Murtagh, tbe Secretary, WHERE ARE THEY NOW? privileged that she-has agreed to do thisl) The area is forest with esker-like dunes and mentioned the difficult year it was for Joe Lalor writes; "Below is the result of the first The course is at introductory level for event should be a good preparation for the British orienteering due to the closure of the countryside recorded hill race. controllers and will cover the principles of event Championships, which are being held in following the outbreak of foot and mouth Four of the runners to my knowledge are planning for all types of events and standards - to Northern lreland in May on sand dunes. The disease. She also spoke of the loss to orienteering deeeased but quite a few arc still active in include colour, championships, elite and relay. courses will be shorter than the usual and Lcinster in particular, caused by the deaths of running and orienteering circles. Event organisation and event management will championship courses due to the size of the area Tom McCormack and Diana Large in June. The The prize on the day was a suit length, organised also be covered. Ideally course participants.will but because of the technical nature of the terrain Committee decided to mark 'the year by by Niall Rice, quite a change from the box of have been orienteering regularly for at least one should provide a good challenge for all presenting prizes for a truncated Lcinster League. sweets or cheap torch. year. orienteers. Start times will be from II am to I The number of League events run was ten out of The inaugural Il IRA race (lM RA that was) was Successful completion of the course entitles a pm. All classes will be available subject to which six were counted. A list of prizewinners is on 1111/80 and was the II til in the series person to be certified by the lOA as an Event demand. The event will be signposred from attached and a list of the number of runners, who Controller, provided he/she has organised, Kinnitty and the assembly area is about 2.3 krn completed six or more courses. The total number T am compiling a database of hill running results. J planned and controlled at least one event on the from the village. The Start is within 100m of the of runners in the League was 421 spread out as have knowledge of 583 races. In ~Ol11ecases this lOA fixture list. Previous experience of event assembly area. There will be no clothing transfer follows: - Slack 25, Brown 34, Slue 65, Green is only a date and vcnue and in others only the organisation and planning will count towards the as start, finish and assembly area; arc close to 98, Light Green 97, Orange 49 and Yellow 53. winner. I would welcome copies of results sheets award. The course is also suitable as a refresher each other. (particularly 1989 ro 1993 for which I have no for existing event controllers, planners and The Treasurer, Jean Mullen, reported on the state results at all) organisers, The fees per day are Seniors € I0.50, Juniors of the finances for the year. She requested that all (M/W 18-) €5.50, Student and M65/65+ €6.50, clubs pay their levies by the end of the year. Thc Thanking you The cost of the course is € 40 per person. This Family €25. Entries for both days should be sent Fixtures Secretary, Deirdre O'Neill's report was Joe Lalor I,' , covers all tuition, 2 nights'accommodation in 4 to Noel Donagh, Barrybeg Lodge, Barrybeg, read to the meeting, outlining the fixture list for person dormitories, full breakfast and packed Athlone, Co. Westrneath to arrive on or before 2001/2002 and requested that the clubs should The Fairy Chase Fell Race - 221511980: 4 Miles lunch on Sat/Sun, and full evening meal on Sat Friday 22nd March. For entries received after bring the Registration Fees up to date. Pat Ilealy, - 900ft climb evening. (The cost of thc wlc is being very this date a surcharge of 50% will apply, with no the Mapping Officer, reported on the new maps I S. Keeny Metro 22-30 generously subsidised by the lOA.) Carol bas guarantee of pre-marked map or entry being which carne on stream during the year, which 2 Wally Young Curragh/Kildare 23-14 indicated that she is not setting any upper limit on accepted and start times will be at the organiser 's include: Brockagh, Mullaghrneen, Curragh, 3 D.O'Mahony Trinity 23-24 the numbers attending. I've initially booked discretion. Entries will be accepted on plain Scarr, and areas which are currently being 4 Declan O'CallaghanAjaxlD.C.11. 25-14 accommodation for 25 people. I'm sure we can paper if participants arc unable to get their bands mapped which included Camaderry and 5 Carey May Ajax/D.C.! I. 25.37 .. get more bed-spaces ir we need to but please on an entry form. However, forms may be got by Furlough Hill, Glendbu, Howth Head, 6 Mick Rice 25-46 enter early. At any rate book with me before 31- e-mail from [email protected] Start list Cornamaddy, the Ward River Park, and Three 7 P. Keane Clonliffe 25-56 Jan-2002. will be published on the Irish orienteering e- Rock. 8 Niall Rice Metro/Setanta 25-58 Please send course-entry fee of €40.00 to group but individual start times and results will 9. Eoin Rothery Ajax/Metro 26.18 Aonghus O'Cleirigh, 60 Blackheath Park, only be sent to those enclosing S.A.E for each The elections resulted in the following 10 Christy Rice Metro 26-30 Clontarf, Dublin 3. Also briefly indicate your entry. cornmittee: Chairperson, Andrew O'Mullane, II Adam May 3ROC. 26-41 * orienteering experience. The Sportident timing system will be used for Secretary, Vera Murtagh, Treasurer, Jean 12 Philip Thompson Ajax 26-43 both days. Sportident card numbers will have to Mullen, Fixtures, Deirdre O'Neill, Juniors, 13 Paddy Lalor Curragh 27-23 (By the way I know this event clashes with the be allocated to eacb competitor in advance. If you Declan Carberry, 14 C. Taylor 27-44 Intervarsity O-Champs but it is the only weekend have an SI card please give the number with your 15 Eddie Gaffney Liffey Valley 27-48 that Carol McNeill is available.) entry. Otherwise you wi I! be allocated one with a Under any other business the structure of the 16 Harry Quirke Curragh 28-05 charge of€I.50 for the event. Collection of cards Lcinster League was discussed and possible 17 Peter Kernan 28-28 Aongbus O'Cleirigh will be at registration. Lost cards will be charged Changes which might be made. 18 Brendan Butler Ajax 28-37 '" fOA Controller of Technical Standards at€30 each. 19 Don Thornhill G.E.N. 28-50 8 The Irish Orienleer The Irish Qrien/eer 9 20 Connie Ryan Ajax 29-23 IRISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 21 Eddie Niland Ajax/Clonliffe 29-24 on. They tend to lack continuity: tbere has never 22 J. Watchorn 29-43 NEWS From Letraset really been a regular series of articles on a 23 Frank Horan Ajax 30-17 specific topic: juniors, training, improve your 24 P. Noonan Raheny Shamrocks 30-26 The Trish Individual Orienteering orienteering or what have you. 25 Greg Slater 30-36 Championships 2002, organised by CNOC, will 26 Orla Cook Ajax 30-57 ** be held on Scarr Mountain, near Laragh, Co. to Internet: One suggestion of a means of celebrating TIO's 27 Colin Dunlop Sctanta 32-07 Wicklow, on Saturday II May. This is a new area, 1DOthedition was to publish all the anonymous 28 Joe Bent Setanta 33-32 mapped 2000/200 I, a mixture of forest-covered letters, death threats etc. received by the editor, 29 Mama Thornhill G.E.N. 34-23 ** valley slopes, and open, often complex mountain. TIO at 100 but that might be a bit churlish, as well as taking 30 Tara Horan Ajax 35-01 ** All the usual classes will be available, subject to up too much space! (Maybe if it were a question 31 Deirdre Ni Challanain Ajax 38-11 ** demand. Sportldent electronic timing will be Maybe I'll be forgiven ifl do some reminiscing of saving space, we could include some 32 D6nal De Buth~ir 38-13 used. The closing date for entries is Friday 19 and some looking forward at this point. The Irish complimentary event reports, if we could find 33 Caitlin Bent Setanta 38-20 ** April. This event was postponed from 12 May Orienteer has reached its hundredth edition. TIO any ...) 34 Rosaleen Rice Setanta 43-16 ** 200 I, and entries already received for that date has tried to chart the rise (and fall? - let's just say 35 Diana Large G.E.N. 45-11 ** will remain valid. the fluctuations) of Irish orienteering since it One of the things which made no easier to do 36 Catherine Lyons Ajax 46.56 .. (TTO, that is) started in September 1982. Prior to was the development of desktop publishing. Tn Iii 37 Erika Keane Ajax 46-56 *" More information will be available on the that I had edited tbe Lcinster O-Clubs' newsletter the early days it was a case of borrowing the 38 B. Horan Ajax 46-58 .. Orienteering e-mail news group, and can be from the previous January, before going national rOA's typewriter and physically cutting and requested from Ruth Lynam, Ballyboys, in a modest way. Say what you like about TTO, it pasting bits together (remember Letraset'!). Then "FEMALE * JUNlOR Male Blessington, Co. Wick low, phone 045 867183, e- was never parochial. There were usually articles the Amstrad computer made basic word I fST FEMALE - Carey May. Ajax 5th position mail [email protected]. and reports on orienteering from around the processing possible, This was followed by ~I Ist JUNIOR - Adam May 3ROC. II th position world, many looking slightly sideways at the Macintosh, then a laser printer, then Pagcmakcr, Ist FEMALE VET - Caitlin Bent Setanta. 33rd 3ROC are running the Relay Championships in sport, as is my inclination: UIC unusual aspects of a scanner, QuarkXprcss ... and here we arc. Position the Phoenix Park, Dublin, on Sunday 12th May. orienteering which you might not have come maybe cheaper colour printing, the internet, new across before: (the life of a cycle courier or technology will make no better looking ill A LONG WALK SOUTH Both events are the weekend after the British orienteering in supermarkets spring to mind). future. Many of you will know, or at least know of, Sean Championships in Northern Ireland and the Rothery. Sean was one of the founders of Irish organisers hope that many British-based The first issue's cover featured an action photo The economics? Well, TIO is produced on a orienteering and has been a life-long walker and orientecrs will make a week of it and take in both (printed backwards!) of the editor in a JK relay shoestring. Currently about 500 copies of each mountaineer. When he retired as a lecturer in competitions. changeover with a bearded Peter Kernan. Other issue arc printed, down from a high of about 650 architecture from Bolton Street College in orienteering notables who graced the cover in the a few years ago. The editor gets no salary, just Dublin, he walked from the North Sea to the Individual entry forms should be included with early days included Pat Healy, Selin Cotter, Eddie expenses (typically about €65 per issue which Mediterranean and wrote a book about the this issue ofTIO. Relay entries are likely to be Niland, Aonghus OCleirigh and Diana Large. covers postage to clubs and individuals) and the journey. done on a club basis on a separate entry form. Unfortunately the no archives are incomplete as only assets arc the computer, printer and scanner "A Long Walk South" is the result. The book, a result of loaning some early issues to someone used for TIO's production. published by The Collins Press in Cork, is BRING BACK THE SEF who was to write a history or British and Irish handsomely produced in hardback and illustrated Remember the Standard Entry Form? It was a orienteering -the history never appeared and they Nowadays, most contributions come bye-mail by Sean's meticulous drawings. It describes the blank event entry form which you could still have the TIO archives. Other covers included and much ofTIO (the text, anyway) is available four month trek, with historical asides relating photocopy and use to enter virtually any pre- the last knownsighting of the Continental Cup, on the lOA web site. It would be nice to have some of Sean 's experiences of the mountains and entry event. It meant that organisers didn't have won by England in 1988 in Co. Wick low (the more pictures, more maps and more visual of things like a post-war cycle trip to Italy. to circulate entry forms specifically for their time the bull ventured onto the Relay run-in and appeal, but people are very reluctant to contribute I can't review it properly as I haven't finished event, just details of fees, classes and so on, plus the planner got the map scale wrong and had the material. The £ j o payable to whoever provided reading it yet, but the omens are good. The book where to send the form. Simple. relay courses 50% longer then they should have the cover photo went up to £20, but there was no is available from bookshops at about €25. How about resurrecting it? BOF still use one but been ...) increase ill the number of photos submitted, so it the Irish one seems to have faded from memory. went away altogether. The Irish Orienteer (It would also make distributing TIO easier and Looking back over the issues I have, I am Trophy, an inter-club competition modelled on cheaper if we didn't have to include loose entry surprised by how much interesting stuff is in the CompassSport Cup in Britain, had a few good forms ...) there: photos, maps, event reports, the Saga of years in the early to mid '80's, was taken over by King Bjorn, Great O-Disasters, cartoons and so the lOA and has since disappeared from sight fO The Irish Orienleer altogether. According to my records, The Irish Orienteer J J Bishopstown OC in Cork have had the trophy for list. the last few years, since the last competition. So, r am putting you on notice that my days arc 28 Spanish Championship & Trophy Anyone interested in disinterring the TlO Trophy numbered. Start sharpening your quills as a new International competition? editor will be required soon ... International Diputacion de Granada, Looking back at the past 99 issues, you can relive The sentimental twaddle bit (avoid this pari if Spain. Club de Orientccion Vel eta. the experience of orienteering in Ireland over the you are easily nauseated) events 2002 29 Prague Easter 2002, 3 days Czech past 20 years: the development and demise of On TIO's IOOthAnniversary, Iwould like to say a Republic (Prague, Kokorinsko). new clubs, the advent of photogrammetry and sincere thanks to all the people who have made As promised in TI099, here is your chance 30 3 JOURS DU SUD OUEST France excellence in mapping, the move to open ground my life as editor so interesting, to all the readers to study the year's calendar of some (Vieux Boucau - Landes - Aquitaine - in complex areas like West Cork, and the growth who made it ncoessary to have a newsletter, to all France - near the beach). Bordeaux area. and decline in numbers in the sport. I don't think major and minor events which might the contributors over the years, those who 28 - Aprill. Jan Kjellstrom 0- that this decline is unique to orienecring, nor is it provided maps and photographs, who took the appeal to you. There are so many Festival, Forest of Dean, England. a feature unique to Ireland, but the number of lime to write for TIO, to Barry and Anne Denton competitions on during the summer veterans in the sport in relation to the number of of Denton Print in Dundrurn for always being on months that no guide could be really juniors alarms me. When I took on' the LOC time, to Ronan Cleary who' did the accounts for comprehensive. The best bet is for you to April Newsletter ami TIO T was in my 20's and had the first few years (the bills haven't been on time contact the local orienteering federation 7 Connacht Champs, Knockbarron, already been lOA Secretary, PRO and Fixtures since), to the lOA for their support (moral and, in of the country you are thinking of visiting Kinnitty, Co. Offaly. A unique, small but Secretary, as well as a founder member ofUCDO recent years, financial), to the network of 0- and check what's on with them. Mind you, intricate area of eskers. Worth the trip. and 3ROC. We need active participation from the newsletter editors around the world who swap not all these events involve much travel, 7 Forth Valley OC Badge Event, younger orlenrcers: the rest of us need a rest, articles and magazines among themselves, our and it would be a pity if you let things like Trossachs, Scotland. regular advertisers Ken Broad of Ultras port and the British and Irish Championships and 21 Leinster Champs, Brockagh, near What were the best issues? That's not for me to Rick Haughton of CompassPoint, and lastly to Glendalough. An extended version of the say. The ones which I was most pleased with the return of the Shamrock O-Ringen in my wife, Nora, and to Eoin, Cliona and now previous map. were ones with major reports on events Iwas.at, Aidan for letting Daddy retire to the attic at night May pass without entering. 28 LOC National Event, Bigland, Lake with maps and photographs: the 1993 World and at weekends and disappear for hours on end District, England. Championships in the USA or the Scottish WOC to produce what you are now reading. There are usually several multi-day events in 1999 spring to mind. It's difficult to get decent on which to hang a holiday in Scandinavia, photos ifyouy are competing yourself. As was pointed out in the editorial on page 3, I Austria, eastern Europe, sometimes May don't intend going on for another 20 years. In Switzerland, or other countries. 4-6 British Champs, Northern Ireland. In my own case, increased commitments - fact, due to the wonders of desktop publ ishing, I Benone sand dunes &Newtownstewart. particularly family ones - mean that Ino longer cut out my leiter of resignation from the end of Many events have details on the internet, 10-14 Vilnius 3-Day, Lithuania. have the time required to do justice to TIO. More this piece after looking over the back issues: and entry forms and invitations are not 11-12 Irish Champs, Leinster. Individual on importantly, ltind my enthusiasm for the fight is perhaps it was all worthwhile aftor all ... circulated as widely as they once were for Scarr (near Roundwood) and relays in waning. Some of my problem is a reluctance to Anyway, how does one resign fro III something Dublin's Phoenix Park. delegate - call it arrogance, if you will - which that reason. If you have internet access, like TIO? Write a letter to oneself? 18-20 3 Days of Belgium 2002 makes it difficult to hand over the reins to anyone have a look round in there. If you don't, Namur. else, even if there were anyone ready and able to JMcC and TIO can help, please get in touch. I'll 25-26 Shamrock O-Ringen. West take it on. Yet Joss Lynam (Irish Mountain Log) help if I can. and Ned Paul (Compass Sport) have retired Cork. A scaled-down version (just 2 days) gracefully from their respective editorships, as Mountain February of this relaxed international event. have Richard and Anne Wilson (Y Ddraig, the Bike 9 Portugal O-Meeting Portugal Welsh O-newsletter), without any apparent (Marinha Grande - Leiria) July negative side effects, so maybe there is hope. Orienteering 10 HH National Event, Burnham 1 5 days of the Fortresses 2002 Italy Beeches, near London. (Folgaria - Lavarone - Luserna, N. Italy T would like to continue to contribute to TIO, of 2002: 2-7 First Mountain Bike World course: once writing gets in the blood, it's hard to Curragh, Co. Kildare, Championships, Fontainebleau, neor Paris, stop. If! can't write for TIO, maybe I'll be one of March 4-13 Asia Pacific Orienteering the irate, crusty old readers of The Irish Times Saturday 16th Feb '02. 2 British Night Championships, Championships Canada (Alberta); Canadian who pester the beleaguered Letters Editor with Midhurst, West Sussex. Details from 045-441625 Championships Canada (Calgary. Alberta); opinions on everything under the sun. 16-18 Ballyhoura 3-Day. Details in fixtures 12 The Irish Orienleer lill Th.e Itish Orien/eel' !j North America Championships Canada October (Edmonton) 1 Australian O-Championships I 15 Fin5 Orienteering Week Finland (Flinders Ranges,South Australia) Desert Orienteering (Varkaus) 7-11 World Masters Orienteering 16 Nordvestgaloppen Norway Championship, Bendigo, Victoria, by Dermot O'Sullivan 20-26 Swedish 5-Day, Skaraborg. Australia. nning over the crest of the hill I felt intersecting at right angles, orienteering affords a August If you really want to plan ahead, how about udden stinging pains all up my left leg, rare opportunity to get plain lost. 4-8 NW Engla~d Lakes 5 Days. 5 this? 7 July 2003 : FRENCH 5 DAYS R:s if a hundred pins had just been pushed Badge events in the Lake District. France, Lit Et Mixe - Landes - Aquitaine. in. I looked down - II hundred pins had in fact The top COUrse was Orange, at about 4km on a 19-25 European Masters, Ukraine. Forested sand dunes near Bordeaux. been pushed in, courtesy of a cholla cactus I I: I5,000 black-and-white photocopied map, 21 French Championships (Oloron Ste Superb. brushed against. As I found out later, the slightest which looked dodgy at first but, since the terrain contact and the cholla throws out a volley of ~ Marie - Pyrenees Atlantiques - Aquitaine) Planning even further ahead, there is was entirely contours, with no water, rock or spiny clusters, digging deep into the skin of the vegetation features, was actually perfectly 24-26White Rose Weekend, Thirsk, going to be a World Championships every I unfortunate passer-by. In pain, 1 sat down and adequate. As well as a compass and whistle, all Yorkshire. year from 2004 and this will typically have started outdoor surgery using stones to prise the competitors arc advised to carr; a comb. Try and a multi-day event draped around it. WOC's cactus balls out of my skin, with little eruptions pick the cactus balls off with your hands and thcy September aren't just for the elites: we can all of blood and a soundtrack of expletives, impale themselves in your fingers instead. The IIII! 28 Northern Ireland Championships, participate in somefashion and enjoy it. trick is to get under them with a comb and nick Silent Valley, Mourne Mountains. Feeling dull and paunchy after a meet-and-eat them 011', then get pliers to take out any refractory business week in thc U.S, I had onc day off spines. Or, if you thought you knew better and before the flight back, by chance a day when the brought neither comb nor pliers, to use stones. 2002 Mountain Running Calendar Greater Phoenix Orienteering Club had an event. The area was an expanse of low desert hills An interesting mountainbike aside: Phoenix is Format: Dato/Day/Race/ League Detalls/ Distance (km)/ Climb (m).1Time/ Location/ Grid Reference. covered with cactus and thorny shrubs near Lake still one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. 27/01/02 Sun Irish Universities Champs (Maulin) tUCIWL38.2 420 12.00 Crone Wood. Gtencree. Co. Pleasant, about 20 miles Northwest of Phoenix, and the sprawl has started to encroach on parks at Wicklow (nr Powerscourt Waterfall) Gr.0193142 and just beyond the state correctional facility its northern and southern extremities. These are 10/02/02 Sun Prince William's Seat WL4 6.4 305 12.00 Curtlestown Car Park. Glencree. Co. (Don't Stop for l litchhikers, a sign warned). For criss-crossed with mountainbike trails, some of Wicklow Gr. 0184168 much of the summer months temperatures arc in which have been closed or curtailed to make way 13/02102 Wed. Munster Schools MSC 4.5 240 12.00 Claragh Mountain. Milistreet. Co. Cork. 24/02102 Sun. Tibradden WL5 8.0 305 12.00 Tibradden Car Park, near Pine Forest. Rathfamham. Co. the forties and unbearable, but November is for new developments. In an apparent response, Dublin Gr. 0139228 pleasantly warm. Not warm enough for II luxury houses in construction adjacent to the 13/03/02 Wed. Irish Schools Champs tSC 5.5 250 2.00 SI. Columba's School, College Road. ruulesnakes, though there are some havclinas, parks were burned down in the last two years, and RatHfarnham, Co. Dublin - Gr. 0149255 16/03/02 Sat. Glengesh Horseshoe CU1 5.6 370 1.00 Horseshoe route of Aighe valley, starts wild pigs that scurry through the bush. rnountainbikers were high 011 the suspect list. 3km south ofArdara on Killybegs road, Co. Donegat Gr: G 725877 The focus squared on the bikers when in an 17/03/02 Sun. Errigal KoMiU 3.7 660 12.00 3km E. of Dunlewy, Co. Donegal. Gr; 8 953205 A mix of orienteering blow-ins and locals, tbe anonymous interview with a local paper, the guy 31/03/02 Sun. Doon MC1 10.0 335 2.30 2 Mites From Doon, Co Limerick. club is small and friendly, and values the social responsible said that the idea came to him as he 17104102 Wed. Killiney Relay - 1.5 85 7.30 Killiney Park, Killiney, Co. Dublin I~I 24/04/02 Wed. Goat Flash (beach) - 4.5 000 7.30 Dollymount Strand. Junction of James Larkin and side of the sport as much as the athletic - of the was out mountainbiking with his friends. Late I Causeway Roads thirty or so at an event, only a handful will this summer, the police finally made an arrest; a 5105/02 Sun Lugnaquilla IC1/LC1/KoM 10.1 718 12.00 Camara Hill Track. Glen of tmaal. Co. Wicklow actually run. Matt Dixon, the affable President, marketing consultant in his fifties was taken in Gr.S984929 01/05/02 Wed. Hell Fire Flicker LL1 3.4 120 7.30 Hell Fire Woods. Kitlakee. Rathfamham. Co. says that interest has been waxing and waning and charged with damage to property worth $5.5 Dublin - Gr. 0121237 over the years and they arc now growing again million. 05/05/02 Sun. Claragh Mountain MC2 6.2 352 8.00'Millstreet, Co. Cork. after a slump. They're looking to do better maps 08/05/02 Wed. Sugarloaf Rush LL2 3.7 213 7.30 Old Calary Filling Station. 2.5 mites from and to and increase the number of events to about This is a surprisingly strong undercurrent in the Kilmacanogue on Roundwood Road. Gr. 0228123 11{05l02 Sat. KNOCKDHU INT'L tNT/PC 7.6 448 1.00 Carncaslle, near Lame Co. Antrim one a month. Many of the members use the sport United States and is in the tradition of the 12105/02 Sun. Round Mountain LC2 8.0 335 3.00 Lumpers Pub. Off Dundalk/Greenore road. Co. as an opportunity to hone navigation skills for maverick ecologist Edward Abbey, whose Louth. Gr. J004108 backcountry hiking - skills I would guess not writings in the seventies glamourised acts of ceo- 15/05/02 Wed. Three Rock Dash LL3 4.8 198 7,30 Ticknock Car Park, near Lamb Doyle's, Sandyford. Co. Dublin. Gr. 0168240 native to Phoenix dwellers. In a city which, apart sabotage. His famous dictum was "You don't 19/05/02 Sun. Circuit of Glenmacnass LC3 19.0 1040 12.00 1km north of Laragh on Military Road from a few rocky outcrops, is flat for about thirty argue with engineers - you derail them." (GR T 140975) miles in any direction and has all roads 74 The Irish Qrienleer The fl-ish Qrienl'eer 15 Orienteering work out all the details well before a big Weekend warriors Using event I was not all that happy with chis time- Smaller parallel errors scale. Progression Map reading skills very good Know all the techniques but are lazy about using SPORTident Licence fees It is my opinion that, allowing for the usual them The training weekend was useful but proved mixing and matching between levels, orienteers No race preparation until the morning of the race - an Organiser's ~II tend to follow these patterns through the stages of Not generally nervous before races but like to do to be only the starting point. The first issue their orienteering development: well Perspective that arose was how to obtain a license to use I Can make errors of between 3 and 15 minutes the event software (062000 © Stephan New to sport: After the Leinster Championships in Kramer). [was somewhat surprised thai a Most time is spent scratching heads trying to Serious competitors small club had to purchase a new copy for a understand all the map and desoription symbols. Systematic in their training Mullaghmeen, Ipromised to write a once off small event. 1had wrongly thought Stop a lot to interpret the map Orienteering system is inconsistent but it exists short note for no on my experience that an lOA licence would have been bought II Common errors are huge parallel errors, map Excellent technique and map reading skills using the SPORTident electronic for the limited number of events and misinterpretation, erroneous direction/bearing Nervous before races participants involved in this country. A trial Distancejudgment can be way off Do not know how fast they can or need to run to timing system for the first time. It is version of the software was downloaded avoid mistakes now about three months on, but III1I from the Internet (www.sportsoftware.dc) Novice/Junior Rarely miss more than 6 minutes in a race better late than never! Many of us Stop and go style orienteering, stop to map read and once the license fee was posted the and make decisions Elite have seen the system work license number allowing full use was sent Sprint to controls and then stand there gelling Systematic in their training and racing wonderfully at large events such as immediately bye-mail. A number of other ready for the next leg for about 20 seconds or preparation the Scottish 6-day and some Irish programs also needed 10 be downloaded, more Orienteering system is perfected, rarely stop events. As the lOA had invested in including the SPORTident hardware Huge parallel errors, poor distance judgment during II race manager. A hard copy (on CD) of all these Tend to take chances but are able to recover the system, it seemed like a good programs was needed to load them on to the Intermediate quickly idea to give it a go for the Leinster field computers. The software end of things Smoother, fewer errors, tougher courses hence Nervous before races but have techniques to was finally sorted.out by the end of January, errors can still be map misinterpretation handle it Championships in 2001. As you Large parallel errors, run too far or hesitant and Know when to slow down or even stop if the know these were scheduled for last but this left only about five weeks before the not far enough situation requires March but were postponed until event, with a lot of playing around to be Take chances, have learned about attack points Rarely miss more than 3 minutes in a race. done (the only way to learn any package'). but don't use them. September on account of the foot Lack in confidence so tend to read all map details and mouth outbreak. Set-up - Ted de St Croix (100 percent precision map readers) The first thing to do is set up the event on the Make errors of 10- 20 minutes each race (Ted Is one of Canada's best known orienleers.) 1 began to make enquiries about 6 months OE2000 program (by the way, this has since before the original event date and found that been upgraded to OE 200 l). Classes, Remember, for round the clock it was more difficult than I thought to obtain courses and all controls are required. We information about the hardware and the were using a di ffcrent programme orienteering information on lOA events software. People who had used it before (WINCACS) for course descriptions and assured me that it was easy to use and the overprinting, so only the control codes were ring 1890-925023, on NIOA. events ring benefits far outweighed the effort involved. needed. A preliminary list of clubs is set up 0044-07020-963986 or check the lOA web When 1 made more enquiries about getting and this can be added to as new ones show my hands on equipment, etc. 1was told that up with the entries. It appears that club page at www.orlenteerinq.le or the NIOA it would be best to wait for the lOA training secretaries in other parts of Europe enter weekend in January and that all would be their members for events and so there is no page at www.niorienteering.org.uk. revealed in due course. Now as 1 am the facility for individual addresses (you may type of organiser who likes lots of time to have noticed hand written envclopesl). /6 TireIrish Orienteer V,e Irish Oriellleer 17 Entering data is generally straightforward, Dry Run life (the shutdown time was set for 16:00). record a beep and shortly afterwards the LUUt although confmning every change before it We decided that the best way to really test All units had to be checked before the first failed totally. We had the evidence needed is accepted 1S somewhat annoying. Sl card the system was to set up a mock event using off at II :00. We found that one unit had to award the control to those that had been numbers were assigned manually where 20 controls, 9 classes, 3 courses and 20 failed to start up but fortunately this was disqualified, much to the relief of those these were to be rented. The real fun came competitors and to run this in Dave picked up in time to replace it. involved. Results were printed periodically when it came to assigning start times using Weston's back garden. This was done two using an inkjet printer (we even had a spare the software. We were fortunate that Martin weeks before the rescheduled Now wait ... printer and lots of ink cartridges). The ease Flynn from AJAX had agreed (0 do this for Championships and involved all the Then it was only a matter of waiting for the of getting results is a major advantage of the us as he had warned that this was tricky, and hardware for the event - including computer, first finisher. We used an actual finish system. Individual runs are validated how right he was! After a marathon late power generator, results printer, thermal control and competitors could then walk immediately and results can be printed at night session adjusting times to avoid splits printer, etc. The experience proved to down to the results tent where their times any time during the event. We used the clashes (these showed up in red), the job was be well worthwhile and let us sort out were downloaded to the event computer - backup computer for printing as this finally done but would have been far easier problems without the pressure of the real :1 we used a laptop powered by a petrol allowed input of finishers to continue manually or on a spread sheet and then thing. We must admit that had the event generator via a UPS unit and an anti-surge uninterrupted. transferred to 0.132000. This problem was gone ahead in March we could not have had block just to be sure! We also had a second partially of our own making as we had too the benefit of this experiment. One of the laptop as a backup and updated the event Verdict few start bands (groups of courses that can most 'worrying aspects of the test event was data to this every J 5 minutes. The first Having had a successful event, Ican say that start in the same time slot). Ideally every that two control units malfunctioned, having competitor arrived in duo course and the SJ SPORTident worked very well and was course should be in a separate band but this failed to start up in one case or not read the card was read to validate the result. The worth the effort. We like and expect our would mean a large number of first controls. Sl cards in the other. There was no apparent competitor then proceeded further to print orienteering events to be up to the best So we learned about this the hard way. reason for this failure. We also had the split limes on the stand-alone thermal international standards and I am not problems with recharging the thermal printer. We noticed that this printer would contesting this. But given the scale of our Hardware printer (to work without mains power), but not print the splits for a small number of events (we had around 300 entries), the So much for the software, what about the instructions were finally obtained from the competitors but we were unable to find out organising effort involved is considerable. hardware? We had some initial problems supplier in Germany to perform this simple why! In addition to the complexities ofSI, there is with COM port settings (the input task. the usual effort of getting a new map connection to the computer) but got this Disqualifications printed, overprinting of courses, producing sorted out quickly. You are familiar with the Final checks All went well and very few problems arose control descriptions, bagging and scaling, SI boxes placed in the forest at the control Because of our problems with the test event, until we started to disqualify a number of etc. But why complain? After all 1 did sites. Each of these has to be programmed two days before the actual event all control competitors for not punching a particular volunteer to organise yet another Leinster for the event before they are put out in the units were programmed to start up and run control. These were over a number of Championships and perhaps could be forest. This is a relatively straightforward for five minutes. This was successful and all courses and involved only about 6 persuaded again, given a sufficient rest. process. The S1 manager program checks functioned properly. Then we were all set to competitors who had all protested that they the battery life in each control unit and it programme the units before setting out for l~ had punched correctly. Some people had Brian Power will indicate if there is a problem for the the forest on Saturday morning. I have to indicated that this same control took a Setanta Orienteers duration required for the event. We were say that we were not fully satisfied with the ~, number of attempts before it registered a December 200 I t using units where the battery life remaining use of plastic fencing posts to mount the beep, so it needed to be investigated. As the was running lower than we would have liked oontrol boxes, but they did do the job! We control was near the start, we were able to (some with usage as high as 70%), but this think that this aspect could be improved retrieve it early and carry out some tests. It If you don't have your was outside of our control. It is necessary to considerably. All units were programmed to appeared to work properly. We could not become familiar with the equipment long start up at 10:00 am on the morning of the download the SI cards from this unit until own Sportldent key, before the event by playing with it to test event. They cannot be checked before this after the shut down time at 16:00, which was contact the lOA who have how to programme units and how to read the point, so we had only one hour to do this. too late (you can then see all the cards that S1cards and produce results. We could have programmed an earlier start- punched). Then we noticed an anomaly - stocks for sale. up time, but were concerned about battery some cards took a number of attempts to 18 The Irish Orienleer The Irish Orienleer 19 the trial: you alone have to prove there and then and last in the long. No real complaints with the control might be and there it is, my luck isn't that you're up to the test set by the course having to hang around for a bit but starting in the gone completely. D£AR DIARY planner. It's a level playing field with the same midday sun could be a bit nasty. Set the compass for no. 7. Across some bare rock, ••• test for all, the performance of others doesn't Today seems a bit like the calm before the storm, cross tbe road, watching the vegetation change matter. That will come later when it's time to everyone is starting to get a bit more focused on on the left Re-entrant with marsh ahead, cross the task ahead of us. My head is very clear on G£N'S P~tr;c.k Ca!tly kept. cli.vy cl"v;..~ t"'e tvDC polish or bandage an ego. that and the marsh isjust above it. what J have to do and I'm fully aware of how No.8 is going to be difficult, on II boulder in the Tv;.lf i.. fi"lll ...t. Here lIye !o,...e e>