Cover Photo: Nikolay Ryabkov outside the Gherkin at the London City Race WINTER 08/09 NOMINATIONS FOR THE SILVA Welcome to AWARD FOR SERVICES TO 2009 In 1983 SILVA () AB decided to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the first Silva by establishing an annual award within each IOF member Federation. The awards were to enable Federations Welcome to the last edition of Focus for 2008. It has been a packed year with lots to honour those who have contributed of exciting events and new initiatives taking place. This year has mainly focused on in a special way to the development of developing our Whole Plan (Page 24) and putting in place strategies to achieve orienteering. With the assistance of SILVA our vision of “More Places, More People, More Podiums”. (UK) Ltd this was interpreted within the UK We have made a fantastic start to achieving these aims with more urban O events as being a person or persons who have taking place this year (see the London City Race article), a growing membership (see made a very significant contribution to the Buxton Satellite Club article) and orienteering over a period of years, with of more podiums which we an emphasis on ‘field’ activities rather than all celebrated when Graham, Jon committee work. Indeed, nominees may and Jamie won Gold at the World not be active or retiring members of British Championships. Orienteering Council, nor part or full-time employees of the Federation. Lastly, may I wish all our members a Merry Christmas and a Happy All members can nominate someone New Year from everybody at British they believe has made a significant Orienteering. contribution to orienteering through ‘field’ activities. Nomination forms can be found Caroline Povey on the British Orienteering website in the Marketing Manager Downloads section. The nomination deadline is Friday 30th January 2009. The Board will make the final decision on the successful candidate. The award will be presented at British Orienteering Calendar the AGM on the 11th April 2009. The 2009 British Orienteering Calendar is now on sale. The photos used CLUB CONTACT UPDATE in the calendar are the winning entries of our photo competition. British Orienteering are currently updating our records and would like to make sure Congratulations to Peter we hold up-to-date information on all Club Cull, Mark Jesson, Officials. It is important we hold all the Robert Johnson, Mark current names and contact details to ensure Cheesman, Rob Lines, we send out relevant information to the most Iain Smith Ward, Ben appropriate people within clubs. Please can Chesters, Dave McCann, each club submit the names of their Chair, Jason Inman, Oliver Treasurer, Secretary, Membership Secretary, O’Brien, Chris Branford Fixtures Secretary, Welfare Officer and and Soren Andersson for Publicity Officer to their winning photos. [email protected]

Each month has listed FOCUS DELIVERY PROBLEMS the major orienteering events that are taking Apologies for the time it took for the last place that month and publication of Focus to be delivered to some space for you to add of you. The materials for the mailing were all your own events/special with the mailing house on time, unfortunately occasions. after that it becomes confusing – the mailing house do the collation, envelope filling and The calendar costs delivery to the posting service and then £6.99 including P&P the posting service process it. We believe (please contact us for the delivery of the last Focus was spread international postage). over almost 4 weeks and we are unable to Orders can be placed clarify where the issue was. Unfortunately via the National Office using a posting service and ‘pre-processing’ and cheques should be the mailout saves almost £2,000 on each made payable to British distribution of Focus so there is value in Orienteering. Orders will the service. We are currently discussing be taken until the 16th solutions to the distribution of Focus that will January. enable us to provide a better service to you, our members.

More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3)  Chief Executive’s Official Notice of the profile in the IOF for some Mike Hamilton time now. Sue Harvey was its 2009 ANNUAL Chief Executive President for many years (and GENERAL MEETING is now Honorary President of the British Orienteering Federation Update for Life) and Brian Porteous KNOW (former British Orienteering In accordance with Article Whole Sport Plan and Funding Professional Officer) is now 19 of the British Orienteering YOUR a Vice President. In addition, Since we prepared the last Focus publication, members of staff have spent a significant four other Brits do Commission Federation’s Articles of amount of time turning our Whole Sport Plan (WSP) into submissions for funding. You work with David Rosen and Association, notice is hereby may wonder how these are different. The Whole Sport Plan represents the thinking Brian Parker chairing the Rules given that the 28th Annual and Environment Commissions about where orienteering is currently, where we would like it to be in the future, and how IOF, this number is increasing General Meeting of the British WHAT DOES IT MATTER and David May and Erik it will bring this about. The funding submissions are interpretations of the Whole Sport IOFTO US? AND WHAT DO year by year as development Orienteering Federation will be Peckett serving on the Foot-O proceeds. Plan into funding partner speak i.e. riddled with council jargon! Another difference WE MATTER TO THE IOF? and Commissions. held on Saturday 11th April 2009 is that our funding partners have their own targets from Government to meet and will Briefly, without the IOF The IOF is run by an 11 at The Blue Bell Hotel, Market With more IOF members only fund activities that align with their targets. There is more information on the Whole we would not have any member Council which Place, Belford, Northumberland, than any country other than common standards between oversees four main “discipline” Sport Plan and the various interpretations of the plan on page 24. , the British influence NE70 7NE starting at 5:00pm. orienteering in Britain and Commissions and a series of in the IOF is very strong. service Commissions. These orienteering elsewhere in However, the current economic Proposals for submission to the AGM As far as funding is concerned we are fortunate c) When the Ranking Workgroup report and deal with areas such as Rules, British Orienteering Website the world. Our are climate, coupled with the must be received in writing at the that the ‘increasing participation’ theme that The website is over a year old and we will recommendations are received and agreed IT, Environment, Mapping drawn to IOF standards, our 2012 Olympics effect, means National Office at least 50 clear days is so strong within our WSP is echoed by the be looking to review the site over the next the new version of the ranking system will be and Medicine and some 55 control descriptions are those that external funding for such before the meeting: that is, by Thursday funding partners across the UK. The situation few months. We will also be adding some brought fully into the current website volunteers from 21 different formulated by the IOF and representation has become 19th February 2009, signed by two regarding confirmation of funding is different in functionality in January when the Events countries serve on these our rules are based very firmly unpredictable and the future voting members of British Orienteering the various countries that British Orienteering section will be significantly altered. The Whilst mentioning the commitment of Pat Commissions. indeed on those of the IOF. for this British influence is as proposer and seconder. A acts across: changes for many users will primarily be with Martin I should note the excellent services therefore somewhat uncertain. supporting statement may accompany the fixtures list about which there is more provided by other committed people who have In addition, current the proposal, as may a statement from • UK Activities: Our Performance Plan is At the elite level, the IOF information in a later article. However there are helped British Orienteering significantly over the and recent elite the Officers of the British Orienteering currently funded by UK Sport and we develops and co-ordinates the other changes including: years in similar activities; Michael Napier whose runners serve Federation. should know if the funding they provide is to membership system (and other software) has international programme of on Athletes top races, ranging from World continue from the 1st April 2009 by the end of a) The ability for club fixtures secretaries to been the mainstay of British Orienteering and Commissions for Ranking Events to the World Nominations of candidates for election December; if not it will cause a significant hole register events online via their member login. Mike Cumpstey who continues to provide foot, mountain bike Championships, not just for to the Board must be received in in our budget for 2009 onwards. We are not bringing all fixture secretaries on excellent support to members who use his and orienteering. but also for writing at the National Office at least • England: Sport England has a major to the system at once, the plan is to bring rankings software. The whole is served ski, mountain bike and Trail 50 clear days before the meeting: that commitment to Government to deliver against people into the system in a managed way by a professional staff orienteering too. The IOF Event is, by Thursday 19th February 2009. 3 targets; growth in participation, participant with the first 4-8 club fixtures secretaries Coaching of three. It receives Adviser scheme encourages Nominations can be made on paper satisfaction and establishing strong talent being trained and supported during Having already mentioned the Whole Sport no sponsorship and the spread of good practice signed by two voting members of pathways in sports. Fortunately all three align December followed by batches of fixture Plan and increasing participation I should is funded entirely by and ensures event quality too. British Orienteering as proposer and strongly with our WSP. We should be informed secretaries probably in fortnightly intervals follow this up by saying that we are aware fees from member At the same time, the IOF is seconder or by email supported by e- of our funding agreement by the end of in the New Year. In that way we can provide a significant area of work over the next few Federations and developing orienteering in mails from two voting members of the December 2008 and the agreement will cover the support that may be necessary for years will have to be to increase the number of levies from IOF countries where no tradition of Federation as proposer and seconder the 4 years from April 2009 to March 2013. some. As the roll out of users commences volunteers (and paid people) that can provide events. the sport exists and there are of the nomination. If e-mail is used, • Northern Ireland: A submission has now we will gain experience and adjust the roll coaching and stage events. the Secretary will send requests for been made to Sport Northern Ireland and currently some 70 nations with out accordingly. British Orienteering confirmation to the candidate, proposer if successful funding will commence from Federations attached to the b) The map database used by mappers is There is a small group of people both staff and has had a very high and seconder at their e-mail addresses April 2009. Philip Baxter has put some being moved fully into the system; initially volunteers who have built the foundations for as known to British Orienteering, and excellent work into the submission and British mappers will be able to look up maps but the new coaching structure and prepared the will only accept the nomination if email Orienteering staff, and Chair, have provided will not be able to register maps online – that organisation for the challenges of the next few confirmation is received from all three support where it’s been appropriate. The should be rolled out during the late spring years. A big thank you to these people. people within 7 days. Nominations may British Orienteering Board has endorsed the period. As a consequence of their work, the new Recent IOF News be accompanied by a pen portrait of submission and plan. Teaching Orienteering courses were launched • IOF Honours list: David May and David Rosen were up to 150 words for each candidate • Scotland: Scottish Orienteering Association and 57 tutors have now been trained with over The changes brought about to the event two of the four IOF delegates to be awarded the proposed for election; any such pen have agreed, in principle, a 4 year strategy 800 teachers now delivering orienteering in registration system should make the life Silver Pin of Honour this year, becoming the third portraits must be received at the with Sport Scotland and SOA are now schools since attending courses in 2008 – an of National Fixtures Secretary, Pat Martin, and fourth British holders of this rarely awarded National Office at least 40 clear days submitting for funding to be confirmed for amazing statistic. considerably easier as he currently spends honour. before the meeting: that is, by Sunday 2009. many hours each week entering new • The Rules Commission is undergoing a reshaping 1st March 2009. • Wales: Although some excellent work was During 2008 the UK Coaching Certificate Level registrations and modifying those already in; as some of its work is being transferred elsewhere. done by Welsh Orienteering with the support 1 has been piloted and implemented. 20 tutors these tasks will now be performed by club and David Rosen remains the Chair of the slimmed The posts for election at the AGM are of John Palmer in producing a Development have been trained with another 16 working association fixture secretaries. I hasten to add down group. for Directors to sit on the Board of the Plan for Orienteering in Wales we have so towards qualification. Another 11 have qualified that this should not be an increase in workload • Anne Braggins has recently stepped down as Chair British Orienteering Federation. Three far not been able to convince Sport Wales to as assessors, with 30 more working towards for these association and club volunteers who of the Commission. Directors will be elected; if the number provide financial support for the plan. British qualification. currently type registrations onto word forms. • will host the 2012 WOC whilst the 2011 of nominations is equal to or fewer than Orienteering has been closely involved in Once we are confident we have ‘bedded in’ WMOC and JWOC were awarded to Hungary and the number required e.g. three, the supporting this initiative and will continue to In February I will be putting the Chief Executive the event registration system and fixture list into Poland respectively. nominated candidates will be deemed support the volunteers in Wales in trying to ‘hat’ on the peg for a weekend and replacing it the website we will enable other aspects of the • The 2009 World Cup Special Rules have been elected. If insufficient nominations gain funding for the plan. with my coaching hat to facilitate the Coaching system including: published. These rules have been improved from are received, the Board may co-opt Conference – it’s going to be an interesting 2008 to include a qualification race for each someone to fill the vacancy, and their Events experience for me and hopefully will help the a) An online entry system for clubs to use if World Cup. Therefore an athlete does not have to term of office will be until the next Closer to the hearts of many of you will be the orienteering coaches attending the Conference they wish compete in the whole series to qualify for the A final. Annual General Meeting. competitions and events structure for 2009. b) A results service which will enable members consider what they coach, when they coach On page 26 of this edition of Focus I have tried it and how they coach it. It should prove an to track their performances through the Mike Hamilton to pull together various documents to provide interesting experience for all but definitely a For further information on the IOF visit member login section Company Secretary you with a simple guide to these changes and ‘one-off’! www.orienteering.org 1st December 2008 explain how they will be implemented.

 Orienteering Focus - Winter 2008/09 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3)  “

“What a fantastic race. The map was good, courses extremely technical and weather superb. You could not have found a better assembly area. Definitely my favourite Urban race of the year. Roll on the next one.” - Mary Nixon

encountered a woman chasing two youngsters. Despite playing down their actions, both men Orienteering Recognising that they had stolen her handbag, deserve a great deal of praise for what they he gave chase and quickly caught both before did, as do all the other orienteer’s who either pulling them to the ground with a rugby tackle, encountered problems with the youths in the causing them to drop the bag. While restraining Barbican or stopped to check that everything one, by sitting on him, the other youngster tried was alright while Neil and Mike held the young Hits London to escape but was spotted by Mike Bennett of thieves whilst waiting for the police. It also Report by Andrew Brown ~ Photos by Chris Shaw & Oliver O’Brien participants readied themselves for their runs. “Happy Herts. Despite a 50 metre headstart, and garnered the event some publicity, both in the Most chose to follow the suggestions to leave having already run several kilometres during the local press and the Times Business Section the cars behind for the weekend, another major race in which he would have finished amongst which mentioned it briefly - all publicity is good benefit of urban races, arriving by train or tube the top 10, Mike managed to catch the other publicity! At the inaugural City of London at Liverpool Street station which is located next culprit and return to Neil to wait for the police Orienteering Race Nick Barrable and to Broadgate Circle. to arrive. Meanwhile, for those chasing glory rather than Mhairi Mackenzie emerged from the thieves, it was tight at the top, with those on the Barbican complex relatively unscathed to The wait to race seemed to be worthwhile, Neil thought nothing of interrupting his race to podium away with prizes courtesy of take the honours in the open races, with as competitors returned from their courses prevent a robbery, saying: “It was particularly sponsors Clif and Nuun. close competition across the classes. beaming to enjoy some free Clif bars while unlucky for them to run out in front of me Others emerged from the Barbican with enthusing about everything from the complexity because, before I took up orienteering, I was a In the Women’s Elite race her comparatively mental scars, while for some competitors of the Barbican to the high quality of mapping keen rugby player who was often chasing down clean run through the Barbican gave Mhairi they emerged with cuts and grazes and planning from Oliver O’Brien. the opposition from behind - nice to know I Mackenzine victory, ahead of Becky Carlyle and from some heroic crimefighting which haven’t lost it completely!” Ukranian Galyna Petrenko. It could have been interrupted their race. For those who don’t know London, or the a very different top three had Oxford pair Alison Barbican complex, it’s a Grade II Listed 40 year He continued: “It was great to have helped Crocker and Amber Tomas not fallen foul of Over the last few years the popularity old residential estate of thirteen terrace blocks the poor lady and my standing with my young the multiple level complexities presented in the of urban orienteering has grown rapidly, on multiple levels, grouped around open spaces daughters has shot up - tackling robbers has Barbican. with the realisation that the complex and linked by raised walkways. As Murray made me a bit of a super-hero!” and confusing urban terrain available Strain said after the race, “I had looked at the In the Men’s Elite race it was a similar story, as on everyone’s doorstep across the Barbican on Google Earth and thought ‘what’s Mike said of events: “I had actually run past a cleaner section through the Barbican gave UK, regardless of season, can provide difficult about that?’ - it’s just going to be long the site of the incident and was just having Nick Barrable a victory of 70 seconds over a significant challenge to all. Given lines of buildings and you’ll just need to go left a moment’s indecision about whether I was Murray Strain, with Ant Squire a further couple this popularity, and with events having or right, I didn’t fully expect the multiple levels on the right level of the Barbican when the of minutes adrift. been staged in a wide variety of urban and it took a while to get my head round that.” commotion started. As I turned I saw the lads environments in Edinburgh, Glasgow, drop the bag and the unfortunate victim slip on Elsewhere there were closely fought victories Lincoln, Oxford, Stirling, Stockport, The Barbican was always going to be the focal the damp pavement as she ran to retrieve it. in the Men’s and Women’s Vet classes, with Warwick and York amongst others, the point for this race, and so it proved in more Neil had already tackled one and there was no Martin Ward and Sarah Francis emerging opportunity to race around London ways than one, as it not only proved to be the one else to go after the other one. Despite a victorious. Peter Bray of Southern Navigators

was always going to offer a tantalising undoing of many competitors clean runs but good headstart, I managed to catch him before comfortably won the Junior race as did Peter prospect to competitors. also the scene of some crimefighting by race he escaped into the maze of walkways.” Gorvett in the Men’s Super Vet course, while participants. Sarah Brown of host club South London took With almost 400 entries from across the Women’s Super Vet class. the UK and Europe, the easy access to While most of the competitors had to

the city and promise of a spectacular stop and think whilst finding their way sightseeing tour around the city was around the Barbican with its multi-level enticing to many. As has previously been complexity, two competitors were seen with the popularity of the Oxford quick thinking enough to prevent a City Race, the prospect of robbery. Neil Wearing of Saxons was through historic alleyways and past running through the Barbican when he dramatic architecture, is a big draw for competitors. For London it wasn’t the “ famous college quadrants, but instead a range of buildings from the towering skyscrapers of major corporations to the labyrinthine walkways of the Barbican estate that attracted competitors, with the opportunity to run past iconic landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral and the Gherkin. “I came over from France specifically On a glorious sunny day, with for the race and wasn’t disappointed. I temperatures creeping up towards thought the map was superb, the course 20°C, the stunning amphitheatre like interesting and challenging, the venue event arena at Broadgate Circle quickly filled with the buzz of competition as inspired, and the Barbican wonderful!” - Anthony Cox  “ More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3)  Buxton’s Pavilion Gardens was the gained a very credible 6th place. One of the venue fot the Come and Try It Event Buxton and District Orienteers boys attended the regional round of the Yvette Benefits of Baker Trophy and came 6th on the orange A Satellite Club of DVO course. The East Midland coaches have got It is now two months since Buxton and District Orienteers their eye on him for the squad! Chris then decided to do his Level 1 coaching qualification launched their hugely successful first club night at Buxton Partnership Working having gained valuable experience through Community School. The weekly club night runs from 6:30pm to 8pm the work. The South Charnwood Partnership and has proved to be really popular with newcomers and beginners in with Local Schools. is running seven after school clubs over the the area. Each week around 30 people turn up to join in with a range of By Pauline Olivant winter and a second ten week coaching course is planned for March/May 2009. orienteering activities organised by lead coach Dan Riley. The satellite club I am sure Leicestershire Orienteering Club members would be the has already resulted in 59 new members for DVO. The improved exposure of orienteering in the first to tell you they had very little involvement with either schools or county resulted in it being chosen as a focus sport for school competition, as the schools The Buxton club is the first of various networks around two even juniors until they started the Club Mark process. themselves are now interested in orienteering. hopefully six satellite clubs that weeks before the event to They started out three years will be developed in Derbyshire ensure people received the ago with a link with the South and Nottinghamshire over the next information in adequate time Charnwood Schools Partnership three years. The development of the but also not too soon before An example of a and provided a woodland club has been possible through funding the event. In addition to the festival day for over 100 primary school map obtained by the East Midland Orienteering flyers the SDO kindly put a children. This not only provided Association and its Regional Development news item on their website. a great day for the children, but Officer Pauline Olivant from the Sports enabled the club to have much England’s Community Investment Fund. At the event DVO members more of an insight into basic wore ‘Ask Me for Help’ coaching techniques. Whilst DVO were able to attract 35 people to the first club neon yellow bibs (available Chris Bosley led for the club as night through the support of the High Peak Borough from British Orienteering) so a volunteer, Judith Holt, started Councils Sports Development Officer (SDO) Chris newcomers knew exactly her coaching qualification by Nightingale and the High Peak School Sport Partnership who to ask for advice. DVO attending a Level 1 course and Development Manager (PDM) Dawn Richardson. The used their own banners, has now moved on to qualify at High peak’s SDO was able to suggest possible venues for signs and arrow’s to direct Level 3. This link has not only the club night and it was decided that Buxton Community people to the registration promoted orienteering to many School would be an ideal venue. The school has a sports hall more people but is reaping that the club can use and is located in the centre of town close rewards in terms of attracting to other local schools and an excellent park for ‘O’. The more families to attend club School Sports Coordinator (SSCo) at Buxton Community School events on a regular basis. Richard Gartside who organised the use of the school for the club also had a link with the local newspaper and put a column in In summer 2007 the Oadby and the Buxton Advertiser about the new club. area in the park Wigston Schools Partnership as well as the new Development Manager then A “Come and Try It” event was organised to promote the club ’Come and have a approached me to see if we to newcomers and this took place on the Saturday before go at orienteering’ could develop a series of after the first club night. The Pavilion Gardens in Buxton was the banner available from school competitions. I arranged excellent location and the council were supportive in organising British Orienteering a training course for all their the permissions to map the venue and for the ‘Come and Try that was designed secondary School Sport Co- It’ to take place. Publicity material was produced using the new by Rob Lines of ordinators (SSCo) and two club online publicity portal developed by British Orienteering and Southdowns. members, Roger Edwards and both flyers and posters were produced for the ‘Come and Try Roger Kelly, also attended to it’ event and the new club night. The PDM and SDO distributed The DVO members Val Johnson introduces see what type of competition the information through all the local schools and I was able to organising the event children to orienteering could be run. The Partnership find a contact at the local university to send an all staff email out were excellent at organised most of the funding about the event, inviting families and newcomers to come and making people feel through their school club link have a go at orienteering. Publicity material went out through the welcome which I think is essential to an events success. They project and it was agreed were happy to approach people to ensure participants gained this type of event in our Teaching Orienteering We agreed to provide very limited support for that LEI would map the secondary school a good, friendly experience from the event. The lead coach at resources. their initial events for school site competitions. campuses which often included a high school, Buxton and District Orienteers was there to introduce himself Most of the organisation is done by the staff, primary school and community college. to potential new members and was also able to answer any The final two events used SI punching. The co-ordinated by the County Competition questions regarding the weekly club night. club only needed to provide very limited help Managers using the National Schools It was agreed there would be a league of five for the school competition and in return has Competition Framework. Next June the club The weekly club has been a huge success so far and a lot of hard after school competitions approximately once gained the use of two new areas for its evening will help to run the first Leicestershire schools work has been put in by both DVO and the lead coach Dan Riley. a month. Although the children were Year summer league series, thus helping to relieve orienteering final. This will enable several Due to the location of the club it is hoped that both current DVO 8, the Head to Head Sprint format with pin pressure on more traditional areas. Four hundred selected children to experience and MDOC members will also benefit from the regular activities punches was used, as this was the first time Sprints are proposed for next year’s summer orienteering in a new area in a nearby part of taking place each week and this provides the potential for the the majority of them had been in involved in programme to provide additional variety. the National Forest. clubs to work together in the future on events in the area. The club orienteering. Roger Kelly and I helped on the night has so far consisted of a combination of Street ‘O’ activities, day, but the SSCo’s ran the competition. The The club was then given the opportunity to Finally, the club has been invited to share in indoor mapping exercises and basic physical training such as next two events were run by the teachers apply for funding from the ‘Sport Unlimited’ pot a new County Council Sports celebration circuit training and running to give the new members a taste of with a little help from Roger who armchair to run ten weeks of “out of school” coaching to evening in 2009, giving an opportunity to all aspects of orienteering and to develop their skills in order to controlled their courses and used OCAD to develop the children further. This included four showcase orienteering. The partnership attend local events. Members are already travelling to local events place control circles on their map. With the Saturday morning events, where the children working has not only promoted orienteering and it is only a matter of time before we will be seeing some keen practical experience gained the Partnership met and competed against club members. in the County, but it has already opened up new faces at the JK! Development Manager has assisted me in re- A very visible and prominent Four of the girls from Abington High attended other opportunities for the club for funding and location generated lots of interest Report by Steve Vernon, Participation Manager developing the scoring work that accompanies the British Schools Score Championships and outside support. Photos by Stephen Kimberley

 Orienteering Focus -Winter 2008/09 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3)  LEI POCS Northamptonshire County Council have recently paid for an update of the Irchester map which contains interesting features due to it’s mining past

LEI Permanent Orienteering Course Development By John Marriott LEI POC Co-ordinator Leicestershire Orienteering Club (LEI) is a relatively small club based in the East Midlands. During 2008 it will have organised 49 events, including a popular Summer League. In 2006 the club formulated a Development Plan to increase participation in the sport and attract more active members.

Permanent Orienteering Courses It was clearly desirable to standardise these and encourage some to attend “proper” events. Experience So Far Like many clubs, LEI has some Permanent it was felt that we should try to include a White This could offset the loss of income from POC It is now clear that the work we have done to Orienteering Courses (POCs) but many were course for beginners. In appropriate areas, we pack sales and with luck we might increase create more POCs and publicise them has quite old and getting past their sell by date. also wanted to facilitate simple training exercises, membership, with further benefits to the club. increased awareness of orienteering. However, Some had been vandalised or had been affected such as Stars (out and back) and Loops (visiting the work involved in setting them up has proved by map changes, so the position a year ago was a small group of posts and returning to the start). This facility went live on the LEI website in August to be quite time consuming and ongoing that we only had four areas with some usable We created some Teaching Packs to go with 08. We now have a form which allows people to maintenance can be a problem in some areas. courses. As part of the development process, these. select the POCs they want and specify an email In the area with highest loss of posts we have a we decided that more could be done to make address. This automatically generates an email partnership with a Community College where we POCs a shop window for orienteering. This led The National Forest which was established 11 with a zip file attachment containing the relevant pay for new posts and the pupils finish them off to a review of courses at existing venues and a years ago is now providing some promising new maps in pdf format, with control descriptions on and install them. We are hoping this will reduce desire to create more POCs in popular locations venues. In 2007 the National Forest Company the map where space permits. It also includes the losses of the high visibility posts. rather than buried away in forests. offered us funding to develop some new POCs instructions on what to do and a control “card” in the Forest by April 2008. This came with a which people can use to write down check Some club members visit POC locations Getting things right in the “woods” is only part requirement for us to seek funding from other letters, as I feel it will be quite some time before regularly and we have sought volunteers of the equation. POC participants also require sources. With the help of the County Council, electronic punching gets to POCs! Completing to “Adopt a POC”, which mainly involves a at least a map and some control descriptions. the Woodland Trust, the Forestry Commission the pack is a pdf version of the British check of the POC posts. We are still trying to Many POCs are located in country parks and and the stirling efforts of some members of Orienteering “Adventure Sport For All” leaflet. perfect the ideal POC post in terms of visibility, some have Visitor Centres, but opening hours LEI, new courses were planned and installed This was chosen for its professional appearance robustness and cost. The introduction of free vary a lot. Where possible the club sold POC by the deadline. As a result of the National and saved re-inventing the wheel with regards downloads has been successful in terms of packs (map, descriptions and supporting Forest funding five POC locations have been to explaining the intricacies of O-maps, route allowing people to try out POCs with minimum information) through a Visitor Centre, and in established or fully revised. We have also created choice, courses, classes, descriptions, etc. hassle and requires very little administration some cases, local council offices. The club or updated POCs at a further five locations now that it is set up. The number of downloads prepared the packs and sold them in bulk to the outside the National Forest, with assistance from Over the last 3 months we have added some is extremely encouraging and very much outlet at a discount creating a margin to cover local authorities and volunteers. boxes to the web form to seek information about higher than we would have expected using our handling costs. Sales were highest where the the people requesting the downloads and their A Google Maps screen shot from the LEI website showing the location of the POCs previous methods for distributing POC packs. outlet was on-site, opened daily and attracted Computer Wizardry proposed use, but the use of these is voluntary. Many downloads are being requested by people many visitors. At other locations with no outlet, One day I trawled through all the 200+ POC This will help us with planning new courses. of all courses can be seen on the LEI website POC locations. We have also created a small with limited or no experience of orienteering and the club sent map packs out by post on request locations listed on the British Orienteering There is also a feedback facility so people can in a Google Map which provides access to the poster to go on noticeboards. These refer to they are now aware of our website and what we in exchange for a cheque. This was all rather old website and discovered that some POC maps let us know if anything requires attention but this downloads. Over the last 3 months, 499 maps the club website and the facility to download do. We now have the ability to gain an insight fashioned and not particularly convenient for the could be downloaded. This way seemed open has seen little use. for 28 courses have been downloaded by 89 POC maps. A box has been added to the POC into how the POCs are being used which will club or attractive to the user. for us to do something similar. We considered people. web form to ask how people learnt about the assist us with their future development. Looking setting up an internet payment system so that The number of POCs on offer has steadily POC and feedback from this shows that the back, we have come a long way in the last year, New Courses we could sell the POC packs but eventually increased since we went live and there are now Other Publicity posters and leaflets have been quite effective. and it appears to have been well worthwhile. Existing POC courses typically offered 2 or 3 decided to try offering them as a free download 10 locations with downloadable maps, another We have developed some A4 tri-fold leaflets We have also increased publicity through termly courses ranging from Yellow to Green but these to make them more accessible. We hoped that 2 where maps can be obtained locally and a describing POCs and orienteering and these newsletters to schools. were not always planned to a particular standard. if we could attract more POC users, we might further 4 are under development. The location have been placed in plastic holders at some

10 Orienteering Focus -Winter 2008/09 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 11 DEVELOPMENT Club of the Year Competition

All British Orienteering affiliated clubs that our top three clubs will automatically are invited to enter the Club of the Year go forward into the national competition Havering and South Essex Orienteering Club (HAVOC) Competition. This year the emphasis is without having to re-write their forms. became the 28th English club to achieve Clubmark on how the club reaches out to the local accreditation. Like other small clubs, HAVOC, does community and how it develops all its The competition is sponsored by The not have many junior members but has a development members, whether as participants and/or Loughborough Building Society and programme which has included training new coaches and volunteers. In support of your entry clubs prizes will be awarded at the AGM. The running low key orienteering sessions to try to attract new should quote examples from 2008. top three clubs receive a cheque to put families. The Clubmark accreditation requires clubs to have towards their development projects. good management and programmes in place and as there Application forms are available on the are now almost 5,000 accredited clubs around the country website or by email from Hilary Palmer. As in 25 sports the Clubmark branding is becoming more in previous years we are using the CCPR widely understood. Sports Club of the Year entry form so

Many local authorities and schools make reduced charges to Clubmark clubs for facility hire and training course attendance. Here in British Orienteering we are also Development Committee Update prioritising Clubmark clubs for development project funding and other benefits. Below are some brief notes from January 2009. Projects should have aims such as increasing: the last two meetings held in June Recently, the Clubmark clubs were provided with a free • Sustained participation and club Funds Available and September that may be of banner for use at their local activity sessions so as to membership. For example a club advertise that they are welcoming and provide help for new interest to members. might apply for a grant towards a British Orienteering now has two distinct funds for the participants. A new grant from Sport England for innovative targeted publicity campaign in a support of different areas of orienteering. The funds school/club links projects in the spring will only be available Group discussion on ‘quality clubs’ localised part of their club area. This are listed below: for Clubmark clubs in England. and ‘volunteers’ might be part of the build-up to a series • Bertie and Elsie Ward Fund - Supporting juniors Two group discussions on ‘what makes a of regular, frequent activity sessions to Hilary Palmer draw in new people. directly Development Manager quality club’ and ‘volunteer development’ • British Orienteering Development Fund- Supporting took place. These were an opportunity for • The numbers of trained/qualified the sustained and overall development of the committee members to pinpoint key officials and coaches so as to provide orienteering. points to inform the Whole Sport Plan. It more club activities and provide more was agreed that: ‘satisfaction’ from their membership. Clubs or Associations are able to apply for these • Quality Clubs are well managed; offer Pilot projects have shown that grants. Application forms can be found on the website opportunities for everyone to develop newcomers are more likely to stay or can be sent out by the National Office and must be themselves through the sport; need to in the sport if they feel welcomed, accompanied by a copy of the budget for the project, meet regularly, frequently and ideally to that they are improving and that the copies of any other grant applications and copies of have a definite club base; offer a wide club offers more activities than just the club/association balance sheets. Applications range of activities and not just be event ‘competitions’ are assessed twice throughout the year. For more organising operations. Clubs and associations throughout the information, contact Laura Young by emailing [email protected] or telephone the • Volunteer recruitment needs to be well UK can apply for grants from this fund. National Office. managed in a club with roles clearly described and training/mentoring to Service Awards (to the sport of APPLICATION DATES: give people confidence. It is essential orienteering) to recognise / reward volunteers It was agreed that there should be Application Deadline 25th January 2009 and a club will need a volunteer national recognition of long and excellent Pre-assessment by 8th February co-ordinator(s) to help volunteer service by volunteers to the sport. Using development in the best possible way. the BSOA awards for Service to Schools Assessment by 22nd February Volunteer development in a club is part Orienteering and Outstanding Service to Payment by 3rd March of developing the individual members Schools Orienteering as a model, it was and various methods to train volunteers agreed that Development Committee Application Deadline 31st August 2009 such as online information for home should set up a system for nominations learning, workshops, mentoring/ to be received and for a panel to consider Pre-assessment by 7th September apprenticing are needed. the nominations and for the provision Assessment by 21st September of money from the British Orienteering Payment by 1st October Development Fund Grant Development Fund to award specially Applications designed, printed and framed certificates to those who are chosen by the panel. An application from the Barrow & District THE ‘O’ FOUNDATION OC for £4,425 was approved. This project Those who receive the award would be is to train / mentor new surveyors for named on a Roll of Honour on the web In 2007 British Orienteering set urban maps and to produce new park site and this would be added to each up a registered independent and urban maps in and around Barrow year. Awards for up to 50 people could charity called the ‘O’ in Furness so that the club can expand be made as appropriate. Nominations Foundation. The ‘O’ Foundation and have the ability to put on more local forms are available on the website and has monies from bequests events for themselves. The project is to try nominations should be received by the and legacies and includes the Bertie and Elsie Ward to expand the numbers and age range in 31st January. fund. Grant applications can be made for the ‘O’ the club so as to appeal to more adults. Foundation monies and are submitted twice yearly in Look out for details of this and line with the normal grant application procedure. For The committee is looking forward to EAOA Chairman, Caroline Louth, presents the HAVOC Clubmark other Development Committee more infromation on the ‘O’ Foundation, contact Laura receiving more applications at the end of certificate to Janet Biggs and other members of the club. initiatives on the website. Young at the National Office.

12 Orienteering Focus - Winter 2008/09 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 13 ORIENTEERING DEVELOPMENT AT KYLE OF LOCHALSH Orienteering reached a remote corner of the UK recently with the completion of a major development project near Kyle of Lochalsh. Perhaps best known to many as the “gateway to the isles”, former ferry terminal and now one end of the Skye Bridge, and the town near the much-photographed Eilean Donan castle.

Many years ago an area known as rock and contour detail. Tim has set up Balmacara was mapped, but there wasn’t “semi-permanent” markers for a range of enough local interest to make good use courses, with controls being moved every 2 of it, and the map wasn’t kept up to date. or 3 months. Now the Lochalsh Woodland Park (LWP), a group which includes the National Trust for The project was supported by a grant from Scotland, Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Orienteering and a £2000 grant from private landowners and land managers, the British Orienteering Development Fund; teachers, parents and various other local this led to subsequent lottery funding being residents have started to take an interest in awarded. LWP are hoping to host a big the sport. event there soon, but if you’re up there on holiday, do get a map and sample Tim’s courses.

Further information can be obtained via the National Orienteering Centre. Tel: 01479 861374 or email [email protected]

Hilary Quick

Participants on the Teaching Orienteering course

The area has now been completely re-mapped by NORWAYLast year the North West Junior Squad applied only been orienteering in for one day, TOURFredriksted SK training. This week it was hill reps, 2008terrain as there were no paths and it was Deeside Orienteering and for a grant of £975 from the Bertie and Elsie the NWJS still managed to produce some good where you ran up the hill for about 2 minutes complete wilderness. Everyone enjoyed the Leisure Maps, 10 people Ward Fund to pay towards a training camp to results. In H15-16 Lewis Taylor was 5th, Graham then orienteered down. courses and found they had to concentrate the have attended the Teaching Norway. The grant was awarded and back in Hemingway was 6th and in D15-16 Charlotte whole time. There were lots of coaches out in Orienteering Part 1 course August thirty nine juniors from the North West Watson was 5th. Everyone enjoyed the event On Wednesday we all went to Oslo. We found the forest and the reason, which we found out and one person has qualified made the journey to the Fredriksted club hut (especially the waffles that were on sale!) and the out pretty much straight away that there isn’t afterwards, was that wolves had been seen in as a British Orienteering called Skihytta where they would be staying. Norwegians made us feel very welcome. In the much to do in Oslo, so after a morning of the forest! Luckily they thought not to tell us Level 1 coach. Most of the Skihytta, as with a lot of places in Norway, is in evening we did group debriefs on the race and aimlessly wandering round we all met up at before hand! schools in the area have the middle of a big forest so it is possible to go thought about what we might like to work on for TGI Fridays for lunch. We then went to an The Ostfold region Long Distance had their grounds or nearby orienteering straight from the door. the rest of the week. event organised by a club in Oslo. The event Championship was on Saturday. This area woods mapped, and they was situated by a lake and there was a control had lots of knolls and quite a lot of us were are keen to set up inter- The next morning we did some training in The format for the next 5 days was usually hanging on a log in the middle of the lake – it out for considerable amounts of time. In the schools competitions next our groups around the hut to find out what training in the morning and evening and being looked like we were going to have to do some evening we played marsh football, which year. None of this would Norwegian terrain was like. Every group started at the hut or going in the afternoon. swimming! The Norwegians explained the format was something everyone had been looking have happened without the off with a map walk so we could see what Monday we went to an area called Gaustad; of the event but it was clear they were hiding forward to. Basically we found a marsh and vision and determination of different features look like on the ground. In here we did a star exercise and practised long something from us. After a half hour jog to the played football in the marsh, however it more Tim Sowood, an orienteer of Norway a crag on the map would be a crag taller legs. That evening we challenged some of the start, in which we saw some good views of Oslo, resembled rugby at times! many years, who moved to than you on the ground, not just a bit of rock in Norwegians to a two man sprint relay round the they threw the maps in the air and there was the area 4 years ago. the hillside as it can be in the Lakes sometimes. old Fredriksted town. This was really fun and a mad rush to grab them. When you looked at On the last day we went to the Ostfold region After the map walk we did a few more exercises the start area was good for spectating. Despite the map there were bits of proper map and also Relay Championship. This area was really nice This central area is ideal to before heading back to the hut for lunch. In the being against some fast Norwegians, the NWJS bits of hand drawn map and the course went and the relays were very exciting. This year’s introduce young children afternoon we went to a fjord to go swimming in managed to dominate the top three places. between the two, however the north lines didn’t World Champion, Anne Margerethe Hausken to orienteering and has the sea. The sea was really warm and there were match up so if you tried to take a bearing you was there and some of the boys went and got attracted huge interest diving boards you could jump off and a platform On Tuesday morning we went to an area called ended up getting horrendously lost! their chests signed by her! NWJS had some from local schools. Around you could swim out to which was fun. After Gillingsgrod where we had the option of doing good results with the D13-16 team coming it are slopes of natural dinner in the evening we went into a part of the a 5km or 7km course. For the first control you On Thursday we got up late and did some 2nd and the H13-16 team coming 3rd. forest, a small village and forest to do a clok relay in pairs. had the option of either up a 10m cliff training from the hut, then went to the FSK Everybody fully enjoyed the trip, had lots of fun agricultural land, leading or running round on the track. Running round training evening which was on a really nice area and gained a lot from the experience. Thank to higher slopes of mixed On Sunday it was the Ostfold region Middle the track proved to be quicker but some people by the sea and you could either do a 3.5km or you for helping fund our trip. forest and open land with Distance Championship. This was held by climbed the cliff for fun! This area was quite 7km course. ruins of military guard Fredriksted SK on an area called Solbrekke. technical and very rough. We found out that REPORT BY THE NORTH WEST posts, and the icing on The area was really nice and full concentration if there’s a cliff on a map in Norway it means The tour champs were on Friday on the north JUNIOR SQUAD the cake is a vast area of Map extract of Balmacara was needed to have good runs. Despite having there’s a cliff! In the evening we went to the part of Gillingsgrod. It was very challenging open hillside with excellent courtesy of DOLM

14 Orienteering Focus - Winter 2008/09 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 15 NOTICE BOARD WORLD RANKINGS WORLDCLASS Congratulations to Jamie Stevenson, Scott Fraser, Graham Gristwood, Oli Johnson and Sarah Rollins who are all ranked in the top 50. Five UKCC Level 1 Coach courses SUN, have taken place so far and there will AND STADIUMS IOF World Rankings (as of the 8th Nov 2008) West Cumberland be a full programme of courses in by Jenny Thornton and Julia Orienteering Club 2009 around the country – look for Blomquist MEN Since the new Teaching Orienteering have set up a 12 week details on the Developing Orienteering > 1 645 Daniel Hubmann SUI An invitation from the Club 2 41 Thierry Gueorgiou FRA courses were introduced earlier in the year series of both indoor Coaching > Courses Orientació Catalunya, Spain  13 Andrey Khramov RUS and outdoor physical meant that a team of six over 800 people (mostly teachers) have 18 0 Jamie Stevenson GBR and mental challenges had the opportunity to take attended the Part 1 course and 150 the for orienteering. part in the “Trofeu Ciutat de 30 240 Scott Fraser GBR Barcelona”. David Brickhill- 44 171 Graham Gristwood GBR The activities Matt Speake in the Relay Part 2 course Jones, Matt Speake, Jon 47 158 Oli Johnson GBR will be based at Photo Credit: Club Catalunya The DVO satellite club at Buxton has Rocke, Alice Butt, Julia 73 4982 Jonathon Duncan GBR Cockermouth School Blomquist and Jenny Thornton made up Club of the Year Competition and resulted in 59 new members for DVO. The final day was the highlight of the on Tuesday evenings the team and we soon found ourselves WOMEN The weekly club night (6:30pm - 8pm) has weekend - an urban sprint relay around Young Volunteer Award – get your in the Catalonian sun, heading into the (7:30 – 8:30pm) been running for nearly 3 months now at the Olympic Stadium hill! The grand 1 698 FIN Pyrenees for some pre-race training. entry in! throughout the Buxton Community School in the centre of setting made it an exciting race; fast 2 678 FIN winter months. and furious all the way through, with a  671 NOR Buxton with newcomers enjoying a range The areas we went training on were very great atmosphere that made for good of orienteering and physical training activities. physical and also technical in certain 30 024 Sarah Rollins GBR spectating as well as running. In the end, places. We were given contour only maps 59 4752 Pippa Whitehouse GBR both races were very close, with the girls to train on which ensured we would need 60 4747 Rachael Elder GBR managing to hold onto their lead and the British Orienteering’s new range of Southdowns Orienteers now have their ‘Club Night’ accurate and to put height 79 4532 Helen Bridle GBR boys just running out of time to catch up judgment into practice. My favorite training f lyers and posters have now been up and running from Blatchington Mill School in the leaders. 82 4512 Mhairi Mackenzie GBR launched and used by a number of clubs Hove. The club night runs from 7:45pm – 8:45pm session had to be using a contour only 85 4455 Jenny Johnson GBR Walsh Sports generously map in snow which proved to be rather Our Catalan hosts were extremely to attract people to club activity nights and now has over 20 people attending every week challenging. provided World welcoming and accommodating. They Federation League Table and ‘Come and Try It’ events. for a range of indoor and outdoor activities. Champions Graham looked after us for the whole trip and One possible measure of national orienteering strength is For the individual race we headed back it was great to have the opportunity to to examine the performances of the leading 20 runners Gristwood, Jon to the hills surrounding Barcelona, where meet orienteers from another country. in each country in terms of their World Rankings points. Duncan and Jamie Stevenson the terrain comprised of steep spurs, hills They made the whole experience fun and Some countries are disadvantaged by this as their access with a pair of celebratory Walsh shoes. and valleys. When combined with the memorable and I hope the link with them to WREs may be limited, but it remains a useful table thorn bushes (which I now know have no and this race continues in the future. nevertheless. Great Britain comes in at a solid fifth place problem growing on very steep slopes!) for both men and women. Not surprisingly, the leading four this made for physically tough, but very THE YOUNG nations (Finland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland) have a ONLINE PUBLICITY PORTAL rewarding courses. clear lead over the rest. VOLUNTEER British Orienteering AWARDS has now launched a World Ranking Points Total by Federation for top new online publicity JON MUSGRAVE DEPARTS 20 athletes as of the 2nd December 2008 The award scheme aims to offer an incentive for young portal for clubs to In February, Jon Musgrave informed me that in 2009 he would step down people to get involved with volunteering within clubs. access professional and from his British Orienteering Development Coaching role as he planned to MEN WOMEN By volunteering, juniors will develop vital skills that will affordable flyers and direct his coaching enthusiasm to helping the MAROC juniors. 1 SUI 95753 1 SWE 89369 help them in the future and be seen positively by higher posters for their events 2 NOR 95391 2 FIN 87630 education and potential employers. and activities. Jon has been part of the British Team as technical aspects of the Elite Athlete either an athlete or staff for many years. Development Pathway. 3 SWE 92056  NOR 84141 PGL are the award sponsors and each winner we be It is hoped that the His debut in the ’s 4 FIN 91057 4 SUI 83058 awarded with a glass trophy and a cheque for £150. flyers will reduce was as a member of the Silver medal Although Jon has been in a paid role; 5 GBR 80830  GBR 65759 The Club will also receive a cheque for £50 to spend on volunteer time in winning relay team in 1993 along with he has always worked far more than we 6 DEN 78937 6 AUS 63669 junior development. The closing date for nominations producing them Martin Bagness, Steve Hale and Steven have ever paid him. Jon has been a friend 7 ITA 75935 7 GER 1521 is the 31st January. Nomination forms can be found on and ensure that all Palmer. and colleague for almost 20 years and I 8 AUS 72772 8 LAT 0614 the website. would like to thank him on behalf of many clubs can access 9 NZL 67748 9 CZE 49936 professional flyers at Jon is passionate about his orienteering athletes and staff for There will be two awards: 10 RUS 67338 10 NZL 47292 1. Outstanding Contribution at Club Level an affordable rate. The and coaching; he has been an immense his contribution to 2. Outstanding Contribution at National Level flyers are delivered supporter of the squad and he has helped the International District Orienteers through club night on the following within 72 hours and many young athletes over the years Programme. Our 2009 World Competitions for Team GB a ‘Come and Try it’ event in Tuesday. British Orienteering are looking for young all the specific details and passing on his experience of both training loss is MAROC’s Buxton’s Pavillion Gardens. Senior Events people who have: information about your club and international . Jon always gain! • Shown innovation or creativity in their volunteering In addition to this event, 6th-10th June - Nordic Championship/World Cup - Finland event or club night can be makes time to help athletes and his advice • Demonstrated leadership within their role as a The new flyers were used the flyers have been used 26th-27th June - World Cup - Norway edited within the design. is always considered and well thought out. Derek Allison volunteer to publicise the event and to promote ‘Come and 15th – 20th July - World Games – Taiwan, China These flyers and posters Performance • Volunteered with energy, commitment and promote the new weekly Try it’ events at Markeaton 7th-9th August – Euromeeting – Switzerland have already been trialled Jon has attended many International Director enthusiasm club night. Park, Derby and West 14th – 23rd August – World Championships – Hungary for a number of ‘Come Competitions and Training Camps as • Demonstrated a willingness to develop their talents Park, Wolverhampton. Both 26th – 27th September - World Cup - Switzerland and Try it’ events with Over 100 complete novices a Team Coach including the World into new areas events attracted over 100 immediate success... Championships and World University attended the event and 38 Junior Events participants. Championships. Jon has also been Additional Guidelines: people came to the first 2nd – 5th July - EYOC – Serbia one of the main drivers of the O Skills • Volunteers must be unpaid Derwent Valley Orienteers 6th – 11th July - Junior World Championship – Italy For further information please contact questionnaire and he is currently very • Must be members of British Orienteering recently launched their new Caroline Povey. Tel: 01629 734042 or 22nd -25th October - Junior European Cup – Germany • Anyone can nominate a person for an Award Satellite Club - Buxton and Email [email protected] involved in the development of the

16 Orienteering Focus - Winter 2008/09 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 17 Issue 8 - Winter 2008 Photo by Rob Lines Rob by Photo

FOR JUNIOR ORIENTEERS

Inside this Issue: British Schools Championships British Schools Score Championships European Youth Orienteering Championships Junior Selections

More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3)

www.britishorienteering.org.uk/ozone

Issue 8 - Winter 2008/09 03 2008/09 Winter - 8 Issue 02 Ozone 02

Sponsored by Sponsored

Matilda Selby age 11 age Selby Matilda much fun” fun” much

Even though it was wet and it rained, it was still so so still was it rained, it and wet was it though Even

and down hills. Also, the new dibbers were so cool! cool! so were dibbers new the Also, hills. down and

“I enjoyed the British Schools because I love going up up going love I because Schools British the enjoyed “I

Rachael age 12 age Rachael with my friends and running together” together” running and friends my with

“I enjoy orienteering because I like going out to places places to out going like I because orienteering enjoy “I

Gregory age 11 age Gregory you have to run in all weather” weather” all in run to have you

don’t just run around a course; you need a map and and map a need you course; a around run just don’t

Gabriella Jones age 10 age Jones Gabriella also like running” running” like also

“I enjoy orienteering because you need skills and you you and skills need you because orienteering enjoy “I

“…..because I like doing well and winning a medal. I I medal. a winning and well doing like I “…..because “

Kit Phillips age 11 age Phillips Kit

Phoebe Howe age 11 age Howe Phoebe in the Schools’ League” League” Schools’ the in

represented England. His name is Chris Hirst” Chris is name His England. represented

“I like orienteering because I like to see my progress progress my see to like I because orienteering like “I

and following a map. I do it because my Godfather Godfather my because it do I map. a following and

“I enjoy orienteering because I love running in woods woods in running love I because orienteering enjoy “I

Scarlet Simmons Year 6 Year Simmons Scarlet

what some of my friends have to say”. say”. to have friends my of some what

Jack Gilbey age 10 age Gilbey Jack

race and it gave me a very special feeling. Here is is Here feeling. special very a me gave it and race

gym with lots of other schools” schools” other of lots with gym

Orienteering Championships because I won the G6 G6 the won I because Championships Orienteering

and the experience sleeping on the floor of a school school a of floor the on sleeping experience the and

snacks and a sing-song. I enjoyed the British Schools Schools British the enjoyed I sing-song. a and snacks

“I enjoyed BSOC because I got to be with my friends friends my with be to got I because BSOC enjoyed “I

When we come home on the bus, we often have have often we bus, the on home come we When

part makes it more interesting. interesting. more it makes part Full results can be found at www.bsoa.org at found be can results Full

more because the map-reading map-reading the because more

“ orienteering like I but running,

Capespan, PGL, Buff , Ultrasport, EMIT, Wilfs and SCOA. and Wilfs EMIT, Ultrasport, , Buff PGL, Capespan,

because I like cross-country cross-country like I because

with BKO and SN club members. Many thanks to the events sponsors sponsors events the to thanks Many members. club SN and BKO with go to forests. I like orienteering orienteering like I forests. to go

A special thank you to Bryce Gibson, Alain Wilkes and Phil Beale along along Beale Phil and Wilkes Alain Gibson, Bryce to you thank special A we go to parks, other times we we times other parks, to go we

we visit each week. Sometimes, Sometimes, week. each visit we

Pangbourne School Grammar School Grammar

going to all the different places places different the all to going

Biggar High School High Biggar School, Andrew’s St Junior Fleetville 3rd Lancaster Girls Girls Lancaster

my friends, we have fun. I like like I fun. have we friends, my

School but when I get on the bus with all all with bus the on get I when but

Chetwynde School Chetwynde College King’s Junior VIII Henry King 2nd King Henry VIII School VIII Henry King out of bed, especially if it’s raining raining it’s if especially bed, of out

Sometimes, I don’t want to get get to want don’t I Sometimes,

Prep High School High

Barnardiston School Barnardiston Orienteering Championships. Championships. Orienteering

Clayesmore School Clayesmore Hall Barnardiston School Burford 1st Ulverston Victoria Victoria Ulverston

before the British Schools Schools British the before

Small Secondary Small Middle-Preparatory Primary Large Secondary Large “We go orienteering most Sundays Sundays most orienteering go “We

the winning teams: winning the pupils share their thoughts on the event: the on thoughts their share pupils

Congratulations to all the children that took part, especially those from from those especially part, took that children the all to Congratulations

and many of the pupils won individual prizes. Below some of the the of some Below prizes. individual won pupils the of many and

Barnardiston Hall Prep School won their school category at BSOC BSOC at category school their won School Prep Hall Barnardiston competitors.

were also on hand to distribute the prizes and congratulate the the congratulate and prizes the distribute to hand on also were

member Sarah Rollins and British Orienteering Director Ed Nicholas Nicholas Ed Director Orienteering British and Rollins Sarah member

Medal and have their map signed by the superstar! GB Squad Squad GB superstar! the by signed map their have and Medal

competitors had the opportunity to be photographed with his Gold Gold his with photographed be to opportunity the had competitors

World Champion Graham Gristwood attended the event and the the and event the attended Gristwood Graham Champion World

was in great spirits. spirits. great in was

and orienteering. The weather held for most of the day and everybody everybody and day the of most for held weather The orienteering. and

1000 children made the journey to enjoy a weekend packed full of fun fun of full packed weekend a enjoy to journey the made children 1000

15th/16th November at Hawley and Hornley near Camberley. Over Over Camberley. near Hornley and Hawley at November 15th/16th

The British Schools Orienteering Championships took place on the the on place took Championships Orienteering Schools British The

Photos by Rob Lines Rob by Photos Orienteering Championships Orienteering British Schools British Congratulations to Kris EYOC Jones on winning Gold in OCTOBER 9-12, 2008 Kris Jones the EYOC Sprint Race. We REPORT BY GARETH CANDY PHOTOS COURTESY OF EYOC caught up with Kris to see M/W18 how it feels to win a Matthew Halliday Julia Blomquist Peter Hodkinson Alice Butt Gold Medal. Kristian Jones Mairead Rocke Ralph Street Hazel Wright Reserve: Alisdair McLeod Reserve: Alice Leake How does it feel to be a Were you happy with your European Youth Champion? preparation for EYOC? Did you

do any special preparation for M/W16 Feels pretty good but strange as I wasn’t EYOC and if so what was it? expecting anything even in the top 10 after Kris in action Duncan Birtwistle Kirsty Coombs my long result. Physically I felt good and I had done a lot Jonathon Crickmore Sophie Kirk of geeking on swiss maps so I hoped I was now, but slowly I’ve got faster bit by bit and I hope to continue to Tom Fellbaum Abigail Longhurst How did you feel before the race, as well prepared as I could have been. improve my fitness and speed. I think having other people around how did you get in to the right Jamie Stevenson Charlotte Watson to motivate me to improve has helped a lot, first to beat some of the frame of mind and focus for such You have had some great sprint other Welsh juniors at local events and then on from there really. Reserve: Peter Bray Reserve: Aine McCann a great performance? race results this year, is there I felt quite relaxed. We had a long time in anything different you need to What are your dreams in orienteering, in twenty M/W 20 Junior Match quarantine so I just sat there listening to do to be good at sprint races as years time what would you like to have achieved?

music and reading the most motivational opposed to the long, middle or Hector Haines Anne Edwards I want to take it as far as I can, wherever that may be. I don’t want to book ever (Ultra Man by Dean relay? look back and think I could have taken it further if I had tried harder. Dave Schorah Hollie Orr Karnazes. I then had a good long warm up I think sprint racing puts a lot of emphasis Doug Tullie Catherine Taylor with Jamie so I felt pretty good. on quick decision making and good route What are your goals for 2009? What do you want to

Reserve: Mikey Hopkins Reserve: Victoria Stevens execution more than the long route choice improve and how are you going to do it? How did you feel during the race, legs you may get in a long or relay. You did you know that you were My goals for 2009 focus around JWOC in Italy, where the sprint and could have the best route but if you ran it Great Britain sent a full team to EYOC with our having a great run? relay are my main aims, but I’d also like to continue racing cross poorly and took a while to see the route country and track races and see what I can do with those. M/W 16s competing there for the first time. We It felt good especially on the last few then you might have been better off also sent a team of M/W 20s to the associated controls where I was trying to reel in the sticking to a worse route but making the Finnish guy who started in front of me, decision quickly. Junior Match. but I had no idea how good it was as I had heard nothing on the commentary going Have you always been so fast? It proved to be a very successful weekend with through the spectator control. What have you done to develop Future Champions Cup Races 2009 such blistering speed? Competition is open to M & W 18s and M & W 20s who are British Orienteering National or Local members. our youngest athletes adapting very quickly to international competition. In the first race (M16) Speed is something I’ve had to work on QUALIFYING RACES - BEST 3 SCORES TO COUNT FROM 7 RACES Each competitor will count their 3 best scores. If a race is quite hard, I wasn’t the smallest child, Jonny Crickmore finished on the podium in equal cancelled or voided the following will apply: best 3 scores which I get the mick taken out of me for 5th place with Duncan Birtwistle only seven Date Event Classes from 6 races (if 1 is lost), best 2 from 5 races (if 2 of the 7 * Include your actual age are lost). seconds behind in 7th place, our top female class when entering. performers were Charlotte Watson (26th) and Abi 18’s 20’s The Final – The best 15 qualifiers from each of the four classes: M & W 18 and M & W 20 will be eligible to compete Longhurst (27th) in W16. Sat 21st Feb JOK Chasing sprint M/W18 M/W20 in the Final. Sun 22nd Feb Southern Championships (HH) M/W 18E M/W20E In the relay both the M16 (5th) and M18 (6th) teams Sat 28th Feb British Orienteering Champs (SC) UK Cup/FCC race (elite course)* Athletes who wish to compete in the 2009 FCC Final must finished on the podium. Jonny Crickmore impressed Fri 10th Apr JK Sprint (NE) M/W 18E M/W20E enter in advance as for any pre-entry event. The start list with the fastest leg time of the day for M16, our W18 will be compiled according to the guidelines with any non- Sat 11th Apr JK Middle (NE) M/W 18E M/W20E competitive runners starting before the FCC Finalists on team finished in 10th and our W16 team finished Sun 12th Apr JK Long (NE) M/W 18E M/W20E either or both days. The start times on Sat May 2nd will not in 16th. The Junior Match teams competed in the Sun 19th Apr Northern Championship ( LOC) M/W 18E M/W20E be before 12 noon. Senior Elite class at the Swiss Relay Championships and our M20 team narrowly missed out on 3rd place At any event where there is an elite course those running the M/W18L or 20L will be Sat 2nd May FCC Final Middle Race (NGOC) eligible for ‘lower’ FCC points. At all of these events the 18E and 20E classes will run the Sun 3rd May FCC Final Long Race (BOK) in the Swiss Championships and 1st place in the same course. At the JOK chasing sprint, the BOC UK Cup/FCC race, the JK Sprint and JK Junior Match in a sprint finish with Norway. Middle races, the 18E and 20E course will be the same as the 21E course. For information contact Pauline Olivant The weekend finished on the best possible note as Scoring: Each age class will score separately, even though competing on the same Tel: 01159 872083 course. Scoring for each race will be 1st-60, 2nd-55, 3rd-51, 4th-48, 5th-46, 6th-45, Email: [email protected] Kris Jones won the gold medal in the M18 Sprint and then decreasing by 1 for each position. (The top 50 in each class score.) In addition, race. Jamie Stevenson also impressed in M16 with at races where there is a choice of running 18 or 20E or 18 or 20L the 18L & 20L class 7th place along with Mairead Rocke (=21st) and Julia runners will score 1st-40, 2nd-36, 3rd-33, 4th-31, 5th-30 and then decreasing by 1. Kris on the podium (The top 34 score.) M/W16’s and below will not score. Blomquist (23rd) in W18.

04 Ozone Issue 8 - Winter 2008/09 05 but are encouraged to Junior Programmes plan and organise some Service to Schools of the PFO events. He On the 8th of September the selections for the 2009 Junior and Start also encourages parents Squads were announced and there has been plenty of action since with to compete at events and the European Youth Orienteering Championships (EYOC) and a Lake Orienteering Awards some are now coaches. District training camps for both the Junior Squad and Start Squad. Tom has contributed BY PETER BYLETT / PHOTOS BY RAY BARNES hugely to the development Junior Squad 2008/9 The purpose of this award is to acknowledge the tremendous contribution of Schools orienteering in Hector Haines (AIRE) Julia Blomquist (BAOC) the North West. that volunteers make to the development of schools’ orienteering within Matthew Halliday (OD) Alice Butt (SARUM) Jackie Hallett - Peter Hodkinson (NOC) Anne Edwards (TVOC) the UK. The award is a joint BSOA/British Orienteering initiative. Nominated by the Avon Kris Jones (SBOC) Hollie Orr (CLYDE) Schools Orienteering Ralph Street (SLOW) Mairead Rocke (LEI) (ASO) committee Hazel Wright (MAROC) For 15 years Jackie worked tirelessly to Start Squad 2008/09 Gill Brown – Nominated by the ex Head of promote orienteering James Taylor (NOC) Rebecca Harding (HH) Ulverston Victoria High School within the Royal High School, Bath. She Stuart Thompson (FVO) Alice Leake (EBOR) The school has had much success in orienteering encourages pupils to Duncan Birtwistle (CLARO) Kirsty Coombs (MAROC) over the years. This has included many team and not only compete at ASO Tom Fellbaum (MDOC) Sophie Kirk (OD) events but also other individual podium places at the British Schools Jamie Stevenson (FVO) Abigail Longhurst (FVO) mainstream orienteering Orienteering Championships and the World Schools Peter Bray (SN) Jenny Evans (NOC) Orienteering Championships in which the school events. Jackie Hallett is presented with her Jonathon Crickmore (SO) Alice Fellbaum (MDOC) has represented England at every event held since award by Graham Gristwood at BSOC 1997. This would not have been possible without As a Bristol Orienteering Finlay Langan (MAROC) Katrin Harding (SROC) the support of a team of parents assisting Clare Club coach she puts on Ciaran Allen (ERYRI) Aine McCann (LVO) Evans to run the school orienteering club. Gill is training events for juniors Jack Benham (SARUM) Charlotte Watson (WCOC) and travels away to events such as the Peter Palmer relays. Juniors benefit not just one of that team and has focused her efforts on the Thomas Louth (WAOC) Lucy Butt (SARUM) training of the younger students. from her experience as an international athlete but her sense of fun makes training sessions a great success. Jackie has recently moved to Kingswood School and we Chris Owens (DEE) Zoe Harding (SROC) Chris Young (HH) Lucy Thraves (SO) Tom Gray - Nominated by Pendle Forest are sure that they will benefit from her orienteering knowledge and enthusiasm. Orienteering Club The Start Squad training camp was held at the Hawkshead Youth Hostel on For the last 15 years Tom has devoted many hours the infamous OMM weekend. Luckily the squads training activities were of his own time to the introduction and development Want to nominate someone? Any individual, school, club or region can nominate a person for the awards. Full unaffected by the heavy downpours which led to the cancellation of the of orienteering within the Baccup and Rawthenstall details are on www.bsoa.org – Advice for teachers – Appreciation Awards. The next . Having all the different age athletes training together as Grammar School. The school competes regularly at closing date is the 31st January 2009 one group for the weekend was a great success with the younger athletes North West Schools events and at many mainstream Tom Gray is prensted with his award learning a lot from the older athletes and in many cases vice versa. by Graham Gristwood at BSOC orienteering events including the Easter JK event Graham Gristwood presented Mrs Batten for the last 5 years. Pupils do not just compete Thank you from the BSOA The training weekend included a mix of practical and theoretical sessions and with her Award at BSOC We would like to thank all the officials, volunteers, teachers, team leaders, parents was aimed at improving the athlete’s knowledge in a range of the key areas and students for making the recent British Schools Score Championships (BSSC), the of elite athlete development. This included leg planning, physical training and World Schools Trials and British Schools Orienteering Championships (BSOC) such intervals, understanding your brain, performance analysis, core stability, race THE BSOA CERTIFICATE FOR SERVICE TO wonderful events. The pictures on the BSOA website speak for themselves. SCHOOLS ORIENTEERING preparation and technical skills. Mrs Jo Batten – Nominated by the Senior and BSOA Membership Renewals Gareth Candy Junior Heads of King Henry VIII School Schools and Colleges membership renewals will be mailed early in 2009. Please Junior Programmes Manager Mrs Batten supports Jane Halliday with the renew promptly to ensure that you continue to receive your copy of “Focus”. organisation of orienteering within the school and at weekends and has done so for the last 8 years. Duties include driving mini buses, organising entries and encouraging the “less sporty” pupils to get involved thereby gaining in self confidence. Susan asks, A T S I U Q M O L B A I L U J Squad What skills do THE BSOA TROPHY FOR OUTSTANDING N A T L N H A R W C L M I R E Search SERVICE TO SCHOOLS ORIENTEERING O R S H E C T O R H A I N E S you need to be a Julia Blomquist S M H D T I T G I R N L T N E great orienteer?” Joanna Foster – Nominated by Bristol John Lewis presented Jo and Piers with Alice Butt Orienteering Klub (BOK) their award at the Leigh Wood Event N O A S R P H Y A I C D E B N Jo has been actively involved in the administration I A Z I R A E N J W L E E M O Anne Edwards of Avon Schools Orienteering (ASO) and coach for K L E A R E W M F U A H R I J Hector Haines the Bristol Grammar School orienteering team for he has held the posts of Secretary, League Scorer over 10 years. She is currently the Secretary of and Webmaster for Avon Schools Orienteering. D I L G R E H D L E Z X T A S Matthew Halliday Millie Map says, Avon Schools Orienteering and helps at orienteering He recently relinquished the post of Secretary but O C W B O D A N E J I B S L I Peter Hodkinson events for schools in the area. In her role as team continues to be league scorer and webmaster. H E R M E Y L D T E R J H N R To be a great orienteer you coach for Bristol Grammar School she co-ordinates Piers uses his I.T. expertise by assisting with Kris Jones R B I W I C L A R U N A P G K need to be a great navigator the school entry to events, takes pupils to events electronic punching preparation, data input and Hollie Orr E U G L L E I V Q O K N L M N and a great runner. If you and actively encourages them to organise and run at collation of results. After each ASO league event Mairead Rocke least one ASO league event per year. he collates the scores for schools and individuals T T H I L K D I E R C L A E C want to improve your running and puts them on the web. The BOK committee E T T U O B A Z P Y I K R S E Ralph Street why not join your local athletics Piers Angliss – Nominated by Bristol Orienteering felt that both Jo and Piers have had a major Graham Gristwood presents Gill P E H I H S Y D F G W R E A H Hazel Wright impact on the continuation of the ASO schools club or incorporate intervals Klub (BOK) Brown with herZoe Award Harding at BSOC Piers has also been actively involved in orienteering league in the Bristol area over the years. into your training programme.” for schools for over 10 years. Throughout this period

06 Ozone Issue 8 -Winter 2008/09 07 JUNIOR PROFILE : Kristian Jones

News Age: 17

Club: Swansea Bay Orienteering Club

British Schools Score Age started Championships orienteering? 12 PHOTOS BY DAVID OLIVANT AND RAY BARNES Do your parents Over 500 school orienteers from as far away as Devon and Durham, orienteer? Lancashire and Essex took part in the British Schools’ Score My dad does Championships at Sherwood Pines Forest Park on Saturday 11th October. The event was organised by Nottinghamshire Orienteering Club Why/where on behalf of the British Schools Orienteering Association and full results and photos can be found at www.bsoa.org did you start orienteering? Individual Winners I got taken along to summer 1st Girl 1st Boy leagues by my dad. Year 5 Louise Adams Euan Tebbutt What do you Year 6 Sarah Bedford Harrison McCartney enjoy about Year 7 Penny Oliver Michael Adams orienteering? Year 8 Rachel Emmerson Hamish Rogers The range of different Year 9 Jessica Appleton Zac Field experiences you can get and Year 10 & 11 Elizabeth Parkinson Duncan Taylor the places you can see. Every Year 12 & 13 Alice Leake Alex Roberts time you go out it is different. Do you have a coach? Yes, Mark Saunders.

If so, how has this helped you? What advice would you He gives me a lot of encouragement and give to people wanting support and also gets me out doing long to get into the GB runs up big hills! Squad? Know your strengths and improve Where is your favourite The boys teams are Torquay Boys Grammar School, Nottingham your weaknesses. Map geek for big High School and Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School place to orienteer? competitions. Also know that if you miss There are so many. In Britain, any open or out on selection one year that it doesn’t Team Winners really fast areas, sand dunes in particular. make a difference. You can still go out the Girls Boys Culbin was my favourite of last year. next year and prove the selectors wrong. Also city/sprint orienteering. Abroad my Primary Schools Oakridge Primary School Burford School favourite areas are some of the areas What do you enjoy Middle/Prep Schools Bramcote Lorne School Bramcote Lorne School around Halden and also some of the Lower Secondary Schools Kenilworth School Kenilworth School places in Italy. doing outside of Upper Secondary Schools King Henry VIII School Nottingham High School orienteering? What kind of training do Cross country, fell races, I’m a running kind of guy. Also just relaxing, the times you do? where you can just sit back and do I train twice a week with Swansea nothing for hours. Harriers in Track sessions and I try to get in 1 or 2 orienteering sessions each week and do a long run and a faster run on weekends when I’m not at events.

What is your best result? Gold in the Sprint at the European Youth Championships, 1st in the middle event Medal winning teams in the Upper Secondary Classes Years 10 at the World Schools Championships, to 13 Left to right the girls teams are Fallibroome High School, 1st in JHIs twice (2007, 2005) and 1st in King Henry VIII School and Bemrose Community School JIRCs 2008.

www.britishorienteering.org.uk/ozone WORLD CLASS WORLD CLASS The City of Venice was a spectacular and challenging setting

Scott Fraser SCOTT FRASER in action AT THE WORLD CUP, SWITZERLAND

Scott Fraser has had a fantastic year finishing 4th in the Sprint at the European Championships, winning a Bronze medal in the Sprint at the World University Championships and finishing with an overall World Cup position of 21st. We caught up with Scott after the final World Cup races in Switzerland.

Middle Distance – Finish Position 24th My preparation went well for this competition so I went into it feeling pretty confident. My goal was to climb into the top 20 in the overall World Lonigo was the beautiful setting for the Park World Tour Cup rankings.

I knew this race was going to be full-speed ‘knife edge’ orienteering and that mistakes would be costly. I started very offensively URBAN ORIENTEERING IN ITALY but pushed the pace too much early on Report & Photo by Pippa Whitehouse where I lost focus and made a parallel error. I realised what I was doing at the last minute so the outcome was not as Mid-November saw 3500 orienteers, them in the bounds of the old town. They were keeps coming back. “I enjoy every race as much bad as it could have been. A mistake including many of the world’s elite, head kept entertained by the start and finish within the as the first. There are endless options for good half way round of 45 seconds was square, while we raced around the course, which legs, and I still get a kick from running through to north-eastern Italy for a weekend of again caused by trying to run faster was a tricky mixture of winding streets, vineyards the small alleys and past startled tourists! It’s than I could orienteer. I was kicking urban orienteering. The warm, sunny and parkland surrounding a 16th century villa. more than just the race itself, the whole weekend myself! The rest of the course went weather was an attractive selling point, is really enjoyable.” well apart from a few wobbles and being The course terrain presented the common caught by the Czech orienteer Michal Scott’s route is but it was the reputation of the Venice shown on the map street race, this year coupled with the dilemma of whether to go for trail shoes or O My fears were unfounded, I loved it! Much of the Smola who finished 10th. shoes. The jury’s still out; as I was mumbling course takes you to the hidden corners of the 2008 Park World Tour (PWT), that drew about skidding round the streets in my dobs (I city, through tiny covered alleys and deserted On reflection, I was on the wrong side of good start. The speed was people in their thousands! used lampposts to swing round corners) and campos. The busiest streets are marked darker the knife-edge during the first part of the not there on the next few controls Scott returned bemoaning his lack of grip in the to give you some warning as to where you will hit course caused by trying to be better than I but I came through the spectator control in Park World Tour vineyards. My race went ok. I was happy with my the crowds, and despite occasionally resorting was. Additionally, although I had prepared contention. Friday saw the world’s best sprint-racers, route choices but due to a series of colds in the to barging my way through (and some head-on well technically and physically, I had not run This is

including three 2008 WOC medallists, gather in Autumn I didn’t have the fitness to power round impacts with other orienteers) I never heard a a significant race since the World University what I love At the map exchange, which was at the the small town of Lonigo to battle it out for the the hilly course which was disappointing and I cross word. The course can only be described Championships in August so I lacked some about sprint entrance to an ‘under ground building’, we 2008 PWT title. This series of elite races was finished in 51 th place. Scott had a solid race and as a maze, the key being to work out where the race discipline. It definitely is important to get orienteering. You were supposed to run up the stairs in the under set up in 1996 to visibly showcase orienteering finished5 th, once again confirming his reputation ‘hinge points’ are; the bridges that you have to race practice in, as competing under pressure never know what ground building to the top of the hill where around the world, with previous races held in as one of the world’s best sprinters. However cross to get to the next control. The hardest part is a totally different skill mentally, than general to expect and there the subsequent start triangle was. However, I China and Japan as well as throughout Europe. he felt he wasn’t fast enough through the hilly is keeping track of your location since I averaged technique training. are always surprises. Great Britain sent a small team of myself, Hollie sections to battle for a top spot. With JWOC to one bridge per minute in the 8.7km race! I made missed the yellow tapes and ran back outside The athletes that win the building rather than going up the stairs. Orr, Hector Haines, and Scott Fraser, and we be held in similar terrain in 2009, juniors Hollie it simple by picking routes which gave your brain Sprint Distance – Finish Position 11th medals are the ones Feeling pretty stressed at this point I had no were joined in the final by Nick Barrable and and Hector gained vital experience and enjoyed a short respite, where you could run straight My goal was to get a top 3 position in this race. who get the key decisions idea what on earth was going on. Thankfully a Sarah-Jane Gaffney who each secured one of the chance to compete against the world’s best. until you hit something obvious like a T-junction, In the warm up I was being troubled by a niggle right under pressure in front marshal came running out and pointed me back the 10 qualification slots available in the open- square, or bridge. This paid off and my smooth on the knee, after bashing it in the middle race of the cameras. In most inside the building. Looking at the splits I didn’t entry qualification race. Venice City Race navigation was rewarded with 4th place in the but luckily the adrenaline got rid of it as soon as cases it’s not the mistakes lose much time as I ran full-speed up the stairs A quick boat ride on Sunday morning landed us women’s elite. the race started and I was feeling confident. themselves that lose most time, Saturday’s final had all the razzamatazz of in another world. Adding 3500 orienteers didn’t to try and get some time back. However, time but the response to them i.e. was lost on the next few legs as I was running previous PWT races, starting with a presentation seem to dilute the crowds in Venice and I was The Venice street race is held every November, I started the race offensively as usual but the it was my response to stress at way over the lactic threshold. of the finalists on a stage in the centre of the afraid I would spend the whole race frustrated. I and in the words of Matthias, “everyone should difference today was that I was in control. I the map exchange (running too fast town square beforehand. The town seemed to sought out Matthias Mahr (SLOW), who has now definitely make the trip at least once – it is the was in second place at control number 5 just up the stairs and getting into oxygen I had a pretty good race from here on in and be crammed with enthusiastic school children run 13 of the 29 Venice races, and asked why he best orienteering event, ever.” one second behind Swiss runner Mattias so debt) that lost a top 6 result and not the finished slightly off medal pace by 19 seconds. who’d just finished a shorter course which kept I had achieved my first goal of getting off to a mistake itself.

18 Orienteering Focus - Winter 2008/09 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 19 COACHING COACHING ANNUAL British Orienteering is currently Teaching Orienteering Part 1 (TO 1) Since the launch of the courses in February fifty Teaching restructuring its coaching awards and This course introduces the candidates to the seven of our existing licensed coaches (and ‘old’ COACHING training courses to create two linked basic skills required to introduce orienteering Level 1 tutors) have been trained to deliver the pathways. using a set of progressive sessions which start courses. Over 800 candidates have attended CONFERENCE with a map to explain a bird’s eye view on a table the Teaching Orienteering Part 1 course and The first pathway is aimed at teaching beginners Open to all British Orienteering top, followed by gym maps, outdoor courts, over 150 candidates have attended the Teaching and consists of three British Orienteering though to normal orienteering maps of a school Orienteering Part 2 course. Orienteering members - by Vicky Thornton, Pauline Olivant and Celia Watkinson courses: site. The sessions include the importance of 6th to 8th February 2009 • Young Leader Award Anybody interested in becoming a British using star courses, then short loops and simple • Teaching Orienteering Part 1 Orienteering qualified Teaching Orienteering Tutor Venue: Lilleshall National competitions. The emphasis is on showing • Teaching Orienteering Part 2 should visit the Tutor and Assessor section on Sports Conference Centre progression but with lots of ideas on how to the website. Click on ‘Developing Orienteering’ near Newport, TF10 9AT The second pathway is being created by the make orienteering fun on a school or similar then ‘Coaching’ then ‘Tutors and Assessors’. introduction of the United Kingdom Coaching small site. It is very practical in delivery to enable If you want to employ a qualified tutor to run a Certificate (UKCC) awards and will ultimately those taking part to experience and learn from The Conference will consider course the standard tutor fee is £200/day plus encompass four levels of endorsed awards. The the exercises themselves. The course covers the a number of the skills of the cost of the candidate resources. Please UKCC pathway is aimed mainly at orienteers, delivery programme for the Orienteering Young orienteering, the technical contact the National Office for a list of qualified who want to achieve a professional qualification Leader Award and enables candidates to deliver coaching points that they consist tutors. of, the progressions of these and who may want to further their coaching the award to young people aged 14 to 19. The skills when developing beginner skills in order to assist others in developing their course has a 6 hour delivery time and is a pre- For more information on Coaching and through to potential national orienteering. requisite to attending Part 2. Teaching Orienteering courses visit: www.britishorienteering.org.uk/developing/ squad, the coaching methods Teaching Orienteering Courses Teaching Orienteering Part 2 (TO 2) award-scheme.php that will help to develop these The initial work to develop the UKCC Level 1 This is aimed at introducing the more advanced skills and how these skills will award quickly identified that teachers, outdoor skills, such as those required by the exam form part of an athletes personal instructors, youth workers etc wanted the boards for 16 year olds. Candidates are given development plan. knowledge of how to introduce orienteering in a the opportunity to develop their personal skills The sessions will be informative, fun and exciting way, but didn’t necessarily want further on a small area with clear boundaries, practical in nature and challenging to proceed to an assessment of their coaching as well as learning how to plan programmes – you will be expected to make skills. To meet the needs of this group it was to include the use of compass, scale, distance considerable input into the clear that they would be better provided for understanding, basic contours and similar discussions and exercises. with a skills’ based learning programme which techniques whilst still on a school site. Again would provide lots of ideas on how to introduce the course is delivered in a very practical way, The Conference will develop orienteering to groups within a safe and enclosed involving the candidates in planning exercises for themes across the weekend area. Celia and Pauline were consequently the others to take part in. This course has a 6 starting with an 8pm session on asked to work on the development of two new hour delivery time. the Friday night and concluding at British Orienteering courses to meet these 3pm on Sunday. requirements.

The sessions are integrated and progress through the weekend. It is required that candidates attend TEACHING TRAINING IN PRACTICE Sample Gym Map used on MEMBERS COACHING DAY all sessions of the Conference; if Teaching Orienteering Courses Saturday 18th April 2009 you are unable to commit to all In 2007-8 the Oadby and Wigston skills of communication, team For both British Orienteering Groups and Individual Members sessions please leave the space School Sport Partnership (SSP) work and organisation were also available for another coach! were looking to add some new and featured and received positive 3 Why not make a weekend of orienteering in the Lake District National exciting activities to our competition feedback from staff. The Conference will count as part Park by attending the Members Coaching Day on Saturday 18th April calendar. We were particularly of your Continuous Professional followed by the National Event to be held at Graythwaite on Sunday interested in sports that could be By the afternoon the group were Development as a coach and will 19th April? It is hoped that the venue for the Coaching Day will be Bouth adapted to suit various age groups constructing their own courses be invaluable for Tutors and UKCC Woods, pending confirmation of parking arrangements. that were sustainable and could and were also considering the Coach Educators. 2 be easily integrated into the school layout and format that would The day is open to individual applicants (orange standard upwards) who An application form is now curriculum. When orienteering be suitable for their own pupils. are members of British Orienteering who will be coached by some of available on the coaching website was suggested there were some The SSP plan had been to hold Britain’s most experienced coaches. Groups that are affiliated to British – visit ‘coaching courses’: concerns regarding the specialist an event at each of the five Orienteering may attend with their own British Orienteering qualified www.britishorienteering.org.uk/ skills required to deliver, the cost of school sites and now, with the and licensed coach (minimum Level 3). Groups may be regional, club, developing/coaching.php the equipment and maps as well support of the local club, this squad, school, university, scouts etc. as the danger of losing children! seemed more of a reality. The If you’ve not been to Lillieshall We decided therefore to start with resources CD was also warmly Registration/map collection and coaching will commence from 10am before take a virtual tour of a day of teacher education and received by those who were when all controls will have already been put out in the forest for your use this magnificent conference training aimed at secondary PE charged with writing the school’s and the day will finish at 4pm when the controls will be collected. centre – complete with it’s own colleagues. schemes of work. Overall the ! secondary school teachers left 1 The Planner will be Carol McNeill (Level 5 coach) and exercises and www.movingeye.com/ The course took place in one the course feeling confident maps will be provided. Alternatively the lead coach of a group will be leisureconnection/lilleshall/ of the SSP’s High Schools and about the sport and methods able to obtain an OCAD file (showing the location of all control sites) in out3.html included staff from all secondary which they could use to deliver. advance in order to plan their own exercises for their group. schools. Initial concerns were soon Book early to avoid feedback from both pupils and allayed as Pauline Olivant, Regional Following the day all five High disappointment – only 50 staff and is due to be repeated in This day will be great preparation for the National Event so come along Development Officer, begun by Schools and both Colleges entered available beds. The British 2008-9. and practice relocation skills, making quick route choice decisions and emphasising the importance of the teams in the league and five Orienteering office is taking improve your ability to plan ahead to enhance control flow. basics of map orientation through events were successfully hosted bookings NOW Suzanne Woods simple table top, gym based and by the SSP with assistance from Oadby and Wigston School Apply through your region or club if they are planning to attend as court games. The potential for the Leicestershire Orienteering Club. COACHING – A GREAT Sport Partnership a group or apply as an individual using the Application Form on the ROUTE CHOICE! development of the cross curricular The programme received positive website www.britishorienteering.org.uk/developing/coaching.php

20 Orienteering Focus - Winter 2008/09 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 21 Emily Benham in action Which race was the most satisfying? MTBO MEDALS Photos by Ian Nixon The long race was my favorite of the week. Emily Benham (SARUM) has had a fantastic year The hills were big and in many places steep, at the MTBO Junior Europeans (Lithuania) and which, having been in Sheffield all year, World Champs (Poland) bringing home three suited me really well as I can power up the MTBO medals from the Europeans. Emily is studying hills without slowing down and getting really World Championships – Poland physiotherapy at Sheffield Hallam University and tired. It was the race where I was as close to By Charlotte Somers-Cocks has been awarded a TASS grant to help with her being technically perfect as possible. I was training for MTBO. We caught up with Emily to planning ahead and considering all the route find out more about the European medals and choice options and making the decision well in The Masuria Lakes area of Poland was the venue what she has planned for 2009. advance of the control. Except for me missing for the 2008 MTBO WOC/JWOC and GBR sent a the optimum route on the long leg, it was a team of women. The first JWOC proved to be highly Three medals in three races how does that feel? brilliant race. I was one of the first finishers competitive, as MTBO is a vibrant sport in many of It’s a strange achievement because on one hand I’ve got 3 medals at a and just sat on the seafront in quarantine in the European countries and it is evident that this is European Champs (one bronze and 2 silvers) but on the other hand, I know I the sun for a few hours, feeling really pleased producing strength in depth with some really talented can do so much better. For the middle race, I was 6 mins behind Gaelle Barlet to have done a full year of training and to junior riders. Britain has a bit of catching up to do in from France, because I couldn’t make route choice decisions fast enough and have achieved my goals of medalling at the getting the sport to this level. subsequently took the wrong ones. It took me a while to get into the map, and Europeans. looking back after the race, I wasn’t good enough. I don’t feel that the bronze is The first event was the sprint with technically a commendable achievement because I raced far from my best and it was poor What training did you do for JWOC and EOC? challenging courses on the University Campus of performance. The 2008 season has been my first year of Olsztyn. Fast riding on a variety of surfaces including training on the bike, so although I have a good steps and controls tucked into the corner of buildings In the sprint race, I lost gold by one second, having been leading from early on knowledge of training principles from my meant you needed to be accurate as often the by 40 seconds. It was most disappointing to have lost this race by a total of 4 years in the GB start squad and coaching on control was not visible until you were within a few seconds over two years and on both occasions my mistakes have been in the summer tours and Start weekends, I struggled metres. last 1/3 of the course. to get to grips with how to structure my year. I The long race is the medal that I am most pleased with as I had a fantastic race mainly focused on endurance over the winter, Emily Benham finished 9th,3 minutes off the leader and I didn’t let my early start put me off. I knew my time would be hard to beat, doing some mega long rides at the weekends. which was a reflection on just how fast you had to but my route choice error on the long leg, lost me a little too much time. In the spring and summer I had planned to do read and interpret your map. Try making good route some intervals on my road bike, but I became together. For 6 out of my 7 MTBO races this choices whilst riding up or down steps, avoiding busy with Uni work, and ended up just going I understand you will be attending a Which is your strongest discipline? year, I was in the perfect mind set; focused, pedestrians and not running into other cyclists for some longer faster rides. All-in-all, my training camp in Denmark next year in motivated, concentrating and knowing exactly – especially those with shopping in their front basket. I would say that I am best at the long races as I finished 4th at JWOC and 2nd preparation wasn’t the best, but I made the preparation for JWOC - what sort of training what I had to do. This was something which I The women had a close fight (amongst themselves) at EOC. It was my weakest discipline last year in Italy where I finished 5th but a most out of what was available to me. will you be doing there? with Charlotte Somers-Cocks in 37th and Sarah long way down on the leader. I realised this and worked hard on my endurance had only experienced on occasion before, and A lot of my competitors will be there, so it will I am grateful to Becky Wood for helping me Bayliss in 38th just 7 seconds behind. over the winter and it is now evident that it is one of my better disciplines. What bike do you ride? be a great opportunity to talk to them and find However, I still have an allegiance to with this. out how they ride and train, but also, to see I currently train on a Merida Matts TFS 800-D, Tuesday was the Middle race and for most of us the sprint races as I love the fast the elites training and racing. I will be able to and race on a Scott Scale 15. I also have a it was a relief to be back in the forest. Emily had a pace on the bike and having Since 2005 I had been doing core strength get a lot from the camp; new training ideas, Sunday (now Sabbath) silk road pro. good ride, finishing in 7th place out of 54 riders. All to think at that speed. It is work, but once at Hallam, I used TASS to have more motivation and practice on the maps the women made errors on the complex network of the race where you have Strength and Conditioning sessions with Dave and terrain relevant to JWOC. Last year, the Do you race in the National Points Series indistinct tracks. Charlotte finished in 47th, with Sarah to ride slightly slower Hembrough. I have found that over the last camp involved a race in the morning and a (XC )? just a minute behind in 48th. Angela Brand-Baker but accuracy is seven months I have become stronger and training session in the afternoon along with finished another5 minutes behind in 50th place. rewarded by good At the moment, I am not racing in the NPS, more stable in my core and around my joints. some talks by the elites. results. but I do have a British Cycling racing license. I feel that because of my S&C regime it has In the Long event Charlotte finished the best out of To help me build up my speed on the bike made me less prone to injury (I haven’t been The Danes are taking MTBO very seriously as the women in 41st with Angela 12 minutes behind; and technical riding, I am starting to go to XC injured all season) and acts as an incentive to they scooped many of the medals this year The JWOC Sprint Map Sarah unfortunately made a parallel error on some races at the weekends and will do the NPS stretch after a session - how do you think Team GBR can improve? series in 2009. (Emily’s best 10 mile time trial new logging roads and finished outside of the cut The Danes certainly have had a large medal is 24.30) In 2009, I am going to do my training properly; off time. In the juniors, Emily was hoping that her haul this year, most notably from Lasse Brun I already know what training I am doing at hard work in training over the past winter would pay Pedersen, multiple World and European what time of day and how it fits into my dividends. Emily rode really well, making just one Will you change anything for 2009? Champion. Team GB unfortunately has no timetable until April. I am keeping variety in route choice error and eventually finished How will your TASS grant help you to train? juniors except for Chris Brand-Barker and My TASS grant was the best thing I had my training alternating intervals between road 4th. A fantastic result to end her myself. A lot of orienteers do not like riding last year (except for my new race bike!) as and mountain bike but also putting in some week. bikes and so are never motivated to come once I had got into the flow of Uni life and hills, spinning, circuits, fitball and my S&C along and try the sport. The other problem understood the TASS system more, I got a sessions. I am doing a 10 mile time trial every In the relay 18 teams that we have is the lack of races in this lot from it. I had psychology sessions and month and physiology testing every 3 months contested the medals. country. Sarah made amends for started to set myself goals each week and to keep track of my fitness and give me an her previous day and got for each session. I found it incredibly useful idea on how to improve further. I want to get MTBO 2009 League to talk through with someone how I perform, so fast on the bike, that I can ride through the team off to a good Nigel Benham is planning a series of races and it helped me to work out why in two day any mistakes, but I also intend to get better start, staying with some really next year in the south and we are currently races, such as the JK, I have a great race and at navigating so I will be going abroad to the good riders. Charlotte managed waiting for confirmation of events to be held a bad race. From there, once I had discovered WRE events and racing the top seniors. to hold this position and handed over in the north. We are hoping that there will be a that I need to be relaxed and listen to music to Angela who had a clean ride bringing decent series of races for people to come and before a race as well as getting to an event the team back in 12th place. participate in and get that all important racing 90 minutes before my start, everything came experience.

Future World MTBO Races: MTBO WOC ISRAEL – 9th – 16 August WE ALL WISH EMILY LUCK IN 2009 AS SHE RACES FOR THE LAST TIME AS MTBO EOC/JWOC – DENMARK – 22nd – 28th June A JUNIOR FOR THAT ELUSIVE GOLD MEDAL. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT MTBO AND FUTURE EVENTS VISIT WWW.TRAILQUEST.CO.UK 22 a go’ at event organisation or coaching and to support them in developing the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed. In Whole Sport PlanUPDATE this context many young people By Mike Hamilton are beginning to appreciate the As you will be aware from previous articles in Focus, the Whole Sport Plan 2009/13 (WSP) has enjoyment in helping others to enjoy been developed over the last 18 months and is based primarily on the views expressed by the sport and how evidence of such skills can help make them more members and clubs. These views have been supported by evidence from our database, results, attractive to future employers. surveys/questionnaires and direct contact with members, clubs, associations and key volunteers. Key aspects of the programme to increase volunteers will be; There is almost unanimous agreement that increasing participation is the primary focus for the next effective induction, home learning, 4 years and that will only be possible if we can increase the numbers of volunteers (coaches, event workshops, apprenticeships volunteers, etc) and the ‘welcoming’ role of clubs. (working with a mentor at the club), recognition and status. These should reduce costs of training, and It must be luck but it seems as though the Orienteering WSP anticipated the requirements of our make access to training easier for a funding partner! The targets that they have are very similar to ours and translating our WSP into diverse range of participants. sports council jargon was relatively easy – thank goodness! CLUB DEVELOPMENT The level of enjoyment participants The following highlight the British will get from orienteering will be BRITISH ORIENTEERING – VISION NORTHERN IRELAND TARGETS Orienteering Whole Sport Plan. increased by improving the quality ‘More People, More Places, More Podiums’ • Participation: To increase membership by 5% and variety of services offered by year on year MORE PEOPLE, MORE PLACES clubs and by improving the quality, ENGLAND TARGETS: • Performance: To achieve at least 4 Increase participation by, on average, 100 new frequency and opportunity to take • Grow – By an average of 100 new participants representatives on GB or Irish teams at World regular participants per club over the next 4 years. part in orienteering activities. at each club over the 4 years to 2013. and European Championships annually In orienteering terms, our target is to increase We will be helping clubs to provide • Sustain – Maintain participation by improving • Governance and Management: To deliver a participation by 20% by 2013 and relates to a service that meets the needs the enjoyment and satisfaction of participants fully modernised and fit for purpose governing an increase from 200,000 participant runs to of a diverse participant base and when taking part in orienteering activities. body, restructured and manned to provide 240,000. motivates participants to continue • Podiums – Modernise the talent pathway leadership and support to members and clubs to take part in orienteering. in orienteering so that it will identify and alike ‘Community O’ is the primary way in which new develop athletes in a systematic manner from • Championships and Major Events: To deliver a EXCEL participants will be introduced into the sport community/club, through a regional structure full programme of NI Championships annually During the period to March and is a programme of weekly orienteering into the international squads. • Infrastructure: To establish a roster of 6 terrain 2013 the talent pathway will activities, based at a single, local, accessible areas capable of sustaining National Level 1 be modernised. The talent venue. The programme provides newcomers SCOTLAND – VISION events pathway will identify and develop with an opportunity to learn orienteering skills “More smiling faces in the forest” • Marketing: To develop a marketing plan by athletes in a systematic manner in a non-competitive environment. Newcomers 2009 from community/club, through will experience orienteering in a multi-sport SCOTLAND TARGETS: the regional structure into the environment e.g. a leisure centre and this will • To provide a sport that encourages a WALES international squads. encourage people to combine orienteering responsible attitude to the use of the The following were targets for WOA in the last activities with other sports training. countryside and the environment development plan and are subject to funding: The key aspects of this programme • To provide a sport for all; increasing the public • Four open clubs with a combined include; developing a ‘skills The principles behind this programme have been awareness and participation in orienteering in membership of 450 curriculum’ that will enable athlete adopted from highly successful orienteering Scotland • Two clubs having the British Orienteering and coach development to be initiatives in Scandinavia and other successful • To increase involvement and participation “Clubmark” accreditation delivered and monitored more sports in the UK. They are currently being piloted within the club structure, schools, universities • Clubs at two Welsh Universities effectively across the talent pathway; via the ‘Increasing Participation’ initiative. increasing athlete/coach contact and youth organisations • A new club in the early stages of development b) For regular orienteers who travel the organisation at events and Over the next four years a total of time and the quality of coaching • To provide a top class competitive programme based in Wrexham and covering the North widely; quality events on quality improving the quality assurance 45 Focus Clubs will be selected Aspects of the Community O programme include: athletes receive; increasing the in Scotland, which attracts the best orienteers East of the principality terrain. of the courses and support through an open application and Satellite Centres, facility based (Café or leisure number of athletes and coaches in in the world • Two Regional Development Officers in post mechanism will bring about a British Orienteering will work closely centre) and Club Activity programmes led by the pathway; establishing personal • To win team and individual medals on the • A total of 20 active controllers including at Underpinning and delivering this will considerable increase in participant with them. We will try to: coaches development programmes for International stage least one at Grade 1 be modern clubs whose role it will satisfaction at regional and national • Establish trained Volunteer • Four new qualified Club Coaches at Level 2 or athletes and coaches. PARTICIPANT SATISFACTION be to meet participant needs. Clubs events. Coordinators at each of the 45 NORTHERN IRELAND - VISION above A Participant Satisfaction Survey will be used should work strategically to recruit ‘Focus’ Clubs by 2013 NI Orienteering intends to be the leading • New officials in all clubs mentored by BY 2013 THE TALENT during 2009 to establish the baseline level of new participants and maintain VOLUNTEERS • Work with each Focus Club to adventure sport association, against which experienced officers PATHWAY SHOULD INCLUDE: satisfaction of participants in orienteering. Once their involvement whilst developing Volunteers are key to supporting agree individual targets for the others are benchmarked. Dynamic, modern and • A Planned Mapping programme in place to we understand the current level of satisfaction we volunteer capacity through the increase in participation number of volunteers they will fit for purpose, it will enable effective and efficient support development and competition 2008 2013 will agree a percentage increase in satisfaction that recruiting, training (initial and and the increase in levels of support to be trained delivery of the sport by clubs, schools and other • Annual District events in all welsh club areas orienteering will achieve by 2013. continuous) and supporting them in satisfaction amongst participants. • To have a minimum of three GB providers, therefore increasing participation and • Programme of local events linked to RDO their work. Both club development The programme to increase UKCC accredited coaches at 14 14 improving performance by bringing together promotional activities Evidence from surveys, club questionnaires and volunteer development are volunteers will require an increase each of the 45 ‘Focus’ clubs by National a strong volunteer ethos, a rapidly improving • WOA Junior Squad with a membership of 35, and from an independent orienteering blog key to growing participation and in training and, where appropriate, 2013 infrastructure and new professional coaching a strong coaching programme and team of 5 demonstrates that key factors in keeping sustaining it. accreditation of volunteers. 35 35 and development staff. coaches participants in the sport and increasing their Increasing the number of volunteers Regional • WOA Squad ti finish 6th or better in Junior satisfaction are: To improve the quality of events and All ‘Local’ Level training and will be the most important of all the 271 Mixed 250 Known Inter-Regional Championship provide support in gaining access accreditation schemes will be programmes. Although orienteering • An effective communication and promotional a) For newcomers and local participants; regular, Ability Ability local club activities and events; a welcoming, to high quality terrain it is proposed reviewed, updated and converted has a well established culture of system using email and a website for that a new position, Events into training that can be delivered at volunteering and a high quality Club/Community members, schools, other youth organisations social club environment and a provision of Manager, is created. Evidence local club level. volunteer workforce; the challenge No Talent 450 and the general public. competent coaching to improve personal performance. demonstrates that improving is to encourage people to ‘have Squads 30 Clubs

24 Orienteering Focus - Winter 2008/09 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 25 COMPETITION STRUCTURE FOR 2009 – FAQS FOR PARTICIPANTS

Will events continue to be called “District” and “Regional”, with the latter having age-class courses? No. The term “District” will disappear. It had little meaning to Changes to Events in 2009 non-orienteers and most orienteers continued to call C4 events By Mike Hamilton colour-coded. All new Regional Events (Level 2) will be called Regional Events and if they are cross-country long distance As you are aware, the new three tier event structure will be introduced on the 1st January 2009. Hopefully most of events, will offer colour-coded courses. Courses described solely your questions about the practical implications of the new structure should be answered in this article. Only now, by age-class will only be available at National Events (Level 1). after a great deal of work behind the scenes, are we in a position to release information about the new scheme. How can I race against my peer group when there are no Most of the issues have been addressed and we are now able to clarify the situation. If you have queries after age classes? reading this article, please contact [email protected] A table mapping current C3 badge classes to the new Regional Event (Level 2) colour-coded courses is included in the One of the main reasons for changing the structure was to try to simplify events so that the workload on clubs and guidelines. You can use this to choose which course to enter and event officials could be reduced. The second major reason for change is to free clubs to stage events and courses if your peer group do the same, you will still be able to compete that meet the needs of participants. Events and courses should fit into the general framework which should against each other. encourage clubs to put on what their participants want. How can we hold our Regional Association Championships without age-classes? CHANGES TO THE 2009 FIXTURES So, how can the courses offered within the new, 2009 competition British Orienteering plan to develop a ‘dry-wipe-board’ of the Course Framework The guidelines referred to above can be used to nominate Whilst 2009 will be a year of transition into the new competition structure structure be made more user friendly and provide a framework that that clubs can use at events to indicate which courses they are providing. competitive courses for each class for which there are trophies. there are changes which need to be made in the run up to 2009. The encourages clubs and event volunteers to put on courses that meet the Runners entering lower courses will still be considered Competitions Structure will, from the 1st Jan 2009, be a 3 level structure needs of participants, both experienced and less experienced? At the Club The current courses link to the colour-coded incentive scheme and can be competitive but will be ineligible for trophies. This is already done of Local, Regional and National events. In order to reflect this within the Conference, held in conjunction with the EGM in October 2007, the Event ‘mapped’ onto the framework. at C4 events by many Associations for local leagues. Fixture list we have adopted a two staged process that can best be shown Review recommendations were discussed and two of the groups suggested Course Length diagrammatically. adopting a course framework similar to the grid shown below: Will pre-entry have to be offered at Regional Events? XS S M L XL The choice of pre-entry or entry on the day will be the choice of Course Length 0-2.5km 2.6-5.0km 5.1-7.5km 7.6-10.0km 10.1+km Current From 24th Nov Jan 2009 the hosting club and will be influenced by the anticipated number 3 (There are no changes XS S M L XL Very Easy of runners. C3 events became pre-entry as a matter of practice, to 2008 events) 0-2.5km 2.6-5.0km 5.1-7.5km 7.6-10.0km 10.1+km (White) 3 but it has never been compulsory. Easy Level 1 – Championship Very Easy (Yellow) 3 Level 2 – National Level 2 – National National Events Medium What constitutes a Local Event (Level 3)? Easy (Orange) (Level 1) 3 Local events will encompass a wide range of events with the Hard Level 3 – Regional Level 3 – Regional Regional Events Medium Navigational Difficulty (Light Green) key objective being to provide competition for people local 3 3 3 3 (Level 2) Very Hard to the event. Events could range from those with a range of Hard (Green) (Blue) (Brown) (Black) Navigational Difficulty colour-coded courses though to limited events with only two or Level 4 – District three courses. Events could also be ‘Come and Try It’, score or Very Hard Level 5 – Local Level 5 – Local Local Events Similarly clubs could mark the ‘mapping’ of age class, making it obvious to urban/street O events, etc. Clubs will have the freedom to select (Level 3) experienced orienteers which course they should select to compete against the format to suit the needs of their members and prospective This Course Framework appears to have many advantages including: their own age class. participants. The biggest change for most participants will be that the current Level 4 A wide variety of courses can be staged whilst maintaining a consistent Course Length District Events will become Local Events in 2009. In order to make this naming method – clubs can now stage courses that meet the needs of the How will the ranking scheme work? change, all the Level 4 District Events being staged in 2009 and onward anticipated participants from within the Framework. If additional courses XS S M L XL Currently a workgroup is considering the purpose of the ranking that have already been registered in the Fixture list have been re-labelled need to be staged to allow greater entry numbers then an ‘A’ and ‘B’ course 0-2.5km 2.6-5.0km 5.1-7.5km 7.6-10.0km 10.1+km scheme within British Orienteering. There is no intention to get as Level 5 Local Events. This is purely a name change and makes no can be added. There is a clear link between navigational difficulty and Very Easy rid of the ranking list but rather to expand the relevance of the list difference to the actual staging of the event. Clubs can apply to upgrade adjusted distance with easily followed nomenclature. The descriptors are 3 to a greater number of orienteers. The group will report in early Easy them to a Regional Event by approaching their Association Fixtures easy to explain to newcomers. M10, W10 2009. The current ranking list will continue to be maintained using 3 3 Secretary in the normal manner. Medium National Events (Level 1) and Regional Events (Level 2). The table The framework allows newcomers and experienced participants to develop M12, W12 mapping current C3 badge classes to the new Regional Event 3 Hard COURSE FRAMEWORK FOR 2009 at their own pace i.e. there is a pathway for people wishing to take greater M14, W14 (Level 2) colour-coded courses will be used to select the courses

Currently British Orienteering has courses that can be confusing to newcomers navigational challenges whilst only running shorter courses, equally there is Navigational Difficulty 3 3 3 3 3 for inclusion in the ranking list for a given age-class. and difficult to explain. Courses are defined using a variety of parameters, opportunity for runners wishing to run greater distances whilst being less Very Hard M75-85 M65, 70 M16, 55, 60 M18-50, M21 W65-85 W16-20, W35, 40 W21 technical difficulty, adjusted distance (adjusted to take into account climb), challenged navigationally. The courses offered from within the Framework 45-60 What about the Junior ageless badge scheme? physical difficulty and expected finish times. A series of courses that follow the can still be the same courses that are currently offered to participants i.e. The new structure for Regional Events (Level 2) is in many ways colour coded incentive scheme are offered primarily at district events while no change to the courses offered is necessary there are just a few naming The Course Framework outlined above should resolve some of the underlying an extension of the Junior ageless scheme. The scheme was regional events have courses based on age classes, which the event structure changes. issues and arguments about colour-coded versus age-class, namely: intended to allow juniors to be competitive on whichever course review group considered were a barrier to progression of adult novices. We - Both age-class and colour coded incentives are catered for. they ran. The new structure allows them to do this and so there is must make it easy for new participants to make the step from club activities Courses offered at an event could be displayed as follows with descriptors to no longer a need for these classes. and local events into regional events – it is vital to the future of our sport and explain the nomenclature. - It provides a framework of courses and course descriptors that will be a key phase in the ‘participation pathway’. At the same time, courses offered easier to explain to newcomers– hence supporting the vision of increasing In the new Guideline B, the very short TD5 course has Course Length need to meet the needs of current orienteers. participation in orienteering. disappeared. A number of competitors run this course XS S M L XL as they are no longer able to cope physically with longer An expanded colour-coded structure was recommended for both regional 0-2.5km 2.6-5.0km 5.1-7.5km 7.6-10.0km 10.1+km - It provides a framework of courses and course descriptors from which a club will be free to select courses to include in an event to meet the needs of courses, but still want the Technical Difficulty. What and local events in the new structure. Feedback suggests that this was Very Easy 3 participants should they do? confusing to existing orienteers and no more user friendly for newcomers. The guidelines published on the web are draft only and are Easy 3 The fact that courses are described as colours creates a situation where - The Guideline should now define the quality an event should be required to not intended to be prescriptive. If the nature of the terrain is clubs and event volunteers are encouraged to stage these specific courses. Medium 3 meet rather than the courses offered. sufficiently physically demanding, then clubs should consider In reality there is little flexibility in the courses offered. To meet the needs of planning a shorter TD5 course to satisfy the need for older Hard 3 - It provides clarity that it is the club that has responsibility to meet the needs of experienced orienteers and newcomers alike, event organisers should have Navigational Difficulty competitors. the option and be encouraged to put on courses that can be tailored to suit the majority of their participants to the best of their ability. Very Hard 3 3 3 their participation base.

26 Orienteering Focus - Winter 2008/09 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 27 EVENT OFFICIALS NEWSLETTER BY BARRY ELKINGTON BADGE AWARDS TO Any contributions, comments or questions should be sent to: by allowing a competitor to cross British Orienteering MID NOVEMBER 2008 [email protected] a major road, or minor road with • The Appendices to the Rules Congratulations to the significant traffic, safely during a provide further detail where this Championships 2009 following orienteers who have timed-out leg. Charles Daniel is required. The Appendices shall SAMPLE CONTROL SITE in ISOM for use on 1:15,000 recently claimed their awards. (BOK) prompted by his experience be considered as an extension British Orienteering and the clubs of the For newcomers to the sport it is scale maps. However, the size of of planning for the JK in the Forest of, and have the same authority South Central Orienteering Association important to have a demonstration the course overprinting symbols Gold of Dean has written a useful article as, the Rules. control near registration or enquiries used for 1:10,000 maps should welcome competitors to a weekend of JW1 Agnes Sadler KSODA on the problems encountered at every event. Ideally in exactly be the same as those specified JM1 Joseph Wright MAROC when courses have to cross a busy • Event Rules will provide specific orienteering in the New Forest on the 28th the same configuration as the for 1:15,000 maps. The only JW2 Rosie Getliff MAROC, road. This is now available on the information about the staging of February - 1st March 2009. controls on the course: i.e. a exception to this is in multi-age Abigail Mason MAROC British Orienteering website under a particular event. All of the new stake stuck in the ground, with a class competitions in which both JM2 James Errington HH the Event Information / Planners National (Level 1) events will have The British Orienteering Long Distance full-size kite hanging from it and 1:10,000 and 1:15,000 maps are JW3 Evelyn Mason MAROC, section. a set of Event Rules associated the appropriate punching method being used at the same event. In Championships will take place on the Saturday Jessica Mason MAROC, with them - for example the system - EMIT unit, SI box (with this case the size of the course using the heathland of Hampton Ridge, the mixed Jennifer Ricketts MAROC British Championships, the JK pin-punch backup), or even the old overprint markings on the 1:10,000 RULES, APPENDICES AND conifer and deciduous woodland of its adjacent JM3 Paul Eaton WCOC, Sprint, etc. A small number of fashioned pin-punch. A lot of events maps may be 50% greater than GUIDELINES inclosures, and an intricate area of ponds, pits, Ewen Kerridge MAROC Regional (Level 2) events will don’t seem to bother with them on the 1:15,000. This avoids the From January 2009 the labelling depressions and knolls of a WW2 practice bombing JW4 Rhona McMillan MAROC also have a set of Event Rules Kirsty Staunton running any more, but it doesn’t take a lot potential problem of needing of the Rules, Appendices and on the BOC 09 terrain. JW5S Lucy Thraves SO provided e.g. the Harvester range. Generally the whole area is very runnable and of effort to provide and makes it so different control descriptions for the Guidelines will be changed to better Photo by Dave Currie JM5M Joab Matthews MAROC Relays, the Trophy high speeds are anticipated – it should be a joy to much easier when taking people to two scales. fit the new event structure. All the Final. Where an item in the Event run across the terrain in the New Forest at this time their first event if you can actually Rules, Appendices and Guidelines M12 Tom Birkett SOS Rules varies or supplements the of year with the bracken having died down. show them what they’ll be looking ROAD CROSSINGS are available on the British British Elite Long Championships W16 Kirsty Coombs MAROC main British Orienteering Rules, for, and what they should do when Ideally orienteering competitions Orienteering website under Event The British Elite Long Distance Orienteering M18 Ben Windsor LEI (e.g. more restricted age classes; The British Orienteering Relay Championships will they find it, rather than trying to would not cross roads. However, Information / Rules and Guidelines. Championships will take place in conjunction with W45 Erica Pilkinton WAOC prescription of map scales to be explain it to them. due to the finite number of available Information will be presented as: take place on the Sunday on Beaulieu Estate, an the “Mike Nelson BOKTrot” National Event on the used) then the Event Rules shall Silver areas in the UK it is sometimes area new to orienteering, with the longer courses 3rd May at New Beechenhurst. The event will have • British Orienteering Rules take precedence. JW1 Megan Harrison EPOC CONTROL CIRCLE SIZES desirable to do this. So when extending on to Beaulieu Heath. The terrain is gently 18E, 20E and 21E classes to determine British One subject that has been raised orienteering competitions do - these are the rules that apply undulating and the vegetation consists of a mixture JM1 Alex Birkett SOS • Event Guidelines will provide Champions. The 18E and 20E classes will also be recently is the use of expanded cross roads the primary concern to all Foot-O events held in Great JW2 Megan Ricketts MAROC generic information about the of deciduous and coniferous trees, with areas of the FCC long final. circles (9mm) and other course has to be competitor safety. The Britain and Northern Ireland JM2 Alistair Walker MAROC staging of a particular type rhododendrons and a series of historic fisheries built overprint markings when 1:10,000 introduction of electronic punching by British Orienteering and all JW3 Megan Getliff MAROC, of event. These will not be by the Beaulieu Abbey monks. maps are being used at events. gives a ready method of removing affiliated clubs. Hilly to Sponsor British Champs Mariel Phimister MAROC prescriptive but provide examples When a map is printed at 1:10,000 the time taken for a road crossing Hilly Clothing have been announced as the primary JW4 Frances Wright MAROC For Elite competitors there will be a UK Cup and the lines, line screens and symbol leg, so this facility can be used sponsor for the British Championships. Hilly would W10 Megan Harrison EPOC, Future Champions Cup race on the Saturday. The dimensions on the map should be to run a competition effectively in also like to congratulate to the competition winners Abigail Mason MAROC 50% greater than those specified two parts. Either on two areas or winning time for the M18/20/21 course will be about from the last edition; Michael Wood of Dewsbury, W14 Jessica Mason MAROC, NEW FIXTURES LIST Rhona McMillan MAROC 60 minutes and for the W18/20/21 course about 50 Robin Wilson of Horsham, Julie Laver of Alresford, M16 Finlay Langan MAROC minutes. Kathy Dale of Aboyne, Cat Taylor of Edinburgh, Both the new event structure and the new fixtures list M20 Calum Coombs MAROC Louise Price of Bury St. Edmunds, Ian Wainwright of has been designed to make events more attractive and Further information, classes, entries fees and W35 Dawn Figg HH Sheffield, John Dennis of Spalding, Jackie Barnes of friendly to newcomers whilst still meeting the needs of closing dates can be found at www.boc2009.org.uk Ripon and Julia Ferguson of Barnt Green Bronze orienteers. The new fixtures list aims to remove jargon JW1 Harriet Parker KSODA and acronyms that are meaningless to newcomers and JW3 Catriona Walker MAROC TRAIL O NEWS The New improve the search facility. Trail O M10 Joseph Wright MAROC Course at Tran Hows Trail Orienteering at National Trust Awards are available from Chris The layout of the was opened fixtures list has Following the successful British by the Tarn Hows by Chairman Boycott, 13 Dawlish Avenue, Stafford, been simplified Trail Orienteering Championships and Monk Coniston Neil Cameron ST17 0EU, on receipt of, all relevant to provide the at Tarn Hows in September 2007 Project, which is run details, the appropriate fee (cheque fundamental the National Trust has set up by the National Trust made payable to British Orienteering) event information a permanent course. The path with support from the and an appropriate SAE (A4 size on the initial around the lake, newly surfaced Heritage Lottery Fund. with a Large letter postage stamp screen with with compressed shale, provides For further information for certificates). a “details” a route for wheelchair users and please visit the National button to click buggies as well as walkers. The Trust website Details required: for further trail orienteering course provides an www.nationaltrust.org.uk a) Name and age class of claimant information additional interest to visitors using b) The organizing club and dates of the such as the grid the path. British Trail O Champs three events, which must be within reference and A number of a two year timespan. Back claims the organisers Neil Cameron opened the course competitors braved are possible if I have the relevant contact details. on a sunny morning in late the cold weather for records, as a lot of old records October. Peter Roberts planned the the British Trail O are NOT available on the Internet. thirteen control course with options Championships in Search: To benefit newcomers comprehensive search will meet (with an authenticated eligibility As I only get about 20% of event for standard and extension skill Northumberland. Congratulations in particular, you can now search the needs of all participants. certificate that will be current results it helps me if you can send levels. Regular trail orienteers were to Margaret Crosby (NATO) who the fixtures list by your region and until the end of August 2009) photocopies of relevant results on hand to test out and provide won both classes. Dave Gittus by using a postcode search. The Symbols: We have created must declare an interest to Anne c) Position and time of claimant in each feedback on the course and (WRE) came second, Beryl search facility also enables you a range of symbols that show Braggins by the end of January. event. visitors to Tarn Hows were invited Blackhall (SELOC) came third in to search for events suitable for on the initial fixtures list screen. Those interested should compete d) Club and British Orienteering to have a go. the Open class and Peter Roberts newcomers. For current orienteers The symbols provide an easy to in the Trail O at the JK (9/13th April) number of claimant. came third in the Paralympic class. they can now search by club, understand and quick reference to and Irish TOC (25/26th April), plus e) The standard being claimed. Maps are available at the NT region and by event type and level. what the event offers. E.g. suitable the BTOC sometime in May. landrover at the Tarn Hows car World Champs Selection The date parameters allow for for newcomers, coaching available, Woven cloth badge £1.50 park and there will be a down load Anybody interested in being an open ended search or a date dogs allowed etc Report by Christine Roberts & Certificate £0.50 facility available shortly. The Trail O selected for WTOC09 for either of specific search. We hope that this Anne Braggins Age (e.g. M60 or JW2) flash £0.50 course has been made possible the classes, Open or Paralympic [email protected]

28 Orienteering Focus - Winter 2008/09 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 29 Dalrulzion © SOA

Barry Buddon © SOA

Loch Ordie © SOA TAY 2009 SCOTTISH 6 DAYS

2nd - 8th August 2009 Get ready for another fantastic total travelling than the previous few 6-Days, www.scottish6days.com Scottish 6 Day event in 2009. A assuming most people will be coming from lot of hard work is being put in by the South. the 6-day committee to ensure that The racecourse has bars, cafe, function competitors get to sample some of room facilities and loads of hard-standing car Scotland’s best orienteering terrain parking. There will also be shower facilities whilst enjoying the exciting social available. Plenty of live entertainment is in programme that’s in store. store such as local folk, ceilidh and rock bands, a quiz, 5-aside football, whisky tasting and a pipe band for the final day. Last but The campsite/event centre will be based at not least, why not stay until the Sunday Perth Race Course (www.perth-races.co.uk) when Perth will hold their annual Scottish and the orienteering areas will range from Highland Games. The combination of the the mountains of Perthshire to the coastal social programme and the usual world class dunes of Angus and Fife. When selecting orienteering makes TAY 2009 an event you the areas we wanted to provide participants don’t want to miss out on. with some of the best orienteering in Scotland with an emphasis on variety. The travel to Online entries open on 1st December some areas is something we would have liked Kinnoull & Deuchny © TAY to have avoided but we felt that by having Scott Fraser the Event Centre in Perth there will be less Scottish 6 Days Organising Committee

30 Orienteering Focus - Winter 2008/09