INSIDE: an Interview with BRIAN PORTEOUS Training with THIERRY GUEORGIOU JHI, JIRC & JEC 2016 SOL & SOUL PLUS Lots More

Sc re The Home of Scottish Orienteering December 2016

INSIDE: An Interview with BRIAN PORTEOUS Training with THIERRY GUEORGIOU JHI, JIRC & JEC 2016 SOL & SOUL PLUS lots more

magazine of the SCOTTISH ORIENTEERING ASSOCIATION Sc re The Home of Scottish Orienteering contents

04 PRESIDENT’S PIECE 9 05 SOA / RDO NEWS 06 OPERATIONS NEWS 07 EDUCATION NEWS 08 EVENTS MANAGER’S NEWS 10 JUNIOR SQUAD NEWS 12 COACHING CORNER 20

13 ROYAL DEESIDE 2017 Picture: Colin Matheson, MOR

Picture: ActivNorth 14 ELITE NEWS 16 INTERVIEW… BRIAN PORTEOUS 24 19 INTRODUCING...RONA LINDSAY 20 SOL REVIEW AND RESULTS 22 BTO SOUL SERIES 2016 24 WORLD CLASS WEEKEND 26 SOLWAY SUMMER O-FEST 29 O-PINION 30 COMPASSSPORT TROPHY 2016 32 EVENT NEWS 35 MORAY SCHOOL EVENT 36 CULBIN JUNIOR RELAYS Graham Picture: Patricia 37 MEET THE SOA CLUBS 38 JOHN COLLS AWARD 39 2016 JUNIOR EUROPEAN CUP 42 TINTO TWIN 43 MEMBER BENEFITS

30 39 Picture: www.compasssport.com Picture: www.compasssport.com

Picture: Crawford Lindsay, ESOC 2 www.scottish-orienteering.org editor’s intro ABOUT ORIENTEERING Information on orienteering or any SOA activity can be obtained from the Association Secretary: Scottish Orienteers, [email protected] I hope that you’ll all enjoy this issue of SCORE – it’s a Addresses of clubs, details of bit of a leap into the unknown for me. I’m no orienteer, groups and a short guide to the but rather an orienteering parent looking to give back sport are available from: to the orienteering community National Orienteering Centre through volunteering. Glenmore Lodge, Aviemore Charlotte, our daughter, PH22 1QZ. discovered orienteering through Tel 01479 861374 the efforts of an energetic P4 [email protected] teacher, then moved on to after-school orienteering offered SCORE Advertising through MAROC and Active Full page: £90 Schools. My husband, Scott, Half page: £60. decided to orienteer as well, Discounted rates available for having been warmly welcomed Picture: Claire Andrews multiple issues. and assisted by MAROC, and Contact us to discuss: thus another orienteering family was born… Our communications@ orienteering journey is a reﬂection of some of the pieces scottish-orienteering.org in this issue that centre on attracting, and fostering the growth of, new orienteers. More than the results SCORE Editor on a scoreboard – though Scotland has some very Sheila Reynolds impressive ones – it is the sport and its participants that [email protected] draw individuals and families in, many for a lifetime. Orienteering is unique in that way, I think, and I hope Design that my appreciation of that can, and will, be reﬂected in MediArtStudio SCORE during my time as its editor. www.mediartstudio.co.uk Please do feel free to contact me with suggestions, email: [email protected] feedback and – particularly! – any pieces that you &/or your club would like to share in the pages of SCORE. Printed by: Groverprint & Design, Sheila Reynolds Studio 2B1, Industrial Estate, Editor Newtonmore PH20 1AL COPY DATE FOR NEXT ISSUE: 3rd February 2017

Cover pic - Izzy Cox, BASOC. Pic courtesy of Chris Spencer - www.activnorth.com

The views expressed by contributors to SCORE are not necessarily those of the SOA Board, nor of the Editor. www.scottish-orienteering.org 3 president’s piece by roger scrutton (ESOc) SOA President email: [email protected]

orgive me, but I cannot present it is run by BO, but in Fresist making some other sports, such as canoeing, comments following the the system is run by the Scottish outcome of the vote at the British governing body; in the Scottish Orienteering (BO) EGM on 29th Canoe Association example, October to increase membership members have the option to join and levy fees. Even with this British Canoeing as well. Is this increased income, because it a model that would suit us better is anticipated there will be a in orienteering? For the moment, Picture: Crawford Lindsay, ESOC Picture: Crawford Lindsay, signiﬁcant reduction in their SOA is continuing to research the investment from Sport England, feasibility of introducing a Club + British Orienteering will have to SOA membership option that is rationalise its operations from designed to run in parallel with the April 2017 onwards. BO system. It seems to me that the obvious On a lighter note, as indicated in way to address the issue of the most recent of Sarah Hobbs’ rationalisation is to identify the three monthly emails to members, there or four activities that BO absolutely has been much to cheer about has to carry out as the UK-wide in Scottish Orienteering recently, Governing Body of orienteering, some of which is reported on which apply equally across in more detail in this edition of England, N. Ireland, Scotland SCORE. Please make sure you and Wales. I would argue that have signed up for the regular these three or four activities are member email service from the maintaining the rules, guidelines National Centre at Glenmore and standards in the sport, an Lodge. events and results service, the talent Finally, did you know you can and performance programme and plant a woodland in your local membership of the International area for free, and thus invest in the Orienteering Federation. It future of community orienteering? has become clear that many See: https://www.woodlandtrust. other activities, such as raising org.uk/plant-trees/. Admittedly, a sponsorship, club and volunteer ﬁeld in which to plant the trees is development and marketing and much less easy to come by, but publicity, are as, or more, effectively bear this possibility in mind if as done at the local level. a club you are looking to create An important question is, who local partnerships with like-minded should run our membership organisations – and SOA’s status system? In orienteering at as a charity might help here.

4 www.scottish-orienteering.org soa news by Stef Lauer SOA Chief Operating Ofﬁcer

ne of the advantages of C.O.P.E. (Community Orienteering Obeing based at Glenmore & Protection of the Environment), Lodge is that one is allows Sarah Dunn to move from immediately aware of the change her previous CDO work into her new of season. Driving or cycling in role as its Project Manager. Sarah from Aviemore, the low hanging will work with schools in Braemar,

Picture: Crawford Lindsay, ESOC Picture: Crawford Lindsay, mist over Loch Morlich and the Crathie, Ballater and Strathdon, as colours of the insidious trees are well as youth groups at the heart of letting you gently know: Winter is the community, to stage activities coming. Time to reflect on some and also to help train leaders to be busy months at SOA HQ… able to sustain activities into the The staff changes continued future. throughout the summer. Big news With Rona Lindsay and Johannes being that we were successful Petersen now firmly in their posts in winning a grant through as Regional Development Officers Cairngorm LEADER to fund a Central/South and North respectively, new 2-year development project we have a strong team in place to in upper Deeside and Donside begin work with their clubs and to linked to the 2017 Scottish 6-Days identify projects they can assist with. and 2018 British Orienteering Keep connected with us via social Championships, both of which are media & our website to stay in touch to be held in Deeside.This project, with further developments! RDO news by Johannes Petersen Regional Development Officer, North SAVE THE DATE – Saturday 1st April 2017 at Dounans Outdoor Education Centre, Aberfoyle. SOA Development Summit: ‘The Future of Scottish Junior & Schools Orienteering’ nvitations will be issued It will be possible to take a long Ishortly for all clubs to send two lunch break to compete in the FVO delegates. Double Dukes Middle Distance Race! In addition, Junior representatives Picture: Jane Petersen from across Scotland will be invited. Chair: Marsela McLeod All SOA members will be surveyed for their views in advance. When we Organiser: Johannes Petersen, gather in April we will aim to agree Regional Development Officer, action points to ensure the brightest North possible future for Scottish Junior & [email protected] Schools orienteering. 07896 823537 www.scottish-orienteering.org 5 operations news by Roos Eisma (tay) Operations Director

We are looking for help, from clubs or individuals, to deliver the British Championships in 2018, and to coordinate the SOA trophies.

British Championships want to organise/plan/control? This The SOA has in principle agreed to is also an opportunity for level-B/C host the British Championships in 2018 officials who want to further develop in Deeside. The weekend has the same their skills to be involved with a format as the Scottish Championships, high-level event as an assistant with the Individual on Saturday 12th May to a more experienced individual. and the Relay on Sunday 13th. Both are A controller for the Individual is in level A events. place. We look forward to welcoming British Comments or suggestions are Orienteers to a high-quality event welcome. Although at this point we in excellent Scottish terrain. Some cannot make any firm promises, I am questions remain, however, about the hoping that we can offer all clubs and Roos Eisma viability of the event. One is about the volunteers something in return, in levy that BOF will impose, which the the form of shared profit or practical SOA President & Treasurer will review support with travel, accommodation and negotiate. The other question is and sustenance. We appreciate that about whether we can get an event team there is significant travel involved for in place. Local and nearby clubs have most clubs and individuals, and are hosted a series of large scale events looking to minimise the number of visits in recent years and have indicated that and meetings so that most or all of the they cannot take responsibility for these preparation can be done remotely. championships, though they will be Trophy Coordinator available for local input. SOA is looking for a volunteer to All clubs have been approached as to coordinate the SOA trophies that whether they can make a contribution to are awarded to the various classes the event, but we are also interested to at Scottish Championships and the hear from individuals: Scottish Orienteering League. •Canyoutakeonarole?This The primary responsibility would can be a larger role such as be to keep track of the trophies: who day coordinator, but a smaller they’ve been awarded to, and their contribution would also be much current location. You would also advise appreciated. We’re happy to the Board if any trophies need to be break down tasks in whatever repaired or replaced, and if the trophies way works for you. Could you for that we have still match the events and example coordinate traders, toilets classes. or parking? Colin Matheson is The trophies are normally with clubs responsible for overall coordination or individuals, and you will not be of the weekend. We are happy to expected to store a large number of work with inter-club teams. trophies. •Couldyoubeahelperontheday(s) If you are interested, or would like itself? further details, please contact me at: •Areyoualevel-Aeventoficialand [email protected]

6 www.scottish-orienteering.org EDUCATION news by hilary quick (BASOC) SOA Education Manager - email: [email protected]

e are delighted to conﬁrm What mentoring goes on in your Wthat the next Volunteers’ club? How do you match people Activity Weekend will go with mentors? What characteristics ahead at Glenmore Lodge from do you want in your mentors? 15th to 17th September 2017. The In the shorter timescale, please weekend is intended to strengthen remember that as from 1 January the feeling of community across 2017 British Orienteering require orienteering clubs by sharing skills ALL event ofﬁcials to have attended and experiences, and helping to an Event Safety Workshop. We are form (and renew!) friendships. continuing to arrange workshops

Picture: Crawford Lindsay, ESOC Picture: Crawford Lindsay, Bookings will open in January; cost at various venues around Scotland, will be £100 per person (includes mostly as evening sessions but also 2 nights B&B, most in twin en-suite with some on Saturdays. rooms), Saturday dinner, lunches and A course is currently planned for daytime refreshments. Saturday, 11th of February (daytime) Obviously it’s a bit early to at Kinnoul, near Perth. announce a timetable, and we’ll make Please see the course schedule sure the sessions are relevant to at www.scottish-orienteering.org/ those who book, but we do hope to course-schedule for details and offer some sessions at “Masterclass” a link to booking form, and get in level as well as introductory/improver touch if you’d like a workshop to level, in various topics. In addition be arranged near you. The session to formal sessions, there will be a works best when it involves a mixture number of practical activities and of people from different clubs, and you will have ample time for informal the social interaction never does any discussions and opportunities to ask harm! questions of SOA Board members Finally, and on a slightly different and staff - and of course there’ll be tack, I’m pleased to inform you that time to orienteer in some of the lovely I’ve become the northern outpost Speyside forests. for CompassPoint; Rick will still If you’d like to suggest items for bring his van to major events, but sessions or for informal discussion, I have a modest stock of the kind do please e-mail hilary@scottish- of items that we all lose, break or orienteering.org. More details will forget from time to time, and I’ll have follow - in the meantime, put the dates them on sale at events – by prior in your diary! arrangement with organisers, of One of the topics I’d like us to course. This isn’t a money-making explore at that weekend is the matter venture, just an attempt to make of mentoring. It was identiﬁed at the sure everyone has ready access to 2014 Club Development Conference the equipment they need. The SOA as a good way to share skills, and Board have given their blessing, and of course it’s been an intrinsic part hope this strengthens the link with of coach education for many years. CompassPoint. www.scottish-orienteering.org 7 EVENTS MANAGER’S news by Colin Matheson (mor) SOA Events Manager - email: [email protected]

Highland 2015 - World Orienteering Championships and Scottish 6 Days Deeside

People’s Choice Sports Event of the Year

Awards Ceremony...How it Works (with apologies to Ladybird) Picture: The Drum

ack in May the following email Event of the Year but also appeared as an Bdropped into my Inbox: It’s the entry in the PEOPLES CHOICE AWARD ﬁnal week for entries so make sure – EVENT OF THE YEAR. There was a you don’t miss out on the Scottish Event warning: *PLEASE BE AWARE THAT Awards 2016. Enter now! WHAT IS ON THE WEBSITE IS WHAT YOU The Awards, with EventScotland as HAVE ENTERED AT ENTRY STAGE AND its headline sponsor, provide the perfect WILL BE USED FOR ENGRAVING IF YOU opportunity to reward those often behind ARE A WINNER – PLEASE HIGHLIGHT the scenes. Back for their 9th successive ANY CHANGES TO MYSELF IF THERE year the Scottish Event Awards give those IS AN ERROR,* so I did check back to working within the Scottish events industry see that I had indeed said that our event the recognition they deserve! Whether you was Highland 2015 - World Orienteering are an event organiser, promoter, supplier, Championships and Scottish 6 Days. The in-house team or venue, the Scottish Event email was followed up a few weeks later Awards is your platform to shine in 2016. with an opportunity to vote: “Dear Public This year The Scottish Event Awards have Choice Award Nominee, Votes are now introduced a public vote award - Event open! – we will be taking votes from now of The Year. Entries are shortlisted by the until the end of August and the winner will judging panel and before a public vote be announced at the ceremony on October selects the worthy winner. 5th. Here is the link to the survey etc.” I duly paid up the registration fee of This is where you, dear reader, helped in £166 and submitted a document including a big way. The link was promoted on the an Executive Summary, Objectives, SOA and British Orienteering websites and Organisation (Strong Partnerships) and through social media, websites and local Results (Outcomes), and held my breath press including the widely read Nairnshire for a couple of months. A few action shots Telegraph, http://www.gurnnurn.com/ from ActivNorth accompanied the entry. and http://www.insidemoray.com/ Special Two months later an email arrived saying thanks go to Mike Rodgers for all his help that we had been nominated for Sports on the latter outlets. The Royal Deeside

8 www.scottish-orienteering.org 2017 Central Organising Team agreed that Oscar. The crowd (on their £35 bottles of we could promote this event as well as send wine) were starting to get fairly raucous but out the link via SIEntries. Thanks go to then came the big announcements of the Simon Firth who carried out this task – we evening. were sure that we were operating within the Gymnastics was to take the Grand Prix Data Protection Act. but the PEOPLES CHOICE AWARD (the Roll forward a month and the invitation to only one in BIG LETTERS) goes to… book a place at a table arrives – black tie the Scottish Orienteering Association event, Radisson Hotel Glasgow, one small for Highland 2015 – World Orienteering sparkling drink included. Championships and Scottish 6 Days. Richard Oxlade, Event Coordinator was Neil Brownlee, Head of Business Events first choice to collect the gong (if any) at VisitScotland dished out the attractive but put business in Malaysia in front of Perspex trophy while the crowd clapped/ the dubious pleasure of sitting amongst cheered/booed as appropriate. This was several hundred potential award recipients a genuine surprise – I thought winners had from across the spectrum – light shows, some sort of advance notice so it really was penguins, music festivals, horse trials, a great night for orienteering. modern art, worthy causes and other sports My thank you speech was confined to events were all in the mix with numerous friends on Facebook, but genuinely it was categories of awards. £200 later I (and not thanks to all of you (and all the rest who Richard) with authority from the Scottish 6 voted) for getting us this great accolade, Days Board was signed up to Warm tartlet and wider publicity for the sport as a whole. of creamed leek and roasted smoked The Highlands and Islands Tourism salmon, lemon and chive crème fraiche; Awards, while not as successful, or as filling, Braised daube of beef topped with solferino receives full marks for entertainment value. of peppers, parsley mash potato, honey Scottish Orienteering were finalists for last roast carrot and parsnip, sugar snap peas year’s Highland 2015 orienteering. On this rich red wine sauce and warm chocolate occasion another group of people clad in fondant, puff candy ice cream and blueberry coloured lycra took the final honours - the paint (yes, really). At £35 for the house red I Etape Loch Ness. stuck to eau du robinet. The 16 items mentioned on the menu The award ceremony was, if truth be told, fitted comfortably on a small side plate and quite a long drawn out affair, enlivened (?) unfortunately the chippie was closed by the with a Canadian comedian. There were time I got back to Nairn. Many thanks to some encouraging signs when a few of the fellow finalist Jennifer from Gordon Castle other guests at my table were announced as (Highland Games) and her boyfriend for the winners and trod the red carpet. Highland lift home. Highlight of the evening was the 2015 was up against the World Gymnastics “ambassador of the year” award to monster Championships and Swimming World watcher Steve Feltham, who gave a most Championships for the Sports Event of amusing speech - living on the shores of the Year. We received a Commendation Loch Ness for 25 years waiting to spot the (one of only a few that evening) but alas no monster would unhinge most folk. www.scottish-orienteering.org 9 Junior SQUAD NEWS by Elizabeth Furness (mor) ScotJOS Lead Coach and Manager Picture: Sally Lindsay, ESOC Picture: Sally Lindsay, Carlyle, AIRE Pictures: Wendy

Twenty three members of the squad were part of the Scotland teams taking part in the Junior Inter-Regional Championships (JIRCs) and Ward Junior Home International (JHI) over the past couple of months. They all did us proud, both on the courses and around the accommodation. At JIRCs we posted a comfortable margin in the scores after the individual day and went on to win the Boys relay competition and the overall competition – quite a trophy haul.

NOTABLE RESULTS: M14 1st Matthew Gooch (MAROC), 3rd Peter Molloy (FVO), 4th Louis Macmillan (ECKO) M16 1st Jake Chapman (MAROC), 3rd Alistair Chapman (MAROC), 6th Joe Wright (MAROC) M18 1st Finlay Todd (INVOC) W14 1st Megan Keith (INVOC), 2nd Lizzie Stansﬁeld (FVO) W16 4th Eilidh Campbell (MAROC) W18 4th Clare Stansﬁeld (FVO), 5th Lindsay Robertson (CLYDE)

BOYS’ RELAY (M16-M14-M18) 1st Jake Chapman, Matthew Gooch, Finlay Todd

Matthew Gooch was awarded The 18s were Alex Carcas and the trophy for Best Individual Emma Wilson, plus Jake Chapman Performance having won M14 on and Grace Molloy running up Saturday by 5 mins 25sec as well as 18s for experience. Thomas as his storming run in the relays. Wilson, Dan Stansﬁeld and Jenny Hard on the heels of this Ricketts were all competing in M/ competition was the Junior W20. It was a great weekend with European Cup (JEC) hosted by a buzzing atmosphere and if you FVO at which four current and 3 haven’t seen Andrew Barr’s drone ex squad members competed. video of the relay then it’s worth

10 www.scottish-orienteering.org Pictures: Wendy Carlyle, AIRE Pictures: Wendy checking out (http://www.scottish- of the Relay Day and Overall but orienteering.org/jec2016) only by 15 points. Next year...! No rest for the many of the To show what an all-year-round athletes (or me!) as we were then sport we enjoy, there are three straight in to the JHI down near more weekends coming up for Newcastle. Again 23 of the squad ScotJOS and other invited juniors were in action in the Scotland before the end of the year. Nov team with everyone putting 5/6 will be very special as we their all in to both races – and are joining in with MAROCs’ the disco!; they were a credit to exciting training weekend with Scotland. We had some excellent guest coach and speaker, Thierry results on what was a very Gueorgiou – he of multiple physically tough and demanding world championship titles. At the area. beginning of December there is the annual weekend for M/ W14 1st Lizzie Stansfield (FVO) W16s at Hawkshead, organised W16 1st Grace Molloy (FVO ) by the Junior Regional Squads; W18 3rd Clare Stansfield (FVO) a great mix of quality technical coaching and socialising with M14 1st Peter Molloy (FVO) peers from across the UK. Finally 2nd Matthew Gooch (MAROC) the weekend after is the ScotJOS 3rd Daniel Campbell (MOR) Development weekend; our GB M16 3rd Jake Chapman (MAROC) Talent athletes will be away at M18 1st Finlay Todd (INVOC) a camp with that squad so a number of up and coming 12s Despite a magnificent 1st place and 14s will be invited to join us for boys followed by 5th, 7th and for the weekend in Pitlochry. 10th, and nothing much between, So, there will be lots to report and the girls coming home in 3rd, next time. Until then, thank you to 4th, 5th and 7th, the final result all the coaches and parents who meant that England were winners give so much support to us. www.scottish-orienteering.org 11 coaching corner by jess tullie (BASOC)

For this edition of Score, Jess Tullie reﬂects on her experience of clubs and coaching while in Sweden. She then goes through how this is being implemented as a trial in BASOC as part of Tuesday=O, 6:30pm

BASOC has, for a long time before having dinner (heavily now, organised a weekly subsidised by the club). I training night on Tuesdays really loved the social aspect throughout the year. of these evenings and it was always amazing to see the After my trip to Sweden this amount of kids running around year we are trialling a change the hut. Talking to some of the to the structure of the nights. coaches, they spoke about To give a brief background to how teaching young children the changes before I explain in a familiar setting was Picture: Lynne Walker (BASOC) Walker Picture: Lynne them, I spent 3 months of perfect as they gradually grew Roger Scrutton and Moira Laws during spring living in Falun, Sweden. more confident as their skills the Coaching CPD day at The Hermitage in The main reason was for improved. September 2016 my personal orienteering soup. Now, we arrive at the improvement and enjoyment, Back to Scotland and I hall, have a group introduction however I’m always keen to wondered how we could to the session, go out training learn things to help develop pick out the best bits of what and then back to the hall orienteering back in Scotland. I had experienced yet also for some soup, debrief and I’m going to leave the details use our strengths too. I have general chat. This winter we of the elite side of things for to admit that I used to go to are basing the 4 months from another day, but describe the our Dark-O Tuesdays just to different halls, and each month pointers that have influenced support them and rarely did I has a different coaching focus. our club training evenings. enjoy them (being afraid of the Within the month, the structure dark doesn’t help!). Arriving in is the same; week 1: learn, A common theme in the dark, going for a run and week 2: practise, week 3: fun/ Sweden’s orienteering clubs getting back in the car and group challenge, week 4: test is having a weekly training going home afterwards with (SI timed). night (although interestingly barely seeing anybody. I am not always for the whole strongly of the opinion that we The first month has had the year), from their club hut. After should ensure that the club is focus of ‘aiming off’. I hoped meeting, they split off into one that people want to be a that this would be a great small groups and do various part of. way of increasing people’s coached exercises (juniors all confidence in the dark, as well learning and improving their What we have come up as being planned so that all orienteering whereas adults with is winter months being abilities could learn and feel often do a running session). based from village halls (the comfortable. So far so good, Once they’ve finished their closest we get to a club hut, but I will see how the winter training they use the club although disappointingly no goes and update you all in the hut showers and saunas saunas…), with coaching and Spring!!

12 www.scottish-orienteering.org royal deeside 2017 by Jon Musgrave (maroc) Co-ordinator

he event preparations to Aberdeenshire Council for Tcontinue to move various restrictions (warning forward with much signs, temporary speed limits work going on behind the and even a one-way system). scenes from the Central The budget has been Organising Committee that agreed by the Scottish consists of 32 orienteers Orienteering 6-Day Event Co. from Interlopers and Ltd. and entry fees set, these MAROC. involve an increase on last One major advantage year but include free parking will impact them traffic-wise to having the 6-Day event and/or free bus travel from by the end of the year, and based in Deeside is that it Ballater to the events. The we are meeting with local is home to a thriving club exact cost of many pieces business and community whose members know the remain unclear at present, groups to let them know what landowners (having worked but over the next couple of is proposed and to discuss with some for 40 years!) and months these figures will ways they can benefit from have many contacts with be clarified as quotes for this major event in Deeside locals. external costs are received (and help us put on a better Planners now have draft and contracts agreed. event!). Local media and maps, including summer The camp site is newspapers are being kept vegetation, with planning progressing with an in- informed of the event and the teams having paid initial house team having taken on likely impact on the area – visits to their areas to start responsibility for the setting both positive (more visitors, the long course-planning up and running of it – it will increased tourist spend) and process. All of the areas are include toilets, hot showers negative (more vehicles, currently very dry - a similar and sinks for washing up etc. some road restrictions). Food summer in 2017 to this year The site is superbly located traders are being invited to would result in fantastic fast next to the Ballater Games attend and we hope that conditions underfoot. Access park and within easy walking many of them will be locally agreements are either in distance of the event centre, based to ensure that, as place or in the process of shops, cafés and hotels of much as possible, profit from being finalised for all six Ballater. Fortunately, all three the event flows into local days. major mobile phone networks businesses and communities. Car parking is arranged have recently upgraded their Event entries will be going and plans are being made networks and so all can offer live on 1st December 2016 to improve access tracks 4G coverage in the village - – who has the fastest finger and gateways where needed communications moving from and will get the prestigious to ensure a smooth, swift the 19th century to the 21st in number 1 entry? flow of vehicles in and out one bound! More information about of parking areas. Traffic Local residents will be the Scottish 6 Days 2017 plans are finalised and receiving information telling can be found at http://www. applications have been made them of the event and how it scottish6days.com/2017. www.scottish-orienteering.org 13 elite news by Murray Strain (int) & Jon Musgrave (maroc)

his year the Senior Home TInternationals were held in Newborough Forest, Anglesey – location of the 1995 & 2001 British Championships and various other major races since. The Scottish team selected was the strongest we could assemble despite various call-offs and unavailables. The English team also looked pretty strong – they had managed to get a pretty good turn-out of their top runners so it was going to be a tough weekend. Anyway, to cut to the chase - after a roller coaster of a campaign we came home from Picture: Kirsten Strain, INT Wales with both the Individual were horrific in places and merely 2016 SHI and Overall SHI trophies - well grim in others, but at least the done team! map had been updated to show It was a narrow victory in the them (mostly) correctly, and end but that just makes it all the the course planned to avoid the sweeter (1 point in 50!). 17 out of worst patches. the 18 in the team scored points The individual and relay over the weekend (and Emma - courses were planned by some the 18th - was right behind Claire sadist – 14.7km for M21, 10.5km in the individual and had a coin for W21, 11.3km for M20 and toss gone the other way could 7.7km for W20 – enough to keep have been in a scoring relay the best orienteers busy for a team too) which just goes to long time! show how important it is to have The eventual individual result depth and to keep going, no was that Scotland won 3 classes matter how tough it feels - every (tying in W20) and were 2nd place matters. in the other, so led the overall The terrain was forested sand- scoring by 27 to England’s 22. dunes with the added spice of The relay was again long a large ridge in the middle of courses (7.5km and 6.2km). The the map with many large crags. races developed in a fascinating There were also a few bits of way with plenty of changes in bramble… okay, the brambles the lead teams and huge leaps 14 www.scottish-orienteering.org and drops behind as runners from the dead to push GG all struggled with the technical the way in the relay. challenges of the intricate sand- •JennyandSashafortheir20 dunes and the pressure of racing individual wins. for their country. •ClaireandEmmafor However, the biggest challenge answering their Nation’s call was undoubtedly at the end of and stepping from W18 to the second leg the men’s race – some of the longest W20 Doug T. had missed a control and & SHI relay courses I can so instead of being in 1st, 4th remember. Great work! and 7th, the men were 3rd and •Jamie,forthefastest2ndleg 6th… not good enough to get despite thinking he had no sufficient points. one to hand over to. However, heroics from •Sasha,again,for(a)not Spongey (injured the previous recognising Kris Jones in the day and not planning to run) individual and trying to burn and Murray meant we ended up him off, then (b) pushing the with 2nd and 4th – just enough same KJ all the way in the points – phew! The women relay. likewise kept in touch (apart Also, many thanks to all the from the stacked English team) team for being such an easy and finished 2nd and 5th. The group to work with - turning up relay scores ended up being on time, answering queries and England 27, Scotland 23… a just generally getting on with the victory margin that was close, but job. sufficient ;-) Finally, thanks also to Hollie It would be difficult to pick out for doing all the pre-weekend co- the performances of the weekend ordination despite not competing for fear of offending someone by herself. missing them out, but here goes Results can be found here: anyway: http://deeside-orienteering-club. •Spongey,forhisresurrection org.uk/results/Results.htm

Would you like to receive future issues of SCORE on paper? If you’re reading the electronic version, and would prefer a paper copy of SCORE, please contact Sarah Hobbs at the National Orienteering Centre at Glenmore Lodge. Please state your name, BOF membership number and address. By email: [email protected] By phone: 01479 861374 (has an answerphone) By post: National Orienteering Centre, Glenmore Lodge, Aviemore PH22 1QU Thank you www.scottish-orienteering.org 15 an interview with...

BRIAN PORTEOUS, IOF President

the development of the sport and as President of the IOF, I was always proud of the Scottish track record. The way in which SOA has used the power of a major event - the Scottish Six Day - as the driver for development is a lesson others should copy. Not only has the Six Day provided ﬁnance but, critically, it has made it possible to produce maps where there were

Picture: WOC not too many orienteers and this in turn has stimulated clubs to start. I Brian at VIP-race BRIAN Porteous of FVO and think therefore that Scotland does former Scottish Orienteering not need too much advice except President has retired as IOF to continue to do more of the same President after 4 years in the by developing strong clubs and post and a total of 14 years in staging events of all levels from senior IOF positions. At his local to international. ﬁnal IOF General Assembly, he was honoured with the award In the UK we bemoan the fact of an IOF Gold Pin, and has that orienteering receives very been elected as the third IOF little exposure in the various Honorary Life President. media. In IOF you have been instrumental in improving its Brian, I’ve been looking back exposure via television. Do at an interview with Caroline you think better exposure is Povey at BOF prior to your something that we will ever election as IOF President achieve here in the UK? Where in 2012 and you talked a lot should we focus our efforts? about opportunities in regions The IOF may well be the key and development. This is here. This year’s WOC TV was an important issue for SOA, ‘sold’ in various forms to over 60 albeit on a much smaller scale. countries and territories and we Do you have any advice for now have contact with Eurosport us on moving forward with which might mean that the WOC development in Scotland? and World Cups could be seen Scottish orienteering has much in the UK in future years. Tom to teach the rest of the world about Hollowell the IOF CEO is certainly

16 www.scottish-orienteering.org working to try to get orienteering broadcast in the UK, Germany and France as these are very important markets. Ultimately though I believe that it is our Olympic ambitions which will secure much more widespread coverage – the IOF is working hard to get orienteering into the winter or summer Games and achievement of that objective will

change the broadcast landscape Gazette Picture: Forres at a stroke. In the meantime, there is much to be said for complete impartiality, what Brian Porteous WebTV and perhaps Scottish and pathway would you suggest British Orienteering might look to the GB talent and performance ways of delivering low cost web programme follows to make the based content and continuing to breakthrough? improve arena presentation so GB is doing outstandingly that increasingly it can be seen well considering the very that we have a sport worthy of limited resources available and inclusion in the Olympic Games. it really is disgraceful that no All levels of media coverage are support is forthcoming from useful and local press and radio UK Sport! In my ‘day job’ as a can be especially helpful. If each management consultant, I have club had an active press ofﬁcer advised regularly on pathway regularly feeding stories and development – not least for Irish pictures into the local papers they Rugby! To answer your question would certainly use the material fully would require much more produced. We still have the habit space than is available here and of being the best kept sporting the last thing I want to do is over secret around! simplify the performance process. The key is probably making sure As you will know well, GB that all parts of the process are has been edging closer to well-resourced and joined up. achieving podium positons This means that recruitment (into at international events on a elite programmes), coaching regular basis. Now that you (technical and physical), support no longer have to exercise services like sports medicine, >> www.scottish-orienteering.org 17 an interview with...

sport is especially weak or non- existent in many African and the Caribbean nations which dominate in Commonwealth Games circles. The IOF is working hard to change and to grow the sport in these areas but it will take many years.

Picture: Forres Gazette Picture: Forres You are a long-time member Mr & Mrs Adam with physiological advice and sports of Forth Valley Orienteers. Brian Porteous psychology, lifestyle management, Now that your IOF work has financial support for athletes finished will we see more of and coaches, overseas training you at events, participating or and competition all need volunteering? Are there things investment. This is exactly what you would still like to achieve in is happening in the Olympic orienteering? sports, and orienteering, I am very proud to have been because of the success already a founding member of FVO and achieved, deserves better I would like to get involved more support. Successful sports but I have two problems. The first make sure that each step in the is that 50 years of orienteering pathway is clear and resourced. (yes I went orienteering at Falkirk High School first in 1967 and then How far away do you think we attended my first Scottish Schools are from seeing orienteering in Championships in 1968) have taken the Commonwealth Games, in their toll on my knees and presently I which Scotland could compete as can cycle but I cannot run. Secondly, a separate country? How can we I am completing my training to be work towards this? an Ordained Local Minister in the This objective would be very Church of Scotland which means difficult to realise – even more that Sundays are rather busy! I am difficult than to get orienteering working to solve the first problem (or into the Olympic Games. In to take MTBO more seriously!) and theory, it is possible because I hope that I may be able to get to cities choose more of the sports more events in 2017 – maybe even than in the Olympics, but no city the Six Day. bidding for a Commonwealth Games would win many points for Brian, thank you very much including orienteering when the and best wishes for the future.

18 www.scottish-orienteering.org introducing...

Rona Lindsay, SOA Regional Development Ofﬁcer Central/South

THERE have been a few changes ScotJOS and I was in the GB squad in the SOA over the last few for a bit, competing and training all months, including the creation over the UK and Europe. Last year I of my position. Over the next 2 graduated from Edinburgh University Picture: Sally Lindsay (ESOC) years I’ll work in Central/South with a Genetics degree, having spent Scotland, with Johannes Peterson 4 great years in the orienteering as my Northern counterpart, on club (EUOC). I started coaching the development of orienteering while at uni and was also involved in Scotland. We are very much a in some development for EUOC. team and want to be available for More recently I have started junior clubs to contact; anyone can get coaching with JROS and ScotJOS. in touch with either of us and we I have now been working as will do our best to help you, or put a Regional Development Officer you in touch with the right people. for just over a month and I’ve My first orienteering experience barely even started. The thing with was in June 2002, when I went development is that it’s a slow to a local event in Princes Street burner and takes time. Whatever Gardens with my family. It was part you put in now, the results may of National Orienteering Week, a not be seen for months, or even drive to publicise orienteering. For years. That’s not to say I’ve been my family this event, combined with doing nothing; I’ve been really busy some friendly follow-up work to meeting lots of people from within welcome us into the club, did its job. orienteering and sportscotland We have all been orienteering ever and I’ve had to learn a lot in a short since and it’s great that we can do it period of time. I have attended a few together. Sport was never something club committee meetings so far and I’d enjoyed much - PE was one of I’m looking forward to meeting the my least favourite subjects at school rest of the clubs I cover in the near - but orienteering was different. You future. I’d like to see more people had to do something when you were enjoying our sport; I am passionate running, so much so that you don’t about getting orienteering out there always realise how far you’ve run and changing some of the negative or how long you’ve been out for. perceptions of it. There are a lot of It changes every time and there’s great ideas floating around so I’m always a new place to run, a new excited to be able to try them out mistake to make. and see where we can get to. Watch I was lucky enough to get into this space! www.scottish-orienteering.org 19 sol 2016 review and results by Trevor Hoey (FVO) SOL Scores Coordinator

nother year of leading to a larger number middle distance and sprint high quality events of runners than normal events on the Saturday, A for SOL events. The age Fairy Knowe and Doon across Scotland produced some close class-course combinations Hill as part of the Junior finishes in the Compass for the Scottish Champs European Cup weekend Point SOL series. are different from those hosted by FVO and CLYDE, The series started in the used for the SOL series, and finally Culbin with steep forest at Elibank and so the scoring had to be middle distance and junior the mostly open hillsides adjusted as a result. For relays on the Saturday. of Culteuchar and Dron in each age class, scores The numbers of the spring, before moving were calculated using the competitors in 2016 show to re-visit the 2015 World normal formula so the age significant increases in all Championships long class tables include SOL4, courses except Black, which distance terrain of Glen but some classes have to was inflated in 2014 and Affric. Due to access issues, be omitted from the tables 2015 by WOC preparations. the planned SOL4 event had arranged by course. The The number of unique runs to be cancelled so SOL4 was three autumn races were all (excluding dnf, retired etc) at re-allocated to the Scottish parts of weekends – Uath 2640 is the highest over the Championships at Balmoral, Lochans following from past 8 years.

Number of runners 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Black 52 84 41 50 37 101 104 54 Brown 69 82 66 64 70 149 95 105 Short Brown 111 128 91 106 90 116 89 107 Blue 162 179 138 144 157 172 148 173 Short Blue 127 133 94 87 117 116 113 141 Green 140 123 111 110 118 146 125 167 Short Green 73 59 70 59 65 91 95 111 Light Green 86 50 73 75 73 85 80 100 Orange 60 47 75 59 72 71 78 108 Yellow 55 50 74 53 44 41 41 85 White 59 43 73 34 35 31 53 67 TOTAL number of runners 994 978 906 841 878 1119 1050 1346 Number of unique runs 2351 1897 2347 1802 2091 2428 2495 2640 Mean number of SOLs per runner 2.4 1.9 2.6 2.1 2.4 2.2 2.4 2.0

Table 1: Number of competitors scoring points in SOL races (dnf, mispunches not included) are included. Runners scoring points on more than one course are included in both courses. Total for 2016 includes SOL4 (Scottish Champs) runners who ran different courses at SOL4 from the normal SOL course.

20 www.scottish-orienteering.org Blue course (at left) at SOL6, showing diverse route choices, and few pieces of forest un-trodden on in the tricky thick forest. Part of the Orange course (above) at SOL2.

SOL 2017

5th March Mugdock CP (CLYDE) 2nd April Trossachs (FVO) 23rd April Drumlanrig (SOLWAY) 14th May Glen Nant (ECKO) 24th Sept tbc (BASOC) 15th Oct tbc (GRAMP) 29th Oct tbc (INT)

The FVO race is part of best terrain at optimum time Champs (Lake District, so the ‘Double Dukes’ weekend of the year. not too far to travel) and with a middle distance New and updated maps Scottish Champs. race on the Saturday and are in preparation, and the The SOL series relies hopefully the Dark Thistle return to the Trossachs on mappers, planners, night race on the Friday gets us back to the classic organisers, controllers and evening. BASOC’s event will Scottish area – technically many on-the-day volunteers. also play host to the Veteran difﬁcult with no paths, great Thanks to everyone Home International individual views, and a real challenge involved in 2016 in any race. on the TD5 courses in capacity, and good luck The series will, as always, preparation for the spring to all the event ofﬁcials for make use of some of our season with the JK, British 2017.

SOL event details and results can be found at http://www.scottish-orienteering.org/sol www.scottish-orienteering.org 21 BTO Soul series 2016 by Andy Paterson (clyde) Urban League Coordinator

THE Scottish Orienteering Urban League (SOUL) series celebrated its 5th year in some style, with long-term sponsors bto solicitors announcing a further 2-year extension to their sponsorship of the league taking our partnership up to 2018. bto have ofﬁces based in Glasgow and Edinburgh. For more information see www.bto.co.uk.

he series this year 2016 Results Women Men made a welcome T Young Junior (12-) Maja Robertson (ESOC) Finlay Raynor (INVOC) return to Edinburgh in January following a Junior (16-) Rachel Brown (ESOC) Alasdair Raynor (INVOC) break for EUOC post Race the Castles, Where Laura Open Laura Robertson (ESOC) Jonny Crickmore (EUOC) Robertson and Jonny Veteran (40+) Rachel Kirkland (INT) Jon Hollingdale (MOR) Crickmore gave us fair Super Veteran (55+) Lindsey Knox (RR) Donald Petrie (CLYDE) warning of their intentions for 2016 in the open Ultra Veteran (65+) Sheila Strain (ELO) Phil Smithard (KFO) classes. We stayed in the East for June on another new map. one of this writer’s favourite Race 2 with the Scottish Unseasonably wet weather types of event. It’s a real skill Sprint O champs at South tested the ability to plan to maintain focus when the Queensferry, where the ahead, with more long terrain changes from forest option of running through legs to force the brain into to urban. And finally, back to the Forth Road Bridge was action. We then headed Lanark and a more traditional taken by many. Race 3 to Falkirk/Grangemouth urban race, this time in at Paisley eventually went for Sprint Scotland, a middle distance format. ahead on a different date definite highlight of the 9 unique races – 12 due to access issues with year for sprint orienteers, champions. the University, but by all with 4 training events and The 2016 prize giving, accounts the new GG map 3 races, two of which were which as usual will have was worth it. Race 4 took SOUL races. Numbers prizes for the top 3 in each us to a new (for most) were boosted by many category, will take place at area of Livingston, an area overseas competitors taking the Edinburgh Big Weekend which just keeps delivering advantage of a bit of O on Sat 21 Jan 2017. See surprises, this time with tourism to hone up their you there! some great long legs. sprinting skills. Thanks to all the clubs, Our first trip up north for SOUL 8 at Kingussie was controllers and competitors the year came in race 5 a sprint distance mixed race who have contributed to all at Aberdeen (Westhill) in with urban and forest legs – of the 2016 events.

22 www.scottish-orienteering.org bto SOUL Dates for 2017

21st January EUOC – Edinburgh – Part of EUOC’s Big Weekend 5th February ESOC – West Edinburgh 19th February MOR – Lossiemouth – Scottish Sprint Championships 14th May tbc ECKO – Near Oban tbc 19th May tbc ELO – East Lothian tbc 2nd August Sprint Scotland – Ballater – Rest day of the Scottish 6-Day 20th August tbc STAG – Near Glasgow tbc 23rd September BASOC – Part of Highland Wolf Weekend 14th October tbc INT – Part of INTrepid Weekend tbc November FVO – tbc November TINTO – tbc

Special congratulations •SheilaStrainwhowon •ESOCwhohave this year to… WUV for the 4th year in scooped 9 out of the 10 •FinlayandAlasdair a row! possible WYJ and WJ Raynor (INVOC) who •RachelKirklandwho titles since the league travelled down to won this year by 1 point began. With Maja Lanark and won to at the 5th attempt after Robertson and Rachel secure their series wins being 4th,3rd, 2nd and Brown continuing a 4 in style. 2nd in the past 4 years! year winning streak.

New Era for SOUL Series As you may know after 5 years of coordinating the SOUL series from its inception in 2012 as a regional offshoot of the NOPESPORT (now UKUL) urban league, current SOUL coordinator Andy Paterson (CLYDE) hands over the reins to Pat Squire (INT). Event details and results are available at the SOUL website: http://www.scottish-orienteering.org/soul. www.scottish-orienteering.org 23 world class weekend by Jon Musgrave (marOC)

World-Class Weekend with Thierry Gueorgiou

AROC club were based on what was weakest Mfortunate to share the previous day (always work a weekend of on weaknesses in technical instruction & racing with training). World Champion Thierry The exercises were all Gueorgiou over the 5th and challenging and appreciated

6th of November. Thierry by the orienteers who took Graham (MAROC) Picture: Pat met with approximately 60 part. Many thanks to Thierry the majority of his audience, the MAROC & ScotJOS members for accepting the invitation to MAROC & ScotJOS juniors, but for the training sessions, Deeside and for his efforts in we all took something from it. with ten to fifteen additional preparing a fantastic weekend •Motivation:youhaveto orienteers from other clubs of learning for all. be motivated to achieve attending the evening potluck Thanks to MAROC for what you aim for. It is all & presentation. contributing generously towards very well deciding what Once Thierry had agreed the weekend costs and to SOA you want to be, do you to come he planned all of for helping with a grant from the actually have the motivation the training exercises with Development fund. and commitment to do it? provided maps - two sessions The mock up picture of a on Saturday and a short warm- Some of the participants schoolboy Thierry beating up type exercise on Sunday. share their thoughts: Petter Thoresen was a very Saturday morning was a pairs Thierry G - what an orienteer strong image. exercise with forked courses in this man is, 19 World Champs •Bepreparedtochange Cambus O’May, with the option medals to his name won in what you do; if you are of contour only maps. Saturday 12 of 14 consecutive World not succeeding with your afternoon was based on Muir of Championships. When there present plan then analyse Dinnet near the Cambus O’May is the opportunity to hear him it, look for weaknesses and Hotel, a multi-discipline course speak, there was no choice change. that started with a corridor, about what to do that evening - •Breakdownoftraining: moved to a “follow the contour” drive 90 minutes to Aboyne for if you want to be a better section, contour only, blank this (and 120 minutes home due orienteer, then spend map bearings, and finished to snow on the Lecht!). more of your training time with a short control pick course What was the talk like? practising orienteering. through some of the nicest The word everyone used was •Havesomeoneyoucan woodland in the area. ‘inspirational’; he talked to an talk to, seek advice from, is Sunday morning was based audience of mixed ages and prepared to guide you, who on the small contour rich area experience for 90 minutes and believes in you. Thierry had south of the A93 near Cambus no one fidgeted or started to his Dad. footbridge - a choice of control show lack of concentration. He •Enjoywhatyouaredoing. pick, corridor or bearings - had prepared a talk relevant to Lynne Walker & Paul Frost

24 www.scottish-orienteering.org It was a fantastic opportunity to have a multiple world champion become a temporary member of our club for the weekend: preparing then delivering training and coaching, eating supper then educating and inspiring us with his fascinating technical talk

and dare-to-dream journey, only Graham (MAROC) Picture: Pat to pitch up the follow day and just the two of them, and Thierry he made of a relatively small race in the same forest as us. casually chatting about Grant’s area for the training exercises Although it was only for a few course, the map, the forest, how on Sunday morning and seconds, I can now say that I it went – inspiring. What other talking to him afterwards about raced alongside Thierry G, or at sports could this happen in? how what they had practised least was present in the same Let’s not forget that the would translate into racing forest as him. weekend did not happen by in competitions. I have no accident – a big congratulations doubt there were a few dream to Big Jon for making it all goals made after this fabulous happen. weekend. Andrew McMurtrie Elizabeth Furness

I really enjoyed the The whole weekend was weekend and the training was, quite inspiring. Thierry unsurprisingly, some of the was very generous about highest quality I’ve ever run. revealing his philosophies and Given the grotty weather I think techniques that has made him Thierry’s involvement did a lot world champion 11 times. He to keep the group spirits high. liberally illustrated his talk with It’s easier to want to be the next bits of ﬁlm, photos, maps and

Picture: Pat Graham (MAROC) Picture: Pat ‘world champion of training’ diagrams; it certainly gave And then to top it off, he when the current one overtakes me lots of ideas for my own sheltered in a crowded gazebo, you in the forest. performance and for coaching. drank soup and ate home bakes James (M18) Ross (Coach) whilst chatting about the things we talk to our regular club Thierry was inspirational in Thierry’s talk was extremely members and friends about so many ways and it was a interesting and has certainly after a race, like route choice privilege to be involved with given me a lot to think about! I and techniques we used – no the weekend as a coach. It was really enjoyed it and am looking talk of any errors from Thierry great to see all the athletes forward to the ﬁnal [ScotJOS] though! My abiding memory? make the most of everything weekend in Pitlochry. Thierry standing beside Grant, he planned, including the use Peter (M14)

www.scottish-orienteering.org 25 OL Kufstein Visit and the Solway Summer O-Fest by Tim O’Donoghue & Dave McQuillen

t started very simply – an email Iarrived from a small Austrian orienteering club, OL Kufstein, asking if there would be some orienteering training opportunities during a proposed summer holiday in Scotland. A local couple had emigrated to Austria some years ago and Lucy had taken up orienteering while there. Picture: Solway OC Now a club trip to Scotland was compromise the tight logistical OLK runners confer being considered and their hope schedule. Invitations were sent only was to find some orienteering to members and friends of Solway in August in her family’s home and our neighbouring clubs. Pre- territory based at Kippford. entry was required as we intended Committee meetings, appointed to subsidise pre-printed maps for all co-ordinators, and exchanges of the activities. Details were placed on emails resulted in ‘some training the club website with unexpected opportunities’ growing into consequences. something greater –the challenge So what happened? of staging a mini-orienteering Day 1 - Monday afternoon our festival in the middle of summer Austrian visitors, a lovely group sounded like it could be fun. With of families and individuals, were both clubs realising that we really presented with a challenging were serious about this, flights and introduction to orienteering in South accommodation were booked, West Scotland in a sunlit Dalbeattie and volunteer officials arranged Town Wood. Our visitors adapted for each of the events. We now well to the terrain although one less had an ambitious plan to run four experienced runner did return via competitions, two training sessions the centre of town, arriving just as and two social events over five we were thinking about forming a weekdays including a rest day. search party. Reality started to intrude in May The first surprise was the and June as the warm spring appearance of a family who had hastened vegetation growth and seen the event on the website while initial checks of one area showed it driving up to the area for a holiday. to be too overgrown for realistic use They arrived without O gear and while bracken prompted revisions asked if they might join in. We were to early armchair plans for other dubious about whether they had areas. We had decided to limit sufficient skill to tackle the TD5 publicity about the week so as not courses until one introduced herself to overload each event team and as Megan Carter-Davies. 26 www.scottish-orienteering.org Megan then proceeded to win every younger juniors. Once people had race she entered. recovered from the training it was Monday’s introductory social straight into the competition with a evening was a pizza night with choice of good quality Blue, Green, salads, side dishes and desserts Orange and Yellow courses as at supplied by members and went Dalbeattie but with significantly more with a swing. An energetic and climb. enthusiastic game of O-Twister The second surprise for some played by the juniors of both clubs people on their runs was to set the tone for an excellent evening. encounter a television cameraman Picture: Solway OC Day 2 - On Tuesday morning we and reporter in the forest. ITV Tim O’Donoghue offers moved north to Drumlanrig. We Border had heard of the week of advice to young runners held a simple training session in the orienteering and they arrived at morning where two long line courses eleven and stayed with us all day, with SI-units had been set, one for interviewing and filming people in juniors and one for seniors. It was the forest. They were delighted with interesting to see that controls on the bonus of being able to interview the junior course placed in visible a British world champion as well locations but off the senior line as the Austrian visitors. Hours of proved to be highly attractive for filming were edited down to about some competitors. six minutes for broadcast on ITV’s After lunch, there was a 60-minute Border Life. Score event with Orange and After rapid control collection, Yellow courses for juniors. Varying we all rushed off to one of the tariffs for certain controls and their pubs in Kippford for supper and extensive spread in both the open refreshments. It is rumoured that and forested areas created loads of some of our visitors enjoyed the options for routes. There were big opportunity to sample a number smiles from competitors at the finish of Scottish malts at the end of the once they got their breath back. evening. Some had been so absorbed by the Day 4 - All too soon we were navigation that they were unaware assembled on Friday morning for a of how many of the higher value Sudok-O mass-start team event at controls they had visited. Corncockle & Spedlin’s Flow near Day 3 - After the rest day on Lochmaben. The competition was Wednesday, our visitors were able inspired by the one on Cairngorm to walk to the assembly at Mark at the Volunteers Weekend earlier in Hill. First up was a training session the year. Each person in the teams with a focus on compass, pacing of 3 had to get 9 controls with codes and relocation with parts of the map finishing in the digits 1 to 9 and blanked out and a novelty Raupe between them each team had to visit (Caterpillar) course was set for the all the 27 controls. >> www.scottish-orienteering.org 27 OL Kufstein Visit and the Solway Summer O-Fest

The difference being that teams were given just ten minutes to work out who would do which controls before the start was signalled by an Austrian cow-bell. Tailoring the courses to the abilities and speed of team members certainly got people thinking and was a wonderful way of involving everyone and making good use of the area. The day closed with brief speeches and the prize giving for Picture: Solway OC the whole week. Our Chairman task for a small club and delivered Solway & OLK at the end of a successful week devised novel ways of making sure the whole week only through everyone won one of the specially signiﬁcant contributions from the designed commemorative ‘Giraffe’ ofﬁcials, by people working together neck tubes, which can be seen in and by many others assisting when the group picture. So, apart from needed, not least of which was some course winners we also had collecting controls each day. It was prizes for achievements like, ‘nearest hectic and tiring but fun and we’ve to the average time’; ‘most active made a lot of new friends. We are control collector from an English now looking forward to a return visit club’; and everyone’s favourite, ‘only to Austria sometime soon. non-starter on Day 1’. We are still looking forward to After their return to Austria Lucy trying the schnapps at our New Year commented on Facebook, “OLK had event! a fab week and they are all raving Footnote: Planning of the week about the events, the welcome and involved extra challenges, not the prizes!! We hope you enjoy the least of which was allocation of schnapps and we all appreciated the the limited equipment available little Austrian touches throughout the and making sure it was in the right events!” Writing this two months on, place at the right time. Contact the we are looking back on what was club if you’d like to run something an amazing experience and a great similar and would like some success. We took on a substantial details.

Additional photos can be found at Solway Orienteers’ photo gallery https://www.ﬂickr.com/photos/solwayorienteers/sets/, and their ITV feature found at http://www.itv.com/news/border/update/2016-10-22/watch-border-life-online-21-10-2016/

28 www.scottish-orienteering.org O-pinion by Steve Wilson (clyde/jok)

riving home from the recent DMoray Mix it occurred to me that this weekend represented just about everything that is great about Scottish orienteering. This very popular and successful weekend, which also incorporated the annual Junior Inter-Area competition, consisted of two days of high-

quality racing around well-planned Picture: Steve Wilson CLYDE/JOK courses on one of the best areas West Juniors celebrate their success in the UK, namely Culbin Forest. didn’t hear anyone complaining Saturday saw large numbers about spending extra time in such of juniors of all ages from across great terrain, and, when the dust Scotland taking part in the Inter-Area eventually settled, it turned out that relays. Relatively short and easy the West Area had just done enough courses suitable for all abilities led to hold off a strong performance by to some fast and furious racing, with the North Area to claim the overall the West Area ultimately dominating title. Personally, I had probably my the podia, but only a handful of best run of the year but (as usual), points ahead of North Area overall. after leading for much of the season, The courses were planned with a I lost the overall SOL title to a better run-through near the end, and drew orienteer collecting their fourth a large crowd of spectators. Non- scoring run. Some personal juniors enjoyed a range of middle Perhaps we sometimes take musings on distance courses in some glorious for granted our access to top orienteering. technical, but runnable, terrain. quality areas and the extra level Afterwards most of the juniors of competition provided by the I tweet and their families enjoyed a very season-long SOL, not to mention about both convivial evening at Inverness Youth the behind-the-scenes efforts of all orienteering and Hostel, reminding me of what nice the volunteers who make the events non-orienteering people almost all orienteers are happen and, of course, all those matters as almost all of the time! involved in all the many and varied @S_K_Wilson. Sunday was the ﬁnal Scottish logistical arrangements for the Orienteering League (SOL) event Inter-Area competition, the success The views of the year with many League of which will hopefully play a part in expressed here titles still at stake and the juniors’ helping to ensure the vibrancy of the are the author’s performances also counting towards sport we love in the years ahead. own and not the Inter-Area competition. The The Moray Mix weekend made me those of either classic distance courses were appreciate all of these things just a SOA or SCORE. generally on the long side, but I little bit more. www.scottish-orienteering.org 29 compasssport trophy 2016

CLYDE’s CompassSport Journey by Steve Wilson CLYDE Club Captain

FOR me, CLYDE’s road to a best-ever second place World Championship runner (Ali McLeod) to the at this year’s CompassSport Trophy final in Sheffield cause was a huge boost. Luckily (for me, if not for began a year earlier when, after a big club effort, we them) my parents generously offered to host the team narrowly missed out on the podium with a pleasing at their house in Yorkshire on the Saturday night, and but frustrating 4th place at the final in the Lake in the end they fed and housed 18 CLYDE members District. (most of whom had travelled in the CLYDE mini-bus, We’d done well, but I couldn’t help feeling that others of whom travelled down independently after we’d just fallen short of what we could have achieved: the FRA relays), a task involving moving my sister small clubs like CLYDE don’t have the strength in and her young family (who had – with remarkably depth to cover for key absences and one or two poor timing – sold their house the previous week and unavailable runners probably cost us a place on the so were living with my parents) into a nearby Bed and podium. Breakfast for the weekend! Looking ahead to 2016, I could see that a couple In the end, we got just about our best team of key changes in age classes would give us a much (comprising 28 runners) to the final, and, apart better spread across the different courses and – from one missed start time and the temporary just as importantly – the venue for the final wasn’t disqualification of Ali McLeod when he was in the prohibitively far from Glasgow. place one of the controls should have been but It was relatively easy to get most of our stalwarts wasn’t, things went pretty smoothly on the day. A (plus a couple of new people) to turn out at the second place overall behind worthy winners INT was Scottish qualifying round at Stirling University in the best result we could have possibly achieved, March, and we won easily despite a careless mis- making all the pre-race efforts worthwhile. punch by the Club Captain. Next year our distribution of runners across Then began a long campaign of persuasion the age classes doesn’t look quite so good, and, (involving many emails) to get our strongest possible especially with the final being held in Devon, we team out for the final. As always, some signed up might decide to focus our energies elsewhere immediately while others equivocated to the last (Harvester Trophy, perhaps?) before (hopefully) minute, but undoubtedly the commitment of our coming back strong in 2018.

The best little orienteering club in Britain by Graeme Ackland Interlopers THE CompassSport Trophy is the trophy on home terrain on a the top three. A strong Clyde team Britain’s National Club Competition tiebreaker from Interlopers. This took a deserved victory, with RR in for Small clubs, meaning those set the scene nicely for 2016. second. ECKO, TAY and SOLWAY with less than 125 members. To get to the final, clubs have battled it out for third place, with Scottish clubs have traditionally to negotiate a qualifier, held this INT lagging behind, until very late done well, with FVO dominating year at Stirling University. The in the day Interlopers got a full the competition between 2008 and competition has some curious team home, and scrambled into 2014, before finally moving up to rules: to reach the final clubs had third, allowing ECKO to take the the large clubs. In 2015 SROC, to finish in the top four of the heat, final spot. from the English Lake district, took except for INT who had to finish in By tradition, the final is held >>

30 www.scottish-orienteering.org Forth Valley Orienteers by Jon Cross

BEING the holders of the 2015 Cup carries responsibility. that is what we got. Everyone gave it their all and tried right FVO needed to stage a defence of our title in 2016. But the to the end. Our top stars performed. Our juniors shone. 2016 final was in Sheffield, not really a day trip from Stirling. Our veterans excelled. Val Finch, ignoring doctor’s orders And more than that, Sheffield is the backyard of South to take on her course despite her recent knee replacement, Yorkshire Orienteers. The mighty SYO, the most successful set an example to admire. Our scoring runs came from CompassSport Cup club of all with a total of twelve wins. people both expected and less expected. Of course, not We worked hard to put together a strong team for the everyone had the run they would have wished, but being final to try and contend against SYO, against holders BOK, a team is about the collective effort, and as many as a against fellow Scots ESOC, and against the other finalists. quarter of our runners produced their very best result of the With well over sixty club members signed up to travel, past twelve months, with more than half of them having one we were one of the larger teams, but still neither we nor of their top ranked races in that time. any other finalist could match the huge turnout from the To our delight and perhaps also our surprise, we found home club – the final start list showed them with a mighty ourselves in the end clear winners and the recipients once 98 entrants, including last minute signing of new Sheffield again of the CompassSport Cup! A great day for us and an resident, GB star Cat Taylor. achievement of which we are very proud. Our successes in The Cup requires clubs to score their best 25 runners the 2015 and 2016 competitions have hugely exceeded our (with no more than four from any one course). That’s a expectations and simply the process of trying to win has lot and it makes turnout important - but nonetheless it is been fantastic for building the collective spirit in our club. not all simply about numbers. It is about club spirit, about (Being able to celebrate victory on the coach journey home everyone understanding it is not just about the club stars is also good for that of course!). turning up and performing, it is about a breadth of club Credit should go to SYO for organising a hugely enjoyable members across the courses and age range all turning up day’s competition as well as for contending so strongly for and giving their best. And it is about everyone supporting the Cup – and we would like to pass on our thanks also to one another, sharing knowledge and hints and tips and so many of the clubs (both Cup and Trophy) for their kind tactics, cheering one another down the run-in, recognising words and congratulations on the day. that every single performance matters. The final is in Devon next year. Now that really is a That was what we asked for from our club members, and challenge…

The best little orienteering club in Britain (continued) in a bramble patch in England, and 13 counters, at most two from each the title rested on the performance this year was the turn of SYO to of 9 age classes, so demographics of 13-year old Pippa Carcas and host at Tankersley, an interesting are key. CLYDE had the larger 11-year old Fiona Eades. The post-industrial area of mining team, but INT had many strong girls rose heroically to the task, detail, bomb craters, and a zillion runners, including three ex-WOC fastest W14 and W12, sweeping paths. Unfortunately for the athletes – but none of them Interlopers to a long-awaited holders, several top SROC runners even counted. Instead, with no victory. With half a dozen second were ill, and competition was re- ﬁnishers over 55, the pressure falls places down the years, a trophy joined between INT and CLYDE. on the youngest runners. With last won in 1996 was on its way The rules require clubs to have our internationalists an irrelevance, back to Edinburgh! www.scottish-orienteering.org 31 event news

As always, Autumn has seen a full calendar of events both large and small, with some of them covered at length here in the pages of SCORE by organisers, coaches, and attendees.

EVENT dates and page details can be found at their information about the event, space are two significant website: http://www.stag- which used a map recently issues that dictate what is, orienteering.co.uk/home/ updated by Terry O’Brien, and is not, covered here, events/ can be found at http://www. but one other important ayroc.co.uk/. determining factor is ESOC’s Penicuik communication – SCORE Weekend on the 5th and aims to be inclusive of 6th of November started Moving on to ongoing pieces that are submitted with an urban race on a and future events, about club events, so brand new map which called following are just a few please do send in a for quick decision-making of the larger events, as write-up about your club’s amongst the many pathways well as some of the club event(s)! and courtyards of the holiday events open to Ladywood housing estate, all comers. Be sure to INVOC’s 3rd annual and a change of pace for check club websites Vizionteering Run on controls in the neighbouring and facebook pages for the 2nd of November, woods. updates on events, and sponsored by Run4It, raised On the Sunday, Penicuik check the BO fixtures list the curtain on the Northern Estate was the venue for a comprehensive list Night Cup series. Orienteers for the final event in this of events. and non-orienteers donned year’s South of Scotland their headlamps and running Orienteering League, Northern Night Cup shoes to navigate the incorporating the East of 2016/2017 alleyways, streets & housing Scotland Championships. INVOC, Moravian & estates in the centre of The varied terrain proved BASOC club together to Inverness. Results can be to be rough and steep bring you the Northern Night found at http://www.invoc. in places, with the Cup – bigger, better, and org.uk/results/2016/1102_ compensation of some back for its second year! Vizionteering/45_mins_ glorious autumn colour •6awesomenightevents, course.html. around the estate. 3 before Christmas and Final results and further 3 after STAG opened their details can be found at http:// •Generoussponsorship Dark in the Park series, www.esoc.org.uk/results. from Run4It & which runs through the BrightBikeLights.com 16th of March, on the 1st AYROC hosted the 2016 •*Two*fabweeareas of November, and hosted Scottish Score Event at new to orienteering their 18th annual Parks Palacerigg Country Park •Indoorassembly,soup& Championships event on the on the 27th of November. hot drinks 4th of December. Results & Results and further •Nofussleaguescoring

32 www.scottish-orienteering.org - short, medium & long Tayside Christmas Woodland courses Score & Social Event at Further details at: http:// •Greatcraic&endof Drummond Castle, Sunday, www.basoc.org.uk/events/ season prize-giving party 18th December 2016 festive-frolic-27-dec-2016 after final round at Forres Tayside are delighted to Golf Course. invite you to their Christmas ELO Festive Frolic, 31st Full details at http://www. Score event at Drummond December 2016 orienteering.scot/northern- Castle, by kind permission of ELO’s annual Festive night-cup Drummond Estates. Frolic will take place at It will be a Local D, Score Vogrie Country Park, which Deeside Night Cup & Social event, with the lies between Pathhead and 2016/2017 option of lunch afterwards at Gorebridge, with (probably!) GRAMP & MAROC will the Crieff Golf Club at 1:30 a mass start at 11 a.m. make best use of the dark p.m. There are changing The first Festive Frolic nights, with each week facilities at the Club if you’d was in 1984, organized by offering two courses, 3km like to spruce yourself up Brian & Shena Porteous as and 5km, at TD5/Green beforehand! And if the an ad hoc event relay. As standard as far as possible. prospect of a morning of always, this event will be No concessions to the orienteering at the estate more than just orienteering! dark. that was the setting for ELO always strive to keep There are lavish prizes Outlander’s Versailles scenes the event interesting, fun and for the best M/W Junior and doesn’t entice, perhaps a challenging by adding an Senior in each Cup and a lunch menu that includes extra twist, with puzzles to host of frivolous prizes for Roast Sirloin of Beef & solve, questions to answer, things like the Toughest of the Chasseur Sauce will. and clues to work out in order Tough for the most grueling Further details at http:// to find the controls. courses and Best/Worst www.taysideorienteers.org. The café at Vogrie Mistake. uk/events/christmas-score- should be open so that Seriously though, this is event. folk can gather there and one of the most competitive get something to eat whilst leagues around and worth BASOC Festive Frolic, waiting for the prize-giving. turning out for if only for the 27th December 2016 Further details at: http:// challenge of finding your way A chance to burn some www.elo.org.uk/events/ around areas you thought of those calories you have you knew pretty well until consumed. MAROC Level C at Glen someone turned the lights Church Wood O’Dee, 8th January 2017 out! Type of event: Local Race- MAROC are holding their Full details at: https:// (D), Social, Tue=O first Level C event of 2017 dncchat.wordpress.com/ Type of terrain: Parkland, at Glen O’Dee with >> www.scottish-orienteering.org 33 event news

registration inside the Burnett STAG’s Dark in the Park all comers from not only the Park Pavilion, Banchory on Series, picks up after the SOA, but further afield as well. Sunday 8 January. This is holidays on the 2nd of February, always a very popular and well with their Score series beginning CLYDE will host the first SOL attended event to kick start the on the 1st of January, and their of 2017 at Mugdock Country new year and shake off those first Night Sprint on Saturday, Park, 5th of March 2017. holiday cobwebs! Banchory the 11th of February. Further Further details will be found Schools Orienteering Club will details of their events can be at their website when finalized: be selling hot soup, tea, coffee found at http://www.stag- http://www.clydesideorienteers. and home bakes to help fund orienteering.co.uk/home/ org.uk/home/. their trip to the World Schools events/. Orienteering Championships in KFO Compass Sport Cup Sicily next April. MORAVIAN Double-header Heat 1 at Tentsmuir Forest, Further details at http://www. weekend – Level C Scottish 12 March 2017 marocscotland.org.uk/events/ Night Championships at The Scottish round of the glen-o-dee-8-jan-2017. Forres on the 18th February & CompassSport Cup/Trophy Level C Sprint Championships will take place in the northern EUOC Big Weekend 21st & at Lossiemouth, 19th February part of Tentsmuir, a technically 22nd January 2017 2017 challenging area of forested Next year’s EUOC Big Moravian Orienteering Club land beside the Tay Estuary, Weekend will be on the weekend will be hosting the Scottish Night with many small and intricately of the 20th - 22nd of January! and Scottish Sprint Champs on detailed sandy hills and ridges. You can expect some top- the weekend of the 19th & 20th Tentsmuir has a long history quality races, from the fast and of February. The Night event will in orienteering, having seen furious night sprint on Friday be at the iconic Darnaway with the staging of championship evening (part of the infamous an aim for an indoor assembly events such as the 1978 British FWTN league), to the intricate (unfortunately not in the Castle). Individual (long distance) race, old-town streets of central The Sprint Champs is also Scottish Individual and Relay Edinburgh on Saturday, and part of the SOUL and the UK events, as well as the 100th finally to the physically tough, Urban League and will be in day of the Scottish 6-day event but scenic and complex Arthur’s Lossiemouth with the intention series (day 4 in 2009). Seat on Sunday. As usual, there of having 2 races (no chasing Following thinning in some will be courses for all ages and starts) in different parts of blocks, a complete resurvey is abilities, as well as a traditional the town (with both likely to being carried out by Deeside Scottish ceilidh on Saturday have some element of cross- OLM, using a LIDAR base. Fast evening to add to the already country as well as urban). and navigationally demanding very popular orienteering We are still working on the racing is anticipated and KFO weekend. logistics of the weekend and looks forward very much to More information about the more will be revealed via www. staging this event. Big Weekend can be found at moravianorienteering.com and Further details will become https://euoc.wordpress.com/ our facebook page. available at http://www.kfo.org. big-weekend/. We look forward to welcoming uk/ 34 www.scottish-orienteering.org moray schools EVENT by Mike Rodgers (mor)

On 6th October Moravian Orienteers hosted, in partnership with Moray Active Schools, their 8th annual Moray Schools Orienteering Festival.

schools Bishopmill (Elgin) and Kinloss. Both primary schools have benefited from the skills of local PE specialist Jenny Bichan who has featured orienteering in her PE classes for many years, resulting in a great many juniors taking up the sport outside of school. The winning schools will benefit from the new sponsorship Picture: Chris Spencer/www.activnorth.com arrangement between Moray Primary Girls 2-3-1, ON a brilliantly sunny day more Schools and Inverness solicitors Katie McLuckie, Alana than 200 youngsters from 23 Innes & Mackay. The law firm in Coutts & Faith Kenyon local schools joined an army of the Highland capital are laying on Moravian helpers, enthusiastic a 57-seater coach that will enable parents and the whole of the these top-performing schools to Moray Active Schools Team to travel in leisure to the 2017 June witness what has been called Scottish Schools event. The one of the best events in its cost has always been a barrier history. in previous years to Moray being The day began with the warmest represented at the SSOF, so Innes of welcomes from Mr. Edge, Head & Mackay have opened up a whole of Senior School Gordonstoun. new opportunity for these schools Superb racing -- and great outdoor who for many years have been learning for the less experienced enthusiastic participants in local -- ensued. orienteering events. Winning the right to battle it out It will be a great experience with schools across the rest of for the winning students, and Scotland at the Scottish Schools the first time that Moray will have Festival next June were Forres been represented at the Scottish Academy, with the top two primary Schools.

Full Report... A report about the Moray schools event, including photos by ActivNorth, is on Moravian’s website. http://www.moravianorienteering.org/events/gordonstoun-school-moray-schools-orienteering-festival-thu-06-oct-16 Information about the Scottish Schools Orienteering Festival – normally held on the ﬁrst Friday in June - will appear on the Scottish Schools Orienteering Association web site when event details are decided. http://www.ssoa.org.uk/ www.scottish-orienteering.org 35 Culbin junior relays by Trevor Ricketts (MAROc)

Scottish Junior Inter Area Competition

he 29th annual Scottish Junior Inter TAreas Competition was held at Culbin on 29th/30th October 2016, and was hosted by MORAVIANS with support from INVOC. The Scottish clubs combine together to

form 3 Area teams that compete for a trophy: Pictures: Steve Wilson CLYDE/JOK North, comprising juniors from MAROC, the pace was quick – under 5 mins/km for GRAMP, INVOC, MORAVIANS and BASOC; the winner of the Open 3rd leg, for example. West, made up of juniors from FVO, CLYDE, The path junction where the handovers ECKO, AYROC, TINTO and SOLWAY, and took place has probably never been so East, taking its juniors from INT, ESOC, RR, noisy! The enthusiastic cheering was TAY KFO and ELO. deafening at times especially when Naomi The competition offers a similar experience Lang and Grace Molloy came storming to the Junior Inter Regional Championships, down the final slope battling it out for their but for a broader range of juniors and it is respective teams, North and West. far more inclusive: The courses on the 3 West were able to field a more Relay legs are Orange, Yellow and Light experienced team than either North or East Green, which enables any junior who can this year, and with the exception of North’s run a Yellow to participate and also includes win in the Girls, West picked up all the relay juniors up to MW18 including some that medals with a clean sweep in the Open. This have represented Scotland and GB. Team meant that they carried a substantial point numbers are flexible allowing all that wish lead over to the Individual day. The small, to, to take part, but in order to account for young East team had a difficult relay day, different-sized area teams, only two Open finishing 3rd. and two Girls Relay teams from each area After a very sociable evening spent at count in the scoring, and in the individual Inverness Youth Hostel it was off to Culbin event, scoring is based on the top two from East for the Individual competition as part each area in each class (one at MW18). of SOL 7. Again, the organisation and This year, the Relays took place at West weather were good, and the contour detail Culbin in Moray. We enjoyed a bright, challenging. warm and sunny Autumn day and there was North and East both fared better in the much excitement as everybody gathered Individual and North had clean sweeps in the for the start. For some juniors this was their W12 and M16 classes which helped them to first experience of a relay, and for some win the Individual Day Trophy. However, it from smaller clubs this might be their only was not enough to rein in West, who held on opportunity to be a part of a junior relay to take the overall Inter Area Trophy. team. Many of the runners were dropping Over the years the winning tally is: West: 6 down a level from their A standard, and so East: 8 North: 14. 36 www.scottish-orienteering.org meet the soa clubs by Janne Heikkinen (AUOC)

AUOC: The Journey of a Small Orienteering Club

n the summer of 2013, Ithe club was founded at the Aberdeen University Fresher’s Sports fayre. The club had no affiliation with the Sports Union and thus the aim of the year was to show them that we could be an independently functioning club. Luckily, we received aid and much needed help from local club GRAMPOC and SOA, which allowed us to buy the necessary equipment and to go to orienteering events. We started off with only 2-3 core members in the first year. As we developed further, we managed to gain Sports Unions recognition as well as affiliate ourselves with SOA. Our membership numbers have increased and currently we Picture: credit: Michaela Kolistanikova are looking at roughly 10 core The future of AUOC lies in the 2016 AUOC Members members. However, as university hands of its members. We are a ends for some, it is a challenge to student-led club and we aim to increase membership count on a introduce orienteering to a wide year to year basis. range of people. The support and We train three times a week. help we have received from our Two sessions focus on endurance, neighbouring clubs and from SOA speed and fitness, with one session have helped us gain in publicity focusing on orienteering. Our and we hope that this connection running sessions are based around will stay strong. Our ambition is Old Aberdeen and our orienteering to become more recognised year training sessions are based around by year, gain more members and Aberdeenshire and even further! spread the word of orienteering We aim to always use new areas within the University and eventually and travel 2-3 times a month to an around Scotland! undiscovered forest. Whenever With best orienteering wishes there is a big event, we always try to from Aberdeen University make it – especially championships. Orienteering Club (AUOC). www.scottish-orienteering.org 37 john colls award by Ewart Scott (esoc)

The John Colls Award, Edinburgh Southern Orienteering Club

any Scottish and Mindeed UK orienteers will remember John. I met John when I joined ESOC in 1969; we were on the ESOC committee for a fair bit of time together in the early seventies. John was a very able fell runner, hill climber, mountain marathoner, orienteer, planner and controller and did all these to a high standard. His orienteering administration was also varied from ESOC President, SOA President to BOF vice-chairman and of course he was one of the driving forces behind Highland 77, the series better known now as Scottish 6-Days. John, Sheila, Stuart and David emigrated to Australia in the early eighties, but John never lost his love of ESOC and of Scottish orienteering. Picture: Ron Nolan (ESOC) Following my election as ESOC work using SI and computers Ewart Scott with 2016 president, Eddie Harvey asked at events, even being on the John Colls Award recipient Janet Clark if the Club could honour John computing team at Highland and her grand-daughter in some way. As a committee 2015, and Margaret for her role Zoe we felt since we had many as day co-ordinator at Highland performance trophies we should 2015 where ESOC were the core ﬁnd some way to recognise a of the COT. signiﬁcant contribution to the At our recent prize giving the Club not through competition. award for 2016 was presented Sheila kindly permitted us to use to Janet Clark. Janet chairs our John’s name in this way and so events sub-committee, and is on the John Colls Award for services the East of Scotland Orienteering to the Club was established Association and does an in 2015. Joint winners then incredible amount of orienteering were Ben Brown and Margaret work generally, as many of you Dalgleish; Ben for his outstanding will know.

38 www.scottish-orienteering.org 2016 Junior European Cup by Jason Inman (FVO) Lead Organiser

he Junior European Cup negatives from BO. I didn’t to volunteer again and having is an international for receive any positives either! Louise Longhurst and Jon Cross T And so, in 2015 my on board gave me real confidence M&W16 and 18-year- olds and is hosted by the 6 preparations for this international we’d be able to deliver once original nations who rotate began in earnest. The first again. Other key folk came responsibility. This competition priority was to secure the date on board relatively easily and sits separate to other IOF with the lead 6 nations (GBR, volunteer planners, organisers competitions and in doing so FRA, GER, NED, BEL, SUI) and and controllers were signed up has the flexibility to enable other regular attendees. Once by the autumn. This was made the host country to present a agreed, I then needed to seek easier by having the support of high quality but low-cost 3-day accommodation for up to 150 Clydeside Orienteers (Al Dunlop, international without being tied people and accessibility to some Kate Thomas and Patrick Walder) to IOF competition rules and sprint, long and relay areas. We who agreed to schedule their SOL regulations. had used a Scottish Outdoor on this weekend and host the JEC I hosted this competition in Education Centre (Registered Long Distance courses as part 2010 because it was GB’s turn Charity) in 2010 and the Chief of this. to host and no-one else stepped Exec, Dave Spence, was very Next job – permissions. FVO forward. In fact, it wasn’t even supportive so, naturally, this had agreed the use of Stirling on British Orienteering’s major was my first port of call. I had University and South Achray well fixture list, so they were very an idea to make use of the in advance (so far, in fact, that I reluctant to have anything to do Dounans Centre in Aberfoyle and was able to source grant funding with it. The SOA, at the time, took then look to host the events in to update both maps) so on I a similar approach so it was with close proximity to this over the went to access permissions. The trepidation that a band of Scottish weekend. Secured! Uni was pretty straightforward. I volunteers hosted it in Tayside My next priority was to thought the Forestry Commission and Fife. secure the volunteer support. would be the same. As it Thankfully, immediately post Thankfully the key people that happened this enquiry simply 2010 I ensured the event was helped in 2010 had such a fun initiated an 8-month drawn-out registered with BO for our next time they were more than happy effort to gain access to use >> turn – 2016 – and the SOA Board were sufficiently pleased with how the 2010 event had gone that I received strong support and encouragement from the SOA board to bid and host the 2016 event. As it happened, British Orienteering were again hiding their head under the carpet about the event and when I submitted an informal bid to host it again in Scotland and with the support Picture: Crawford Lindsay, ESOC Picture: Crawford Lindsay, of the SOA I didn’t receive any Swiss victory celebration www.scottish-orienteering.org 39 2016 Junior European Cup

the SSSI area of Fairy Knowe & Doon Hill. At first they placed a blanket ban on use of the whole sensitive area, but over time and with perseverance from a number of SOA representatives, we were able to show that orienteers would not, in all likelihood, be able to trample their fully grown oak trees and, once a dialogue was properly opened, it became clear that we’d very easily be able to plan around the small pockets of other sensitive areas they look and feel of this made a real family or club and bringing adult were concerned with. I am really difference to the professionality fee-paying entrants was high. pleased we all persisted with this of the whole event. I learnt a bit And then there was all the free as it was going to set a precedent about social media and attempted publicity. Bonus! for other access enquiries across to grow an online presence As Lead Organiser, the last few the National Forest Estate in the through use of the website, Twitter months before JEC brought an future. I believe that the FC in and Facebook. I’ve yet to really immense workload – liaising with Scotland now have a clearer idea know how successful this was. It three days of officials, preparing about what orienteering involves was certainly time consuming! the multi-page bulletins, ensuring thanks to the efforts of Roger I then went out to the the map printing was world class Scrutton, Fiona Murray and Colin community to seek support (we survived a real last-minute Matheson. So, we eventually for the event. The Aberfoyle hitch here!), collating entries, received an informal “yes” and Community were very welcoming preparing start lists, invoicing were able to progress (Let’s not and very pleased to host the nations for entries, collecting the mention that I had to collect the Scottish Juniors in their village monies, receipting etc etc. official permission the day before hall. Go-Ape, Loch Katrine Also, we’d factored in 150 the event!). But, not before Clyde, Steamship and Tiso were very as a maximum number of staff feeling the pressure of a large generous in providing prizes. and athletes. In the end Louise restrictive area, had decided to Most generous was the Scottish 6 and I decided to waive this and go ahead with extending the area Days. I’d approached them about welcome all – so we saw lots of to the north. This proved costly a potential prize of an entry to the individual entries from Slovakia, for them, but a bold undertaking, next 6 days – Royal Deeside – for Czech, USA and huge entries and I’m sure their costs in doing all podium (top 3) finishers, and from Russia, Sweden, Norway, this will be recouped over the next they said yes! Imagine – no Brits GBR and Switzerland – in the end decade, and a worthy extension won any podium prizes – so all we topped out at 200 people and to a quality area. 48 prizes were given to overseas Dounans was full to brimming! Paul Frost became the “go-to” competitors. Given their age, the This gave Louise a damp man for the website which was likelihood of the athlete travelling forehead and logistical nightmare. linked from the SOA site and the to Royal Deeside with their We were nearly saved when team

40 www.scottish-orienteering.org GB decided the accommodation him back on board to produce wasn’t good enough for them. some more challenging courses, Latterly, they lowered their controlled and supported by stupidly high standards and so we Trevor Hoey. were back at 200. Throughout the weekend But, in the end, having a old friend Chris Poole hosted packed-out centre worked really the PA, Dave Coustick and Jon well. The kids had a sweaty JAM- Marsden oversaw the radio packed disco on the last night, controls, feedback to PA, and Picture: S. Wilson the dining hall and meeting rooms live results. Two of the hardest GB and ScotJOS girls at JEC had a good buzz about them, and longest-working were Robin In the end 18 Swiss athletes and the atmosphere in the whole and Sheila Strain – I never really managed to absolutely trounce place and assembly areas were appreciated how much goes the 24-strong teams of Russia, professional but fun. into the preparation for a three- GBR, Sweden and Norway and All three races went extremely day international using SI-AIR saw podium places in all races, well thanks to the key volunteers (who sponsored us!), results, won both relays (and came and their open and positive RouteGadget, start lists etc. When second in both too!) to secure attitudes. Graham Gristwood I reflect how many nights Robin overall victory against Sweden planned some exciting sprint and I emailed “night, night” to (2nd) and Norway (3rd). Great courses at the Uni, and Jon Cross each other before retreating for Britain managed a number of 4th organised a small, beautiful a few hours, it brings an amused places throughout the weekend, finish arena with close proximity smile to my face. including overall. I was really to toilets and indoor facilities, And then there’s the on-the- pleased to see them fielding a all ably controlled by Graeme day helpers. This international full team and making the most of Ackland. Roger Goddard put couldn’t have been such a huge every race opportunity. in some sterling early work success without the willingness Special thanks go to my planning and bracken bashing at and can-do attitude of hundreds wife and family who have South Achray for the relays and of volunteers, mainly SOA endured months of missed handed over to Ali McLeod after members, who are already Dad opportunities whilst I was his WOC attendance so that he stretched by their local clubs’ & elsewhere – in a forest, office, could concentrate on organising regions’ activities. It was amazing spare room, or with the “other a brilliant arena immediately to see so many smiley faces at woman”. I’m looking forward to adjacent to Dounans Centre. Ted dawn set-ups and dusk take- Christmas and catching up! I Finch, despite Delhi Belly on the downs, and how willing they were might have the accounts finalised day, did a grand job of ensuring to do the craziest of tasks (roping by then ;-). all boxes were ticked. Kate across a waist-high river as an So. 2022 – Great Britain are Thomas was one of the earliest on example ;-)). SEDS were out in expected to host this competition board as event organiser for the good numbers. Clyde and FVO again. Around the first weekend Sunday SOL /JEC Long and the members were out in even greater in October. Somewhere that isn’t most perfectionist in her efforts. numbers, and I am extremely heavily brackened-up. Scotland Patrick Walder had planned in grateful to both clubs for being so seems like the perfect venue. Be 2010 and I was chuffed to have supportive. afraid, be very afraid ;-)… www.scottish-orienteering.org 41 Tinto twin by Dick Carmichael (tinto) TINTO Chairman

INTO ORIENTEERS parking and timing support. In Twas founded thirty particular, 2016 controllers Ted years ago with core Finch and John Biggar and members The Carmichael results and timing from Robin family from ESOC, and Strain deserve particular The Young family from thanks. STAG. The belief then The night event at was that small active local Carmichael Eastend was clubs were best for the blessed with a very full moon development of the sport and a very dark damp night, and we would be the club and competitors were, as for Clydesdale and South always, challenged, with the Lanarkshire. However, in simpliﬁcation techniques 2016 we are down to only required for accurate night O 5 active, and now aged, being tested to the full. members as our families The SOUL event start was 2016 TINTO Twin at Carmichael Estate have grown and moved delayed until midday because In some years the Tinto away and we have no of the Remembrance Sunday Twin, when combined with a university or even city or march in Lanark and a bigger SOL in Inshriach (for example) big town to support our start list assembled at the at the October clocks change membership aspirations. Lanark Lifestyles Centre for weekend, has had up to 700 At the founding meeting the middle-distance sprints. runners. However, in 2016 we decided on a signature Once again, challenging with a mid-November date event comprising a night and courses produced close matched by a Lake District day orienteering event held results with a total of 34 forest O and a mountain within 24 hours with Tinto Twin runners completing the two marathon, the attraction of trophies for the class winners. events and being eligible for Night O and Urban O together The weekend of November the Tinto Twin trophies. was put to the test. 12/13 2016 was thus our 29th Prize-giving for the There will be a 30th TINTO annual event and planning combined event was TWIN on this same weekend duties fell (as oft before) to completely different from all in 2017 and a 31st TINTO Dick Carmichael for the night our early years. All trophies TWIN in the spectacular sunny event in a little used corner for age groups under 40 in Troodos forest in Cyprus in the of Carmichael Estate and Men remained unclaimed third week of October 2018. Blair Young for the Urban and only W14 and W21 had Thereafter who knows what day on the excellent map of winners in age groups under happens when the average Lanark town made by Ross W45, with four couples on the club member is aged 70! McLennan. Organising duties podium for the over 65’s! M/ Further information and full were delivered by the entire W60 had fewer competitors, results can be found at http:// membership, with friends with unchallenged victories, www.tintoorienteers.org/home/ of TINTO lending their vital whilst M40, 45, 50 and 55 had results/twenty-ninth-tinto-twin- support with soup, starts, close contests. day-event-bto-soul-9/. 42 www.scottish-orienteering.org Member benefits

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HAMPDEN Scottish Orienteering partner PERTH SPORTS CLINIC organisations CHARTERED Hampden Park, Glasgow ACE PHySIOTHERAPy PHySIOTHERAPy (Motherwell / East Kilbride) AND www.hampdensportsclinic.com SPORTS INjuRy www.acephysiotherapy.co.uk Tel: 0141 616 6161 CLINIC Tel: 01698 264450 £6 discount on physiotherapy www.perthphysio.co.uk sessions (£32 instead of £38) Corporate rate Tel: 01738 626707 and 10% off all Health and (currently £25 per session) itness packages. applies. Rates on application. Quote Scottish Orienteering Quote Scottish Orienteering Quote Scottish Orienteering Association member when booking. Association member when booking. Association member when booking.

FuTuRE FOCuS SCOTLAND TISO LTD ObAN Outdoor shops with branches SEA SCHOOL www.futurefocusscotland.co.uk throughout Scotland. West Coast family sailing Tel: 01738 827797 www.tiso.com holidays from Oban, Argyll Business Mentoring and Free Outdoor Experience card varied itineraries, suit children Coaching in Scotland and on application at any Tiso store, 8+. A natural adventure. around the UK including HR using BOF membership card as Coaching and HR Services See www.obanseaschool.co.uk proof of SOA membership. The for ideas, photos, information. Discount: 10% for SOA card provides 10% discount on purchases at Tiso. members. Quote Scottish Contact Robert or Fiona Orienteering Association Kincaid Tel: 01631 562013 Quote Scottish Orienteering member when contacting Association member when booking.

MAS FERGuSSON LAw mediartstudio Private Client Solicitors COMplETE DESigN SERviCE From logos and lyers SHOwCASE Tel: 0131 556 4044 to websites and brochures, yOuR buSINESS www.fergussonlaw.com MAS can help with all your marketing needs. HERE FOR All services offered at ixed prices. 5% discount to SOA Contact members. Ask for Janice Nisbet [email protected] (ESOC) when contacting. for a no obligation quote. www.mediartstudio.co.uk FREE!! Quote Scottish Orienteering Association member when booking. Quote Scottish Orienteering Association member when booking. COMMUNICATING WITH SOA MEMBERS

The SOA recently began offering a range of options for how members can receive news by email. The aim is to share information which is more tailored to member interests, as suggested in the Member Communications survey last year. As well as the quarterly SCORE magazine, we produce the following e-newsletters: • Weekly newsletter (website news) • Monthly newsletter (website and other news) • Coaching newsletter (for those interested in coaching) SOA members can specify which newsletters they want to receive by clicking ‘Update subscription preferences’ at the bottom of any e-newsletter received from us. It is sent from MailChimp, and clicking the link takes you directly to your own proﬁle. Alternatively, you can email Sarah Hobbs, SOA Admin Assistant ([email protected]) with your preferences, and she will update this on your behalf. See also the recent news item on the SOA website: http://www.scottish-orienteering.org/soa/page/email-newsletters HAPPY READING!

Vol 36 Issue 5 October 2015 £5.00

Know Your Class Leader World Masters MTBO Training Format Informal Format SprintO Puzzle World Champs Scottish 6 Day PhotoO Comp WOC Review Competitions Tuscany 5+5 Fixtures RC#5 The UK’s Orienteering Magazine

Packed with maps, event reports, coaching tips and advice, MTBO, Mountain Marathons/Rogaining, Competitions Var. 05 and much much more. Britain’s National Orienteering Magazine Britain’s National Orienteering Magazine www.CompassSport.co.ukCompassSport CompassSport Vol 36 Issue 6 December 2015 £5.00 Vol 36 Issue 4 August 2015 £5.00 Subscribe online using all major credit cards at www.CompassSport.co.uk

52 pages, full colour, 6 times a year £29 for BOF Members and £30 for Non BOF Members. RC#5 Jukola Fixtures RC#5 JWOC 2015 Fixtures Pedal Power Competitions Competitions Training Format WOC Preview Informal Format Club Rankings Product Reviews Egypt Sprint Champs Training Format Holiday Event Calendar Informal Format Lagganlia Remembered Product Reviews Know Your Class Leader Harvester Relays CompassSport Cup Final World Masters Champs JEC, JIRCS & JHI Reports Know Your Class Leader Saunders Mountain Marathon www.CompassSport.co.uk ...and much more.... ‘A luxury you can afford.’ www.CompassSport.co.uk