AUTUMN 08 BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS Welcome to AND BRITISH RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009 We apologise to competitors that the date of the 2009 British Championships has had to be moved to the weekend of the 28 February/1 March 2009 from the original date 14/15 March Well a lot has happened since the last edition of Focus, including Graham, Jamie 2009. Although agreement had been reached and Jon becoming World Champions - congratulations! As you are all aware this is with the Forestry Commission for the original a fantastic achievement and testimony to the hard work and dedication that all our dates, an external environmental body had athletes and support team have contributed. raised concerns to the Forestry Commission about potential damage to wildlife if the event Gareth Candy and Phil Burdge (Digisport) did an excellent job with the website went ahead at this time. Negotiations with the reports and photos and we received lots of positive feedback from our members. Full Forestry Commission indicated that they would reports and an interview with the World Champions can be found inside this edition. rescind the agreement as is allowed by the contract. Please send any articles or news to [email protected] Since receiving this news, lengthy negotiations Caroline Povey have been conducted with the Forestry Marketing Manager Commission, land owners and British (Events Committee and Major Events Group) to determine the best alternative for the event and to obtain new permissions and permits. Options to move the event to another region, another area within South Central or to 2009 Membership Renewals another time of the year were all considered. Enclosed with this edition of Focus is your membership renewal form. Please However, using the current area at the end of check that the details are correct. Any changes should be made either on the February was considered the most viable choice. renewal form, online in the members section or by contacting the National Office. We regret the difficulties this will cause other You must renew by Monday 12th December to ensure you receive your new event organisers who had planned to use the selected dates or dates nearby. membership card by the 1st January 2009. There are now three methods of renewing your membership: We realise that some competitors may already have paid deposits for accommodation and travel tickets for the original date. We deeply regret that the decision to change the date has been brought about by circumstances completely beyond our control and for any inconvenience caused to competitors by this situation. Competitors who have paid in advance for accommodation or travel are recommended to consult the cancellation section of their travel or accommodation agreement and try to seek to renegotiate those contracts or seek recompense from their travel insurance, home insurance or credit card insurance.

Students Membership If you are currently a full time student, you are able to renew your membership at the junior rate. Please visit our website to find Direct Debit out the correct fee and return your amended If you currently renew by Direct Debit, Online renewal form with evidence of your full time please notify the National Office of any You are now able to renew your student status to the National office. alterations to your membership details by membership online. To do so just visit our Friday 14th November 2008. We will use the website and log in with your username Membership Card bank details that you have already provided and password which has been sent If you renew your membership by Monday to debit your account by the amount shown out previously. If you have mislaid or 12th December your card will be distributed on the renewal notice on or around the 26th forgotten any of your login details please with the Winter edition of Focus in late November 2008. contact the National Office. December. If you renew after this date we cannot guarantee that you will receive your Cheque Remember card by the 1st January 2009. If you do not currently renew by direct debit, To receive your card by the New Year you your renewal form and cheque should be must renew by Monday 12th December Nicole Mckenna returned by Monday 12th December 2008 2008. Membership Secretary to the National Office. [email protected]

OrienteeringMore People, Focus More Places,- Summer More 2007 Podiums (MP3)  Chief Executive’s working on their portfolio’s of evidence Training, open to staff, Board members and • Ensure Talent Identification and required to complete the accreditation Chairmen of committees has taken place and Development pathways are developed process raised awareness of the issues that British and agreed, and activities in all areas • All of the numerous Coaching materials Orienteering face. A subsequent staff meeting are increasingly aligned to reflect the and the new British Orienteering certificates has progressed this work into a series of approaches agreed have been redesigned and prepared ready actions that will be forming a part of our Whole • Make significant progress in developing Update for the role out of the UKCC Level 1 from Sport Plan. a Volunteer Strategy and commence September 2008 implementation by end of 2008 • Work has commenced on the UKCC Level Chief Executive Role and Objectives Since the last publication of Focus a large part of the staff 2 award and the resource materials required The Board agreed the list of tasks and Sport Councils workload has been to move forward the Whole Sport Plan activities that will be a priority for the next year: The Whole Sport Plan is now in ‘Consultation Website • Gain wide acceptance to the Whole Sport Draft’ and has been discussed with a variety of 2009-2013. Whilst sections of the Whole Sport Plan impacts Work has continued on the Events Section of Plan as finally adopted and drive forward its our partners. significantly on the bids we make for funding to UK Sport and the site and this is currently being tested ready implementation for the role out at the beginning of 2009. • Develop and gain approval for the 2009 We are, as yet, uncertain about how the the home nations sports councils the Plan is an opportunity for Preparations have been made ready for the budget by October 2008; this will need to relationship between British Orienteering and orienteering to agree how the vision for the sport is going to new membership year to commence from 1st take account of possible funding reductions UK Sport will develop as they become entirely September and we hope that there will be a • Assist the Chairman to embed and focused on London 2012. be delivered. Further information about the Plan can be found seamless transition from membership year streamline Board operation and get 2008 to 2009. authority and responsibility clearly delegated Sport England has agreed its Public Service in this edition and on the British Orienteering website. to the appropriate level in the volunteer Agreement with the Government and we Modifications have been made to the web site committee/group structure know that their strategic direction is to ‘Grow in order to prepare for the role out of some – Sustain – Excel’ this fits well with the British World Championships A paper recommending the employment of The Development Committee has been • Work with the Board to enhance our liaison e-learning courses for volunteers to use. and communication with Associations, Orienteering vision and strategic direction. Congratulations to the Men’s Relay team an Events Manager to support the work of the reformed and held its first meeting under the These courses will be established during 2009 Clubs and the members in general An ‘Engagement Team’ has been allocated who won a fantastic Gold Medal at the World Major Events Group and events in general has new brief in June. There was a good mixture and will enable volunteers to gain knowledge • Continue to develop and enhance the to British Orienteering and 4 or 5 staff have Orienteering Championships. Jamie, Jon and been received and will be considered in the of members present at the meeting with about a series of activities which, over time, relationship with the Sports Councils to met several times with Mihir Warty and Simon Graham’s performances in the event were context of the Whole Sport Plan at the next most regions represented. The Development will include coaching, organising, mapping, reduce the likelihood of grant reductions Macqueen from Sport England. The meetings outstanding and brought home the Gold for Board meeting in October. Committee is responsible for advising and planning and controlling as well as some of the • Explore and develop external income have established the background, baseline the first time ever. Well done also to the team guiding the Board on strategies to: roles required by the well organised club such streams in trading and sponsorship for orienteering in England and the timescales that supported this fantastic achievement Finance • Increase participation and recruit and retain as Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Volunteer • Work with Junior Competition Group and leading up to the submission for funding in and particularly to Dave Peel who coached The Board have responsibility for overseeing membership of British Orienteering across Coordinator, Child Welfare Officer etc. This is others to ensure new 2009 levy system September. We have met with or made similar the team and Derek Allison who planned the the financial situation of British Orienteering the age classes a long term project but the volunteer learning operates smoothly offers to meet with the Sports Councils of the programme. and the risks involved. At the July meeting • Promote and market the sport of management system will enable us to support • Develop and gain Board approval for other Home Nations to support the work in of the Board a considerable amount of time orienteering people with home learning and mentoring at those regions. Membership was given to providing a detailed background internal IT and International strategies, • Support the development of clubs a local level whilst reducing the number of especially a 10 or 15 year plan for IOF event about the budget, the budgeting process, the • Recruit, develop and retain volunteers courses the learner is required to attend. At the end of July the number of members was: monthly accounts and the accounting process. hosting International Orienteering • Oversee the delivery of the development • Work with the Board to improve the Federation (IOF) Local National objectives as agreed by the Board in the Equality A draft updated version of the Financial Policies effectiveness of AGMs Congratulations to Brian Porteous who was Family 1,894 5,365 Strategic Plan, and where appropriate British Orienteering has gained the Preliminary & Procedures for British Orienteering has been • Continue to enhance the web site and appointed to the position of IOF Vice-President Junior 236 03 supporting other Committees in delivering Standard (level 2) of the Equality Standards produced thanks to some excellent work by generate satisfaction and usage data at the recent Congress meeting held in Senior 767 2,595 strategic objectives which is excellent news. Well done to Laura Jannette our Accounts Manager, Mike Forest • Work to increase participation and conjunction with the recent World Orienteering Student 20 90 • Providing a sounding board for the work who worked closely with our Equality Advisor and the Treasurer, Jenny Peel. This addresses membership Championships. 2,917 (26%) 8,390 (74%) of the Development staff particularly in to make the submission. an area of work that was outstanding and had = 11,307 (10,559 members in 2007) establishing annual targets and monitoring International Programme been noted in our Governance Assurance procedures Although the Gold in the Men’s Relay was This is an increase of 7% since December Report carried out on behalf of our funding • Overseeing the work of the Development an excellent achievement there has been 2007. Well done to all those clubs that have partners. As members you should be staff and ensuring it remains focused on considerable time spent during the last nine worked to increase their membership. assured that the money received from you as delivering the annual operational targets months reviewing the International Programme Monthly updates of the membership list are membership fees and levies is being dealt with and how it can be improved. This work has being sent to clubs and associations as are any according to good practice. The ‘Increasing Participation’ project continues been driven by the Whole Sport Plan which fees that are outstanding. There was a problem and its work is covered elsewhere, however is the basis for our funding submission to UK with this during May as we changed over to British Orienteering has new auditors for the it is worth noting the ‘Activity Guide’ which is Sport and the other Sports Councils. the web based membership system, this was 2008 accounts, to be reported on at the 2009 now available and been well received by the resolved and club and association membership AGM, and we have been working with their pilot clubs and others holding frequent activity We will not be looking to fill the position secretaries and treasurers should be up to date specialist to review the VAT situation to ensure sessions. Another by-product of the scheme made vacant by Dave Peel’s resignation as – contact us if you think you have a problem. that we are dealing with our accounts in the is the production of editable posters that will National Coach until decisions have been most effective manner. The review has made form part of the new online print service for made regarding the staffing structure for the Staff recommendations that are currently being clubs. Our Marketing Manager, Caroline, has programme. Unfortunately a key factor in this, Amy Sarkies tendered her resignation with effect considered by the Treasurer before going to the played an important part in bringing both these the funding position, is unlikely to be clear from August 2008 and is enjoying her time at home Board. products to fruition. until late 2008 or early 2009 however we will with her son Rory, now amazingly one year old! be trying to move the situation forward as The role that Amy vacated was modified slightly to Development Coaching quickly as possible and are aware that athlete Congratulations to POTOC and LOC both include more responsibility for Child Welfare, Equality This period has seen a great deal of activity preparation for 2009 must continue. of which have recently been accredited as and the Risk Register. After a brief recruitment including: Clubmark clubs. The total number of clubs now The decision about the staffing structure period Laura Young was appointed to the role and accredited with some form of club accreditation • The training of Tutors to delivered Teaching for the programme will be made by Dave is now a full time employee of British Orienteering, is now 27. It is a point of concern to some that Orienteering Parts 1 & 2; over 60 people Harrison, Jon Cross (both volunteers on the congratulations to Laura. there are several different standards of club across the UK have now been trained International Committee) and Mike Hamilton, accreditation available across the UK. We will • UKCC Level 1 Coaching award has now Chief Executive. Stephanie (Steph) Isley has been employed on a be working to clarify this situation over the been endorsed and courses started in one day per week basis to provide administrative coming months. September Ideas about the staffing cover for coaching and is already proving to be an • Coach Educators, Assessors and Internal structure will be sought from effective member of the coaching support team. Verifiers have all been trained and are now 2008 Great Britain World Champs Team athletes, programme staff and Photo by Digisport others with expertise.

 Orienteering Focus - Autumn 2008 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3)  WORLD ORIENTEERING CHAMPIONSHIPS The Great Britian Orienteering Team wish to thank the following for their fantastic support & sponsorship 10th – 20th July 2008 ~ Reports by Gareth Candy ~ Photos by Digisport

Graham goes for Pippa sprints broke in the Sprint After an exciting women’s race the through the scene was set for a fast and furious picturesque men’s final. Dark clouds began town to gather and threatened to turn Olomouc’s cobbled streets into an Sprint Race ice rink for the later starters.

The Sprint Qualification races were held Graham Gristwood and Jamie around the town of Prostejov with a mix of Stevenson were both in the final fifteen starters and amongst the urban and park orienteering. favourites for a good result. Of the earlier starters Martin Johansson (SWE) took a strong early lead in the race.

Gristwood started well and was in touch at the first radio control with the leaders, with a good finish he had a chance for a good result. Just as he started however the rain began to fall and it would not help his or any of the other late starter’s chances. By the middle of the course Gristwood had lost time and in the end finished in 22nd place.

Jamie Stevenson doesn’t start well, taking a poor route choice to the first control and losing time. As Stevenson continued out on the course (RUS) took the lead at the finish, finally knocking Martin Johansson out of the gold medal position with a time that looked very hard to beat. Stevenson lost more time in the middle of the course and seemed to be out of the Jamie Stevenson running but amazingly managed to make up ten places in the last three Unfortunatley minutes of the race to finish in 12th Scott failed to place. qualify Rachael at the Start Stevenson was left thinking about what could have been, “I had a bad start to the race and that played on my mind for the first half of the course. It was challenging with a held the gap through the middle of the course, improving long first leg and the rain made it In the Women’s Qualification Rachael Elder, “It was just as we expected, a tricky bit to start very slippery which meant you had Pippa Whitehouse and Sarah Rollins all with a long leg, and then a tricky bit to finish.” her position, and ran in to the finish in the bronze medal position. As the faster qualifiers continued to finish Rollins to be careful running. I should have qualified for the final with strong performances. taken more care from the start Whitehouse was particularly impressive with the The World Championship Sprint Final was held dropped down the standings but ended with a great result in 13th position. Rollins was satisfied but had hoped for point, it was important to have a 4th fastest time in her heat, “At the European in the central square of the historical Czech clear head because there were so Champs we had a long leg early on and I just Republic city of Olomouc. A large crowd a better position, “My run felt a little scrappy and I was struggling a little with the tail-end of a cold. I could have many other runners around. I spent switched off, today on our long leg I made sure gathered to watch the opening ceremony a lot of time looking at old maps that I knew the codes and descriptions for the followed by Sprint distance finals. run slightly more controlled and am disappointed to finish outside of the top ten. I wish I hadn’t been ill but my sprint to prepare for this race as well as short tricky legs straight afterwards.” running sprint courses in similar Great Britain’s first competitor in the final was experience helped me to get the most out of myself along with lots of Sprint Map geeking.” terrain. I was happy that I kept the The Men’s Sprint Qualifying started twenty Rachael Elder, passing the first radio control race together but I feel like I had minutes after the completion of the Women’s 45 seconds down on the fastest time losing more to give.” race. Graham Gristwood and Jamie Stevenson vital seconds with a mistake in the early part The last starter for Great Britain was Pippa Whitehouse who started the race even better than Rollins, only 11 both qualified for the final but Scott Fraser, of the course. Despite a strong finish, the early There was an exciting finish to 4th in the Sprint Distance at the European mistake proves costly as Elder finished in 34th. seconds down on the fastest time at the first radio control. Unfortunately Whitehouse lost some time with a mistake in the race as the final starter, Daniel Championships this year, lost too much time Hubmann (SUI) strongly challenged early in the course and failed to qualify for the Next to start was Sarah Rollins who had a the middle part of the course and dropped 40 seconds off the pace, finishing in 21st position behind the Gold medalist Khramov’s time but finally fell just final. After qualifying 5th fastest in his heat much more positive start to the race, only 16 Sarah Rollins two seconds short at the finish. Gristwood was satisfied with his performance, seconds down at the first radio control. Rollins Anne-Margrethe Hausken from .

 Orienteering Focus - Autumn 2008 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3)  WORLD ORIENTEERING CHAMPIONSHIPS challenged further with the early part of their 10th – 20th July 2008 course passing through the ‘city of rocks’ terrain Czech Republic which surprised and challenged the men.

Having qualified well, both Rollins and Elder were starting late in the final, (FIN) second in the sprint distance earlier in the week Unfortunately and reigning World Long Distance Champion Helen Bridle was a surprise early starter for the middle final. failed to qualify Kauppi came through the first radio control with Middle for the final the fastest time so far, over a minute faster than anybody else. At the spectator control Kauppi was nearly two minutes faster than everybody Distance else, she was really setting a tough target for Graham the later starters. At the finish Kauppi was over Gristwood Graham Gristwood and Jon Duncan two minutes ahead of all the other runners and she was happy, pumping her fist as she crossed both qualified for the final of the the line, it could be good enough to hold onto Men’s race while Oli Johnson missed the gold medal! out by one second. In the Women’s The first starter for Great Britain was Rachael qualification Great Britain also Jon Duncan Elder, she couldn’t match the incredible pace set by Minna Kauppi but passed the first radio manages to get two in to the final, World Champion (FIN). Then, control with a competitive time and a definite Rachael Elder and Sarah Rollins, incredibly, (RUS) came chance for a personal best result. Elder however Graham Gristwood came through the spectator control over thirty lost time on the way to the spectator control, while Helen Bridle missed out. through the first radio control seconds faster than Hubmann. Thierry at least two minutes, and would find it tough to having lost some time, but Geourgiou (FRA) would need to be at the get a good result. “I lost some time in the rock Gristwood was the best qualifier for the men, with a strong finish could top of his game to keep up with those detail early on in the course but so did plenty Oli Johnson was finishing 8th in his heat, “It was a constant climb into a good position. two. Novikov came to the finish with a new of others. My big mistake was on a contouring disappointed to technical challenge. The first half of the course By the spectator control fastest time, just nine seconds ahead of leg which actually went up a contour. I must finish just one was through beautiful white forest but then the though he had lost more . have dropped slightly without realising and then second half was through green low visibility forest. time, and at the finish he had second off the final made a parallel mistake with two brown crosses It reminded me of France but without the rock. A managed to climb several (CZE) came through the spectator on the map.” Elder finished in 28th. good run, I’m satisfied with that.” places but had lost too much time earlier in control just a few seconds behind Novikov and the course, finishing in 26th. “I made two big at the pre-warning he was still just seconds Sarah Rollins had lost time to the first radio Sarah Rollins was the best woman in 4th place mistakes, I was running and orienteering really behind. As he ran down the finish chute the control, not a good start for our top Sprint in her heat, “I started nervously, making a small well which I am happy with, it could have been crowd was roaring and pounding on the Distance performer. At the spectator control mistake on the first leg but then got into a great a great day. My big mistake was a parallel error, advertising signs, the encouragement seemed she had improved her position and with a great flow. It was really great, really loved it, good course, running across the slope of a hill I was careful to work as he finished four seconds ahead. finish she still had the chance of a good result. good map, good area, really fun.” and read everything, then just before we came Rollins came into the finish in 13th position with into the green I thought I saw two clearings (FRA), the reigning World ten more athletes to finish. “It was all there for After a short lunch break it was straight back to above me but it was only one and I headed in Champion, was fastest at the first radio control the taking, the incredible rock detail in the first the same event arena for the Middle Distance too high.” and then equal with Smola at the spectator half of the course was completely unexpected Final. First up was the men’s race. After a strong control. It looked be an incredible finish as the and it took me until the seventh qualifying performance Thierry Georgiou was the Daniel Hubmann (SUI) came through setting master of middle distance fought to hold on to control to slow down enough. I favourite for yet another Middle Distance Gold fastest times at the spectator his title. In the end Gueorgiou came in to the could have done it today, it was medal, but there were many great athletes hoping control and the finish, coming in finish after a great final loop and took the title by a great opportunity so I am to upset his plans including Great Britain’s Jon two minutes clear of 2001 34 seconds. disappointed.” Rollins finished Duncan and Graham Gristwood. in 19th place. The men’s final was exciting but the women’s First up for Great Britain was Jon Duncan who final was set to be just as incredible. was hoping to be setting the early pace. At the first Sarah Rollins and Rachael Elder both radio control he came through with the fastest time had solid runs in the morning and so he gave himself a good chance for a top result. enjoyed the challenging terrain. By the time he had reached the spectator control They were set to be Duncan had built his lead to over a minute and had nearly caught Hans Troan (NOR) who started two minutes ahead. Behind him (LAT) came through the first radio control with a new fastest time by over a minute.

Unfortunately from the spectator control to the finish Duncan lost time, “I nearly had Hans in sight and took a risk thinking that we had two sets of eyes looking for the control, it really cost me, the rest of the run was great. It was a really good course, first we ran through the rocks then had some legs in the hills, diagonally across the slopes before finishing with some more standard continental terrain. I knew I didn’t have the speed to run in to a medal so I had to be clean, I was for nearly the whole race, it was so close.” Duncan finished in 22nd place.

 WORLD ORIENTEERING tough, I was really tired and struggling to Heken Winskill CHAMPIONSHIPS concentrate at the end. I didn’t make any missed the final by 10th – 20th July 2008 misses but felt like I was losing time. I started just four seconds Czech Republic hard but I think you had to today, we had a long route choice leg straight after the map change which was really tough. I took thirty seconds and chose a straight route with lots of climb but saved a lot of distance.” Johnson ended up in 23rd place.

Next up was Scott Fraser in his first World Championships final, he came through the first radio control with a similar time to Johnson, a good start for the young Scot. At the television control Fraser had been caught by Marian Davidik (SVK) and they came through with the fastest and 6th fastest times. Marian Davidik came in to the finish but there was no sight of Fraser, he lost some time on the last loop. He finished with the 9th fastest time, just a few seconds ahead of Johnson. “I lost time right at the end, three minutes, I’m really disappointed about that. I was running strongly, it was a really tough course.” Fraser took 21st place overall.

Unfortunately Jamie Stevenson did not have the best start as he picked up his map and dropped his compass and had to go back to pick it up. At the first radio control he was in touch with the leaders but had dropped two minutes to the fastest runners. Long At the television control Stevenson came through with the third fastest time, only 20 seconds behind last years Distance World Champion . He was certainly giving himself a good chance for a medal. The men had a great day in the Unfortunately Stevenson lost Long Distance qualification with Scott The British women didn’t have such a good place, “I’m satisfied two minutes on the last loop in day with only Sarah Rollins qualifying for the as I made no real the low visibility area, he could Fraser, Oli Johnson and Jamie Stevenson all final. Helen Winskill was unlucky to miss out mistakes, I might have have come in to the lead but making the final. The heats looked promising on qualifying by only four seconds but a big lost a little time on instead he came in with the mistake cost her badly, “I lost three minutes one route choice and 5th fastest time. “It was one for Stevenson who was hoping for a strong on one leg when I knew the control was just I was really tired at the of my most aggressive World past a path, I never saw the path and I kept end. The fittest girls Championship races, I was performance and the chance to win the on running and came to the fields past the will take time out of running strongly. I made a elusive Long Distance medal. control. I navigated well on the last tricky part me at the end of the small mistake at number two, of the course and made lots of time on the course.” I saw a small deciduous tree other runners around me.” Pippa Whitehouse but it was one of the ones also failed to qualify after making a big mistake Dana Brozkova Sarah gave another solid performance they had been cleaned off the towards the end of the course. (CZE) set great time map and I lost ninety seconds. through all the radio After that it was really good, the route choice Scott made his After the rainy middle distance the weather had controls and came in to the finish in the lead. after the map exchange was tough, I chose the first WOC Final improved dramatically for the long distance Out in the forest Marianne Anderson (NOR) had track route to the right, the left looked flatter finals. The sun was out and shining but the been faster but in the last loop she lost crucial but I liked my route. Then after the spectator temperature was comfortable for the runners, seconds and Brozkova became the World control I nearly could have been disqualified there was no repeat of the oppressively hot Champion. as I was running for the next control. Luckily conditions experienced in Ukraine last year. I realised and had to come back but it could Oli Johnson was an early starter on the men’s have been worse with a disqualification or more Sarah Rollins was the first starter for Great course, starting twelfth, just two minutes time lost. I’m disappointed but I feel good. I’m Britain, the eleventh woman on the course. behind Andrey Khramov (RUS) the Long ready for the relay now.” Without the mistake The first radio control was very early on the Distance World Champion from 2005 and on the last loop Stevenson could have taken course, after only 10-15 minutes of running. World Champion from the Sprint Distance. 4th place but instead he finished in 10th. Rollins came through with a competitive time, The first radio control for the men was after 30 just 38 seconds behind Sandy Hott from minutes and would give a good early indication Behind him and Francois Canada. At the next radio control Rollins came of the race. Johnson came through the first Gonon, who had led earlier in the course both through over four minutes ahead of the next radio control with the third fastest time, only made mistakes. Nordberg still came in to the fastest runner, and it appeared that Rollins had a minute behind Khramov. At the television finish with the fastest time but Daniel Hubmann a chance for the top result she had been so control Johnson had only dropped another (SUI) was finishing fast and could steal the Oli in action close to all week. At the spectator control, with minute to Khramov and was 3 minutes behind gold medal. Hubmann made no mistakes on a 15 minute loop left to run, Rollins was still the fastest runner so far. Johnson came in to the final loop which proved decisive, he ran in the lead and at the finish Rollins ran in with the finish with the fifth fastest time, 6 minutes into the finish and claimed the gold medal for the leading time but in the end finished in 16th behind the early leader Khramov. “That was Switzerland.

10 Orienteering Focus - Autumn 2008 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 11 WORLD ORIENTEERING same as Elder and made significant progress Andrey Khramov (RUS) and Matthias Merz CHAMPIONSHIPS through the field, a top 10 result was now a very (SUI). Jon Duncan ran cleanly through the last 10th – 20th July 2008 real possibility. At the front of the race Minna section and handed over to Jamie Stevenson Czech Republic Kauppi (FIN) had taken the lead and was now in first place, with a thirty second lead over a strong favourite to take the Gold medal for France with Thierry Gueorgiou running the last Finland, she was being chased by , leg for them. Duncan was very satisfied “That Russia and Switzerland who were around a is great, Graham did such a good job on the minute behind. first leg, I felt comfortable right from the start, I was running with all the best teams. I made At the end of the first technical control pick, one small route choice mistake but the rest was WOC Rollins had moved up into 10th position, it was great. This is made for Jamie especially after a great start to the final leg for the British team. missing a medal yesterday, COME ON!” Minna Kauppi continued to move away from the chasing pack, her lead was now over two Gueorgiou caught Stevenson by the first radio Relay minutes, and it looked like an almost certain control but they held their margin to the chasing Gold medal for Finland. Rollins continued the teams through the second radio control. With cool sunny race in a pack with China and Estonia, fighting Daniel Hubmann (SUI) and Valentin Novikov for 10th place and chasing Hungary, Latvia and (RUS) were chasing hard and were the biggest conditions it was Australia in 7th-9th. At the finish it was Finland, threats to a British medal. At the far end of the over two minutes ahead of Russia, followed by course Stevenson made a mistake and was a great day for the Sweden. In the forest Rollins looked to have now in third place behind Gueorgiou (FRA) and relay in Skripov. In the lost some time towards the end of the course Novikov (RUS) with Hubmann (SUI) and Dlabaja Jon Duncan sprinting and in the end it was (CZE) chasing hard. With fifteen minutes left women’s relay Pippa towards Jamie 12th place for Great to run, Gueorgiou was now alone in the lead Britain as Rollins was and Stevenson and Novikov were together Whitehouse ran first outsprinted by Hungary in 2nd and 3rd place. It still looked good for leg for Great Britain, and Slovakia at the a medal for Great Britain but the Gold didn’t finish. Rollins gave seem possible. But there was a big gap back Rachael Elder ran herself and Great to Switzerland and the Czech Republic in 4th Britain every chance of and 5th place. On the last gaffle Stevenson had second leg and Sarah finishing in the top 10 a much tougher control and dropped behind Rollins last leg. with her great start “the Novikov, it now looked like a battle for Gold start was really good, I between France and Russia with Great Britain in only made two misses the Bronze medal position. on the whole course, one on a rootstock and With just the final loop left to run, Gueorgiou then one just before the was in the lead, with a 37 second lead to Jamie looks calm finish which allowed the Novikov and a further 21 seconds back to and ready Slovakian to catch us. Stevenson. Stevenson was slowly pulling in That was really fun but I Novikov, it seemed that he might catch back up just had nothing left.” to the Silver medal, and he was also closing on Graham had Gueorgiou! The chasing runners were too far Women’s Pippa leads out the a fantastic In the men’s relay Great Britain had Graham behind and it surely had to be a medal for Great Relay Team Women’s team run on the Gristwood running the first leg, Jon Duncan Britain. Suddenly Gueorgiou dropped behind, 1st leg second and Jamie Stevenson on the anchor Russia and Great Britain were now in the Gold leg. At the start of the first leg, Gristwood was and Silver medal positions, and there was only There was significant gaffling in the early part of the and Czech Republic. Konig-Salmi came in to doing the job, staying in touch with the lead nine seconds between Stevenson and Novikov course and although running towards the front of her the finish with a clear lead, giving Switzerland a pack. After 30 minutes of running, Gristwood and they were fighting for the Gold medal! group Whitehouse came through the first radio about a great chance for a medal, she had a one minute was in 4th place, only 30 seconds behind minute down on the leader, Sweden’s . lead ahead of Johansson from Sweden and Celebrating Francois Gonon (FRA). It was shaping up to Stevenson came to the last control in the lead However by the next radio Whitehouse had moved up over two minutes ahead of the chasing pack. with Head be yet another stable first leg relay run by and it was Gold for Great Britain! Gueorgiou and was in touch with the leaders. By the next radio Elder held her position through the last part of Coach Dave Gristwood, proving that he is one of the most seemed to have injured himself and was walking control, after half an hour of running, Whitehouse was no the course, if Sarah Rollins could continue her Peel reliable first leg runners in the world. At the finish slowly in the forest, back towards the finish, but longer in the leading pack or the chasing pack, she came great form from the other races to the relay then he was in 4th place, just 30 seconds behind Stevenson had claimed the Gold medal with an through alone, in 17th position over four minutes behind they would have a chance to climb up into the the leaders, France. “My biggest problem was outstanding run “I made a small mistake in the the leading runners. With a strong finish she had a chance top ten. Rachael said, “I passed lots of teams getting a stick in the eye at the start of the race, middle of the course and Gueorgiou got away to finish with the half dozen teams ahead of her in the in the first section, I think it was because I was apart from that it was great. There was lots of and Novikov caught me. I had a much tougher forest. Russia came into the finish in the lead, together steady and took my time, after that I didn’t gaffling but it seemed to even itself out through gaffle near the end of the course and Gueorgiou with Sweden and Czech Republic. Chasing behind were see anybody and just kept on pushing to give the race. Really happy with that.” and Novikov got away, I worked really hard and Switzerland, Norway and Australia. Whitehouse lost more Sarah the best chance possible on the last leg. caught back to Novikov, then from control 25 I time at the end of the course and came in to the finish I found it tough going up the hills but I’m sure At the start of the second leg Damien Renard went for it, it felt like Novikov slowed down.” over six minutes behind the leaders. “I didn’t really make everybody did.” (FRA) pulled away to a small lead with Jon any mistakes out there but it was really tough. It started Duncan leading the chasing pack but Duncan GB Team Coach Dave with a control pick in the green and there was a good Lea Muller (SUI) and Helena Jansson headed soon made ground on Renard and pulled away long leg. It must have been really gaffled I hardly saw out on the last leg in front of a chasing pack from places 6-10. At the third radio control it Peel was ecstatic, “For anybody out there.” containing all of the Gold medallists from the was France and Great Britain in the lead, over me, Gold in the relay is competition so far, a minute ahead of all the other teams. With Rachael Elder started well and climbed up the leader (NOR), Minna Kauppi (FIN) and Dana Brozkova ten minutes left to run it was still France and the best medal to win board through the early part of the race, excelling in the (CZE) - what pressure! At the first radio control Great Britain in the lead, but the chasing pack as it shows a solid team tough control picking in the low visibility forest. By the on the final leg Switzerland had maintained their of Finland, Latvia and Czech Republic were performance.” long leg she had moved up into 14th place. At the front of lead, but Sweden had been caught by Finland only 40 seconds behind. It seemed certain that the race Vroni Konig-Salmi (SUI), the silver medallist from and Russia. Minna Kauppi had started with Great Britain, with Jamie Stevenson on the It emerged that Guergiou had suffered from the middle distance, had made a strong move and pulled some real speed, running away from the two last leg, would be in the hunt for a medal, but an insect bite in his throat and had a serious away from Eva Jurenkova (CZE) and Sofie Johansson other World Champions, and if she continued it would be a tough battle with many teams in allergic reaction. He was taken by helicopter (SWE). With only the short last loop left to race, Konig- like that would have a chance to catch Lea with a chance. At the pre-warning Jon Duncan to the hospital but recovered quickly to win the Salmi had a narrow lead to Johansson but then a large Muller (SUI) and win the Gold medal for Finland. had hit the lead, with a 30 second gap to World Cup Middle Distance race in Sweden just gap back to a chasing pack of Finland, Russia, Norway At the first radio control Rollins had done the Damien Renard (FRA) and over a minute to a few days later.

12 Photo by Soren Andersson Orienteering Focus - Autumn 2008 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 13 Many thanks to Fiona Claxton (NOC), How do you keep motivated to train, How good is the TracTrac GPS Jamie: You bet! I hardly slept that night. I kept 8 especially after a poor result? 12 system? Do you think this will help replaying the feeling of running across the field Jason Inman (FVOC), Rebecca to develop orienteering into more of and meeting the team at the end of the race. Harding (HH), Roger Scrutton (ESOC) Graham: Poor results always motivate me a spectator sport? Will we ever see Also the cold sweat at the moment where I and the Lines family (SO) Rob, Claire, to train more as I want to get to a higher level the technology in Britain? made a mistake on the course, and my beating and be consistent enough to not have those heart as I battled my way back to visual contact Alex and Edward for sending in their poor results. I enjoy my training – if I didn’t I Jon: During the last leg at WOC, I hated it! But with Russia and France afterwards. questions for World Champions wouldn’t do it. Even those sessions which you it is a really good innovation for our sport and an Graham Gristwood, Jon Duncan and dread, I think you can take pleasure from them important step forward to making orienteering How did you celebrate afterwards? afterwards. more spectator friendly without compromising Jamie Stevenson. the basic concept of orienteering. 15 Jon: I heard this quote from Andre Agassi after Graham: There was a banquet at he won the Australian Open tennis in 2003. His When the national anthem was the end of the World Champs, but it was only 8th grand slam title and at 33, the oldest man 13 played at the medal ceremony, did a small affair with most teams jetting off to in the draw: you sing, and was it an emotional Oringen. There is more celebrating to do I think. How were you feeling over Jamie: I wanted to do my best and felt quite Is there any specific training you experience? Q1 breakfast before the& big race? nervous. AProbably the most nervous I had 5 can point to that made a massive “For me, it’s about challenging myself, pushing Jamie: The old guys celebrated with a cold What did you eat? felt during the whole week. But as I have difference this year? myself. I can live without the competition. I Graham: I didn’t sing, but it was a moving beer, chatted with friends from other teams, a progressed through my career I have become can live without the hard work. But I can’t experience – even though Jon made us laugh telephone call to the wife and a taxi home to a Graham: I was nervous and excited, it was more aware of my feelings and emotions and Graham: I have increased my training volume live without knowing what it feels like to try to half way through! fairly early bed. This left Graham to celebrate the last race of the championships and for all am able to recognise those nerves and see it this year, both physical and technical, and I accomplish something that I question if I can.” our sporting triumph in bacchanalian excess of us the last chance to get a top result. I was as a trigger for positive energy and readiness have tried to make my technical training as This sums it up for me. I feel exactly the same. Jamie: I sang – I think I was the loudest! Maybe with wine, women and song. also confident though – each of us was in good to perform. I am still nervous but I don’t get high intensity as possible. I have been training because I’ve experienced it one time before, I shape and hungry after a disappointing week. I stressed out by my nerves. and racing in Sweden this winter and spring, To what extent are medals and knew what a fleeting moment it was. Jon: The WOC party was a relaxed evening had my normal breakfast of some muesli. and the standard of my training partners and 9 winning your motivation, or would with a bit of food and a couple of beers. I sat Jon: Two hours before the race I am wondering competitors has been higher than before. you be happy knowing you had most of the night with friends from the British Jamie: I wanted to do my best and felt quite even more why I am doing this. But I am still reached your own personal Jon: I didn’t sing – it all went so fast and I team, reflecting on what we had achieved. nervous. Probably the most nervous I had felt not especially nervous. I remember watching Jon: If there is a year that I should not have potential? hardly remember it now! I need to see a re-play! A lot of friends from other teams came to during the whole week. I had contemplated the Finnish ladies run in to take gold – the hairs won, it is this one! I was injured for five months It was good to stand on the top step and look congratulate us. I felt warm and calm, a the race a lot during the evening and the night. on the back of my neck prickled and I thought during the winter and did not run a step. I Graham: I would like to think I would be happy out at happy faces of friends in the crowd. peacefulness of achieving my lifetime dream. Jon and I had chatted during the evening and “wouldn’t that be nice – to run in as winners!” spent a lot of time training in the gym and roller to get the best result that I could, but I also reflected on our past races and our years on skiing. In the end it was a huge mental battle to want to believe that my best will eventually be What did you feel like after the Is this the high point in your the team together. As we went to bed he had Jamie – How did you feel when you convince myself that I was good enough this good enough to take an individual medal. 14 race? Did you take ages to calm 16 orienteering careers, or is there said, “Sleep well, we could do with a good one 3 realised that you were in the lead? year. It didn’t come together until the final week down afterwards, and was it hard more to come? tomorrow – it might be our last.” – but that was just in time! Jamie: I am happy to reach my personal to sleep that night? Jamie: I went through a lot of emotions both potential. Graham: It is definitely the high point so far for I was a bit disappointed with my classic race – I waiting to start and during the race. It is very You hear all the time that being a Graham: It was hard to get the grin off our me, but it has inspired me more than ever to think this helped me to gather the extra energy exciting to follow a World Champs relay, with 6 winner is a “state of mind” - What Do you think it is more important faces – it still is sometimes! It is very hard to train and try and be the best. to give everything in the relay. I had also been TV cameras and radio times. However, I knew attributes/skills/mentality do you 10 to work on your fitness levels describe the feeling but maybe excited like extremely disciplined with food and fluids after that I had to stay a bit detached and conserve think you have that makes you a or orienteering skills – does one small kids. I still get excited thinking about it. Jamie: This is certainly a high point. It is going the classic race. My muscles were a bit stiff mental energy for the final leg of the relay. winner? become more important than the to be hard to beat that moment. So many when I woke up, but I knew I was recharged other at an elite level? Jon: As we ran into the finish the feeling was emotional factors conspired to make the day and in top shape to perform over 8km. It’s funny – when Graham came in close to Graham: I think that it is important to stand indescribable! But as soon as we crossed very special. The fact that it was the last WOC the front and Jon took the lead on his leg, my on the start line and know, not think, that you Jon: Both have to be top class. It is no point the line I suddenly doubted that we had won, relay for coach and friend Dave Peel made the I went down to the canteen and ate my usual thoughts went back fifteen years to the JWOC are capable of getting a good result on that one being way better than the other. But if you maybe this was not the World Champs after all. occasion even better. breakfast of natural yoghurt, with porridge oats relay in Denmark. Jon Duncan had surprisingly day. After that it is a case of staying calm and want to do well at an elite level, then you do It just did not seem real – how could we have mixed with a little muesli and fruit. I always taken the lead on the first leg. I had felt so applying all the techniques in a high pressure need to have a very good running capacity. This won something that was almost impossible to Jon: I suspect that it is. I still have an ambition have a cup of coffee too. Sometimes more nervous and sick when I imagined the pressure situation. is too often neglected and these athletes have do? I didn’t eat for several hours after the race to do a great race in the long distance in than one during the morning, if the race starts of going out first that I had to lie down in a quiet no chance to make a top 10 in an international. with adrenaline replacing appetite. When I was (2010). But winning as a team is a later – coffee is a bad habit I have picked up corner. But now I was ready for it. Jamie: Don’t give up – you never know what ready to eat the food was all gone so we had to very special feeling as you can share the joy and from years of teaching! I also took a banana can happen. Can you each give some tips for wait until dinner time. excitement. Especially winning with Jamie – we and bread roll with honey to eat later, as I was Thierry caught up quite early on the course, 11 juniors running in relay races? have been running international relays for GB running several hours after breakfast. I usually but I felt calm and was not under pressure Jon: I have always performed better in relays I didn’t sleep that night – in fact for the next since 1992. This was the end of a long journey, eat about 3 hours before I run. physically. When we took the big climb to than in individual races. I am a frustrated team Graham: 1st leg - Stay calm and pace yourself. three nights – due to all of the thoughts rushing and I don’t see how I could ever feel happier in number 8, I felt light and had no trouble running player in an individual sport, so I am able to do Don’t try and win it on the first few controls. All through my head! sport. Jon: I had my usual breakfast in the canteen behind Thierry and later pushing a few metres better in a relay. I think that this is because I you can do is lose the race on the first leg. Stay – muesli & bread/jam. I was not feeling nervous, ahead. I considered my tactics and felt that I prefer a head to head battle, then I focus more in control, use the others around you but don’t but I was wondering why I am doing this. I might be able to beat him in a long sprint or a and challenge to be in the lead. I have done this be tempted to follow blindly. I don’t like to front Photo by Soren Andersson know it is about to be a stressful day – it is my big climb at the end of the course. We had met for many years now, so I am confident in a relay run, I prefer to run behind the leaders and use choice to put myself through this. Why did I in the relay last year and there he had a physical that I can perform at my best and deliver for the them as much as possible, and use them to set choose this? edge on me. But not today! team. the pace.

Can you remember how you felt just We’re always being told we must What can the Great Britain team Jamie: It is extremely important to run your 2 before the race? Were you calmer 4 learn from our mistakes, but what 7 learn from your success? own race. Focus on finding your own controls or more nervous than usual? about our wins? Can you identify and taking the best route choice every time. anything in your preparation that Graham: That we are capable of taking on the When you go for the sprint, never look back. Graham: It is always strange to stand with so made the difference? best in the world and beating them. We have You need to have a plan that will take you all the many top athletes on the start line of a relay, but a team that has strength in depth and a lot of way to the finish. I have been running 1st leg for a couple of years Graham: We all knew what was expected – we potential. against the best, and I knew that I was capable have been training for our specific roles in the Jon: When you get in a head to head situation of coming back in touching distance with a team for some years. I think that is a really big Jon: We can learn that we are good enough – try to win! Push really hard and see what good race. factor and we could focus entirely on what was to be the best in the world. We should take happens. If you make a mistake, analyse it and required. Running a lot of high pressure first confidence that the way we prepare is as good work out why you missed. Next time you can legs meant I really had the confidence in my as other teams. get it right. Don’t be satisfied unless you have own ability. raced the course 100%.

14 Orienteering Focus - Autumn 2008 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) WORLD CLASS WORLD CLASS Photo by Digisport 2008 EUROPEAN END OF AN ERA CHAMPIONSHIPS The recent announcement of Dave Peel’s LATVIA resignation as Head Coach The highlight of the European Champs ‘This is a fantastic result for Scott, came on day one when Scott Fraser qualifying for his first final and racing to British took 4th place in the Sprint final and a against the best in the world made Orienteering’s place on the podium! it possible for him to show his full Senior Squad signals the end of potential’ an era. After 21 years, WOC 2008 Scott was in second place until he marked the end of a significant made a small error half way round but Jamie Stevenson and Sarah Rollins personal involvement by Dave he then put in a great performance also had top twenty results with Jamie with the British Senior Team and to pull himself back up to 4th place in 17th place just 28 seconds off Scott. on the last section of the course. He Sarah Rollins finished in 14th place just its last 14 World Championship finished just two seconds behind the under a minute off Gold medalist Anne campaigns. Bronze medal winner Andrey Khramov Margrette Hausken of Norway. World Champs Success By Dave Peel of Russia. In 1987 as a first year senior Dave didn’t make the WOC team but Few will remember the 2008 World Champs for For the men to be in with a chance of a medal we Scott said after the race: ‘I did nothing anything other than when we won our first Relay knew that Graham and Jon had to put Jamie in special today but I just got it right. I two years later he was on his way Gold Medal and why not? A fantastic achievement a position where he was on the shoulder of the to Sweden to make the first of four am a surprised but over the moon with and worthy of much praise and celebration but we leaders starting last leg. Well they certainly did the result, it is a very exciting day’. WOC appearances. Dave’s career were so close to many other medal performances. that! Graham producing his best relay run to date as an international athlete lasted cruising round to come in fourth and then Jon, Dave Peel, Lead Coach was very until 2001 and included appearing The week started well with good qualifiers but we who put in one of his famed relay performances, impressed with Scott’s performance, in numerous World Cup and other were just not translating this into the results that we stormed into the lead and give Jamie a valuable 24 international events, producing wanted in the finals. Too many small errors were seconds lead - but as he headed off into the forest costing us dearly. In the Long Jamie slipping from it was far from job done. Gold Emil Wingstadt SWE 13.11 many fine results along the way. 4th to 10th, Scott from 13th to 21st. In the Middle Silver Daniel Hubmann SUI 13.25 Following his appearance at WOC Jon Duncan from 10th to 22nd. Sarah Rollins’ set Just imagine being in his shoes as you run out Bronze Andrey Khramov RUS 13.35 2001 in Finland, he decided he of results: Sprint 13th, Middle 19th, Long 16th knowing that multiple World Champion Thierry had reached the end of the road - great results but ask Sarah about her WOC and Gueorgiou (FRA), WOC medal machine & World 4th Scott Fraser GBR 13.37 as an international athlete and she is frustrated, she was after top 10’s. It is worth Champion Daniel Hubmann (SUI) and World Relay announced his decision to retire. noting that these are great results and in times Champion Valentine Novikov (RUS) are hot on gone by would be the headlines for a British Team, your heels, not to mention the CZE, SWE, FIN & but we knew we could do better. NOR teams. Orienteering has changed so much Long Final By 2003 and the next WOC in in recent years and now you are not alone in the Oli Johnson and Sarah Rollins both produced strong runs to finish in Switzerland Dave had moved into So what were we doing wrong? Well, very little, but forest, with GPS tracking, TV and Radio controls 17th and 19th place respectively. This was Oli’s highest position ever a coaching role and had been we were just a fraction off our best and a fraction there isn’t a minute goes by when you can’t tell in a major championship and Sarah produced her best position at a appointed Head Coach, a role he is too much in modern sport. Competition is tough what is happening in the forest. And as we all European Championships. was to hold through the next six and there are many more nations with runners know it was Jamie, whose mental and physical WOCs. During this time British capable of pushing into the top 10 and towards the strength were the strongest, who came home to Oli was really pleased with his performance, “Today’s terrain was a Orienteering doubled its tally of medals. victory. A fantastic team performance and a team physical and technical challenge with detailed sand dunes divided by bushy wet marshes. It was a fantastic race, l only made a few small WOC medals and enjoyed what that encompasses far more than the men on the So to relay day and our last chance of glory. It podium. mistakes which was enough for a personal best result in a major could arguably be described would be easy for people to be saying after the championship. I am very happy!” as its most successful period in individuals that we have to try harder, do things For me it was my last WOC and my last WOC international competition. differently but we all believed that our best was race as coach and what a way to finish. Sport is Sarah adds, “I am really pleased with my run. I had one small mistake good enough, we had the right approach and we fantastic, with the highs and lows and all the hard but l ran strongly especially in the second half. It was amazing terrain with The Men’s Gold medal had to keep focussing on that. As coach there work, but the rewards are worth every effort. What very special marshes (very wet, bushy and generally not very pleasant)!” performance at this year’s WOC were many thoughts playing on my mind. Was has amazed me most about it all is the number of Dmitriy Tsvetkov (RUS) and Anne Hausken (NOR) won the Gold Medals. was a fitting climax to Dave’s it the right running order or even the right team congratulation messages that I have received from - as many people had been asking? I knew that I all over the world. This was a very popular victory involvement with the British Middle Final believed in them and that they could all perform so and one that we can all share in. Sarah Rollins and Jamie Stevenson once again produced consistent team and the perfect reward for no time for doubting. results, both finishing in 20th place. Mhairi Mackenzie also showed an the hours of effort that he has encouraging performance to finish in 28th place and is definitely one to expended on behalf of British 2008 Great Britain Team Results watch for the future. The event was won by of Finland and Orienteering over the last 21 2008 Targets Achieved Thierry Gueorgiou of France. years. As he embarks on another 2 Medals at WOC or EOC 1 medal significant ‘project’ in his life, 3 top 10 positions at WOC or EOC  Top 10’s Relay Event The last day of the Championships proved to be as exciting as the first one that will no doubt occupy Position Athlete(s) Event for Team GB! Sarah Rollins (GB) came back in 1st place in the women’s him for even longer, we wish him GOLD Graham Gristwood, Jon Duncan and Jamie Stevenson World Champs Relay relay and Graham Gristwood (GB) came back in 5th within a minute of and Jenny well and hope that SILVER the leaders. orienteering continues to benefit BRONZE from their significant contributions 4 Scott Fraser European Champs Sprint Fast and tricky courses made for exciting racing with lots of position in other areas. 5 changes throughout the race; however it was the stronger nations that 6 took the final positions. Team GB men just missed out on a podium place Dave Harrison 7 Graham Gristwood, Oli Johnson and Jamie Stevenson European Champs Relay in 7th and team GB women finished in 15th position (and 11th nation). International Committee 8 Russia ran a very strong race to take the Gold in the men’s event with Chairman 9 Sweden winning the women’s Gold medals. 10 Jamie Stevenson World Champs Long

16 Orienteering Focus - Autumn 2008 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 17 WORLD CLASS WORLD CLASS

The week started with a couple of days we claimed our spot in the corner of a tent WORLD MASTERS checking out forests at a training day and - hung up the flag and started the long wait. The World Masters took place in Portugal and the model event (where the start/finish The next bus brought more team members procedures are also on display). Some of and an unwelcome message - Scott had attracted 3546 competitors from 39 countries, World University the team also took the chance to run a woken with a sore throat and had decided 232 competitors travelling from Britain to short course on the EOC sprint race map not to race - a blow to our chances of top compete for masters titles in a sprint and long in central Tartu. This was nothing like the success as Scott was the highest ranked distance event. WUOC sprint area, but was a chance to get male team member. The rest of the team Orienteering used to the symbols and map scale etc. were in good spirits and after the last had The Sprint race took place in the streets of started, I walked the 500m up the road Praia da Vieira and the courses twisted their Wednesday was the first day of racing to the finish area. Here there was mixed way through the intricate streets and alleys with the sprint event. A 10 minute bus news - but Helen Palmer was second of Championships ride across town to a small grassy area in the finishers - though she protested she of the seaside resort and the nearby forested Report & photos by Jon Musgrave a slightly tatty run down suburb of Tartu had missed too much for a top result. As and open sand dunes. Great Britain won an was the warm-up and pre-start area. The later starters came and went - her position amazing three gold medals with Elizabeth 7 minute call up allowed the competitors looked better. Mhairi finished 6 seconds Brown (W90), Liz Godfree (W60) and James This years Championships to run from our quiet area to a start in the faster than Helen and eventually they Crawford (M50) all claiming top honours. were held in Tartu, Estonia finish arena (and what an arena it was finished 4th & 5th - great results in a high Silver medals were also won by Peter Gorvett with a soaring concrete roof and banks class field. The men did not finish so highly (M60), Sue Hands (W60) and Sarah Dunn and a team was selected of seats... shame there wasn’t a bigger placed - Oleg was the best placed at 30th (W40). crowd!). Being at the pre-start is a slightly - disappointed, but a good place in a tough that combined experienced Scott secured his first surreal experience, runners arrive on buses, field and race. athletes with some newcomers. international medal warm-up, have a few words, maybe a joke, then move onto the pre-start and Friday was the middle distance event, We thought this would give disappear. again south of Tartu. Here the routine was newcomers the opportunity much the same - early bus, runners coming Meanwhile the race is developing and at and going and finally getting to the finish to learn from the international the finish all sorts of dramas are on display, to catch up with the stories and the races experience, their team mates but at the pre-start there is quiet (no mobile and the results. Mhairi again had the best phones) and a sense of anticipation. Soon women’s result in 8th place. and hopefully, get inspired to the last of my team had started and I tried to grab a lift to the finish.... eventually the Saturday was relay day. In previous develop their own orienteering. organisers realised the official bus was championships the women’s team had late (the only bus problem all week) and finished 1st, 2nd & 1st... so there was a provided a couple of cars to ferry impatient record to defend and the men were going Gold - Liz Godfree. Silver - Pete team coaches to the finish. I arrived in time out to improve on the last result of 9th. Gorvett and Sue Hands to see the last two finishers.... and to be However it was not to be our day. The told by David Rosen that Scott had won competition was stronger than in many The Long race took place in the forest of a bronze medal - what a great feeling - a previous championships and runners in Pedrogao (“Culbin with attitude” according dream start to the week. A quick efficient both our teams made mistakes, resulting to Jon Musgrave) and saw more spectacular medal presentation ceremony and then, for in 7th place for the women and 11th for Scott a press conference while the rest of the men. A slightly deflating end to the successes for British runners. The intricate the team related and relived their own races championships, but no one can expect contours of the pine covered sand dunes - successes and errors. medals to come easily. proved to be a great leveller and runners Mhairi had the best result from outside Scandinavia appeared more of the womens team Thursday was the long event In a tough frequently amongst the medals than usual. technical forest south of Tartu. The pre- start area was a lovely little meadow next Two more Gold medals were won by British to an old farm with tents, toilets and a small competitors which, added to the three from (very small!) warm up area. I travelled out with the first GB starter - Lizzie Adams and the Sprint competition, made five in total. Both were in the women’s classes, at almost opposite ends of the age spectrum, with Elizabeth Brown (W90) winning a second Gold and Sarah Dunn (W40) improving on her Bronze medal from 2006 to come in two minutes clear of the rest of the strong field.

Peter Gorvett (M60) also won a second Silver medal as did Jon Musgrave (M45). Bronze “I would like to medals were won by Anne Donnell (W75), thank the athletes Inara Gipsle (W55) and Alice Bedwell (W45). An honourable mention goes to Mike Pearson and David and (M60) who came 4th in the largest class in the Miriam Rosen for competition. the really top class Britain finished with their best ever WMOC team spirit that was performance finishing fourth in the combined medals table with 13 medals won. Sweden evident during won 46, Finland won 25 and Norway won 16. the week.” The GB Team Report by David May Photo by Peter Guillaume

18 Orienteering Focus - Autumn 2008 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 19 DEVELOPMENT CLUBMARK LOST NEWS IN THE LABYRINTH The 26th and 27th English clubs The Garmin Ultrasprint in Millhouses to achieve Clubmark accreditation Park, Sheffield was a very high intensity are Potteries OC (POTOC) and orienteering race. Competitors ran around a variety of terrain including forest, Lakeland OC (LOC). parkland and a specially constructed labyrinth. The fastest runners had to POTOC is a small club which has worked hard be able to combine speed and agility to put in place a good calendar of informal with lightning-fast navigation skills. The local coaching and competition fixtures in north event attracted much spectator interest Staffordshire. Club coaches have been working as orienteers whizzed around the park, with local schools and school orienteers are crashed through the river and disappeared into bushes. POTOC

now taking part in POTOC’s PICTURED ABOVE: Haines of Airienteers took the junior and up with a trip to the Yorkshire Schools Champs local events. This small club Development Committee Chair and Board veteran prizes. GB Orienteer John Rocke the following day for their first ‘real’ orienteering has four active, licensed member, Ed Nicholas presents the Clubmark said after his race: “The final was epic, I event. The sunshine on Sunday encouraged coaches, which is more than certificate to the development group of POTOC found it hard to keep a cool head when all approximately a thousand kids and their parents some much larger clubs at the Brown Clee National Event about you are losing theirs. It was great to have a go. – congratulations. fun and great training, really good practice In comparison, LOC is a large club in southern for keeping good flow and looking ahead.” PICTURED LEFT: Cumbria with the resources to employ their Oli Johnson explains how to Henry Morgan, Chair own schools’ development officer this year to construct the Labyrinth of West Midlands work with primary schools in the area. Club Martin Ward introduces Orientation Association volunteers have staged a series of after-school ‘The Labyrinth was constructed using 2.5 children to orienteering presents the Clubmark competitions and introductory ‘family days’ metre crowd control barriers borrowed certificate to Tony Callow and with ten newly trained Level 2 coaches the from Sheffield City Council free of charge. and Mike Price of Wrekin club has welcomed new members from the Setting up the Labyrinth is made easier if Orienteers community. The course was complex with butterfly loops in it is mapped using as many straight lines the parkland, woodland and labyrinth to split the as possible in order to create a grid like runners and 46 controls in 2.3km. Matt Crane pattern. If the metal crowd control barriers of South Yorkshire Orienteers was the winner aren’t available or practical other pedestrian and took away the £150 top prize generously control barriers (e.g. the ones used in airport donated by Garmin. Sheffield students Dave queues) and mesh fences can be used as Schorah and John Rocke finished 2nd and3 rd Winners Alice Leake and Matt Crane an alternative. The event is simplified by AWARD FOR SERVICES TO SCHOOLS ORIENTEERING respectively with SYOs Ricky Baxter and Robin having a dot in the centre of each circle to Tett scooping the top vet and junior prizes. In show exactly where the control will be (see It has long been realised that there are many people who devote many hours the womens race EBOR junior Alice Leake held After the event South Yorkshire Orienteers used map), and this eliminates the need for control for the benefit of schools orienteering. Until recently they have only had limited her nerve well to pip South Yorkshire runner the labyrinth to introduce families to the sport descriptions’ For further information please Kim Buckley to the victory with Mhairead Rocke in a very exciting fashion. Some followed this contact Oli. recognition. However, the British Schools Orienteering Association and British in 3rd. Mother and daughter Chloe and Sarah Orienteering decided to introduce an award, “The BSOA Awards”. These awards DEVELOPMENT acknowledge the contribution that these people make.

South Yorkshire Orienteers – The award has two levels: BSOA Membership Fees for 2009 • Services to Schools Orienteering • Outstanding Services to Schools Orienteering. Due to an increase in costs the BSOA has had to increase its A Community Club membership rates for 2009. At the BSOA’s AGM held in May 2008 There is no restriction on who can be nominated. Nominees increases were approved as follows: The Ultrasprint was just one event which SYO has staged this summer could be a teacher, a parent, a club member, or anyone who has to show how much they regard themselves as a ‘community club’. helped with this work. Nominations can be made by anyone, and should include a statement as to why they should be considered. School/College roll under 200 £8.00 (£1.00 increase) In August the club put on an introductory score event Nominations are considered every six months (in February and School/College roll 200 to 599 £12.00 (£1.00 increase) in Endcliffe Park as part of the annual British Transplant August). School/College roll 600 and over £17.00 (£2.00 increase) Games, one of the biggest annual multi-sports events in the UK. All the athletes have experienced life threatening Please send nominations to [email protected] or BSOA Awards illness and are now fit and well as a result of a successful Secretary c/o 21 Blacklow Brow, Huyton, Liverpool L36 5XE Outdoor Education Centres and Associate Members - Fees unchanged. transplant. Some participants came to win medals, training before the end of January or July. well in advance of the event and with the dream of being chosen to represent the UK at the World Transplant Games A committee of representatives from both British Orienteering For Schools and Colleges joining before 31st December 2008 the in Australia in 2009. However many participants came to and BSOA will make the decision as to who receives the award membership is at the old rate and membership would continue through to renew old friendships, participate in sporting events at their and at what level. the 31st December 2009. own pace and enjoy a few days of fun. One parent said: ‘I Please consider if there is anyone you feel is worthy of an award thought we were coming out for a stroll in the park but we Peter Bylett, and make a nomination. had to run! It was good fun!’ SYO Chair, Melinda Riley, receives BSOA Chairman the Clubmark Certificate at a Sport A competitor at the Transplant Games Email: [email protected] Hilary Palmer, Development Manager England conference

20 Orienteering Focus - Autumn 2008 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 21 Issue 7 - Autumn 2008

FOR JUNIOR ORIENTEERS

Inside this Issue: Junior World Champs Junior Inter Regional Champs Lagganlia Summer Training Camp

More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3)

www.britishorienteering.org.uk/ozone Winners on Day 2 - Relays

Junior Men 1st SOA Junior Inter Regional Jamie Stevenson, Craig Thomson, Alasdair McLeod 2nd NWOA Championships By Alex Lines (South East Junior Squad) M14 Matthew Vokes, Christopher Owens, Thomas Beasant 3rd WOA Ben Mitchell, Ciaran Allen,

As well as being some of the most hotly contested team Junior Women 1st NWOA competitions of the summer, the annual Junior Inter Scotlands Alasdair Mcleod overhauls Thomas Beasant Katrin Harding, Zoe Harding, Charlotte Watson Regional Championships (JIRCs) are also a social highlight to win the relay by just two seconds 2nd YHOA Charlotte Ward, Florence Haines, Alice Leake Alex Lines Day 1 – Individual Races at for many of Britain’s top orienteering juniors. Prize-giving for day 1 took place in the school hall 3rd SOA Feldom Ranges and included awards for the three people that had Joanna Shepherd, Katrina McLeod, Jessica Orr The first day’s competition was run on Feldom attended all of the six JIRCs since they were M/ Ranges, just outside Richmond. The terrain was fast W14’s at Cannock Chase in 2003. Alasdair McLeod, Overall Results open moorland with the odd patch of woodland. I Robbie Unsworth and Matthew Wallace each Top 3 Regions after Day 2 ran early, took it carefully, and was able to get round received a ‘Six and Out!’ commemorative T-Shirt. 1st NWOA OK. The area was pretty much deserted save for a This year’s event took place in late June and was centred on Richmond 2nd SOA herd of 80 cattle that would stampede across the in North Yorkshire. The format is an individual race on the Saturday and a Day 2 – Relay Races at 3rd YHOA relay on the Sunday. A complete team comprises two runners in each of area at will. It was a little bit disconcerting, but it didn’t seem to affect anyone’s race. The general Warcop the six classes M/W14, M/W16 and M/W18. After finishing my own race I discovered that our feeling was that the courses were not too technical, After dragging ourselves out of bed for an early final runner was injured. I was disappointed for and tended to suit the faster runners. I did have a After the event, the long drive home for the SE Junior Squad (SEJS) gave breakfast, we headed west to the North Pennines Charles, but it had still been fun. Oh well, that’s real sense of achievement though on completing my ample time for 13 year old Alexander Lines to reflect on his first JIRCs. and Warcop army training area. The terrain was a orienteering! The races were over but the fun was run without any major mistakes. There was a good He reports from the back seats of the SE Junior Minibus... mix of runnable open moor and fields, and variable not. After the prize giving, Nick and I decided to run atmosphere at the run-in with commentary by Chris woodland areas, some quite rough under foot. back to the Minibus for a bit more banter with the Poole. ‘Sometimes when I’m wading up to my knees in a bog, I girls. We locked all the doors, pretended to be asleep envy my friends who run cross-country or even just track As we made our way to assembly I started to feel again and waited. events. The JIRCs however changed all that – this was my The winner on Day 1 was the North West under pressure. The relay order was M/W16, 14, squad, just a few points ahead of Scotland. best weekend of orienteering ever! and then 18. This meant that I was in a mass start My first experience of the JIRCS was exciting and with people three years older than me. I didn’t want well worth going. I would definitely recommend it Winners on Day 1 – Individual Races Beforehand I was nervous about being asked to run up a to completely lose the main pack, or it could all go to any other junior orienteers who gets the chance. M14 Thomas Louth (EAOA) class and the longer distances that would involve. However, very wrong for the team that also included Nick As a fan of orienteering videos on YouTube, it was W14 Zoe Harding (NWOA) time off school on the Friday for ‘An Approved Sporting Jarvis running M14 and Charles McMillan M18. As great to see the Northern Ireland Squad JIRCs 2008 M16 Jamie Stevenson (SOA) Fixture’ was almost too good to be true. I stepped into the start area, I went and stood at video which captures all of the atmosphere and W16 Aine McCann (NIOA) the back of the crowd of M16s. There was no way excitement – just type ‘JIRCs 2008’ at the YouTube M18 Kristian Jones (WOA) The SEJS minibus left Brighton at 1pm and we travelled around the M25 I wanted to be at the front and do the serious map website. picking up squad members at each junction. The most excited people W18 Charlotte Watson (NWOA) reading in the first 100m. As the air-horn sounded on the bus were the W14/16’s and they kept us amused on the long there was a mad rush forward and the race was I will never forget the experience of my first JIRCs; Top 3 Regions after Day 1 trip north. The first stop was at IKEA in Nottingham for tea. Somewhere under way. By the second control I realised that the not just the orienteering, but all the fun in between. between ‘Kitchens’ and ‘Beds’, Nick Jarvis (SO) and I managed to get 1st NWOA majority of people were ahead of me and I could lost for a short while – not a great start to a weekend of orienteering! 2nd SOA see the leading runners were now miles ahead. However, one bonus was that I did manage to buy a pillow for 39p since 3rd YHOA However, I wasn’t completely on my own so I didn’t I realised that I’d forgotten mine! despair. Just before the last finishers, Nick and I made it our The overnight stop was on the floor of a scout hut. My own scout hut in number one priority to run back to the club minibus As I ran through the spectator control, I found I Hove was an old garage, so this modern brick-built hall with kitchen and and jump in, lock all the doors, and pretend to be was really struggling with the rough under foot shower all seemed a bit too luxurious. It was an easy night’s sleep with asleep. Our victims were un-amused W14/16s combination of ditches and brashings. The rest just the beeping of an alarm system to alert us whenever anybody went standing out in the wind and cold for some minutes. of my team were cheering me on, and I had to do off to the loo. This had of course been planned at length before everything I could to avoid tripping over in this our races to get the girls back for six hours of non- difficult part of the course. After handing over to Nick stop laughing and shrieking in the minibus the day for the second relay leg I had to acknowledge that before. this hadn’t been my fastest race, but at least I had a smooth run and had not come in last. The overall winning North West Squad Once we’d eventually got everyone back in the bus we headed to Richmond’s swimming pool. It was then time to join the team at the spectator The organiser’s had booked three sessions for the control and cheer on the rest of the SEJS. The junior exclusive use of the regional squads and it proved men’s race was being led by Thomas Beasant very popular with the pool full of orienteers for (NWOA) and an exciting finish saw Alasdair McLeod several hours. (SOA) come through for a sprint finish to win by just two seconds. The lead in the junior women’s race The event centre and overnight accommodation changed hands several times. Charlotte Ward (YHOA) was provided by Richmond Lower School. The had an excellent first leg, then Lucy Butt (SWOA) grounds were great, with loads of space for games was first to the changeover at the end of the second of football, frisbee and cricket. Out of a gate at leg. Charlotte Watson probably had the best run of the bottom of the grounds was a footpath that the day - more than two and a half minutes quicker followed the river and we had a walk to the castle than the rest of the field to bring victory to the North that overlooks the town. However, I think the main West by a sizeable margin. attraction of the town for most people was the Pizza shop. Charlotte Watson brought home NWOA in 1st place 02 Ozone Issue 7 - Autumn 2008 03 International School Sport Federation Orienteering Championships 2009 Junior World Champs by Matt Halliday The next championships in 2009 will take place in Madrid, Spain. The event will take place from the 14th – 20th April 2009. For Scotland and Ireland Team selection please check with your own School Association or contact your Orienteering Association. If you The Junior World Orienteering Championships were held in Gothenburg this year, and with would like to try for a place in the England team the selection criteria is below: the tough Scandinavian terrain typical of the Gothenburg area, the Nordic nations were General Select Teams looking to dominate the top positions. A 12 strong team of British athletes were present 1. A maximum of 8 teams will be selected: School and Select teams in 1. A Select team can only be selected if a school team is selected for the at the championships, and although there were some very experienced members to the each of 4 categories: Older Boys, Older Girls, Younger Boys and Younger ISF World Schools Championships. Girls. There are a maximum of 5 places in each team. 2. All team members must be from schools which are BSOA member team, it was a young one, with only three athletes unable to compete next year. 2. For the Older categories, students must have been born in 1992 or 1993, schools on the closing date for BSOC / SQE, and at the time of the ISF i.e. be M/W16s at the time of the qualifying events. For the Younger World Schools Championships. categories, students must be born in 1994 or 1995, i.e. be M/W14s at 3. Selection for select teams will be based on the 2 qualifying races, due The week kicked off with an exciting opening competition the time of the qualifying events. to the fact that all pupils are competing on the same course in the SQE, in the shape of the sprint race. With a mix of urban and 3. Selection will be based on two events: the British Schools Orienteering performance in this will take priority over BSOC for selection. Other forested terrain, it proved tricky for even the best in the Championships (BSOC), and a Special Qualification Event (SQE), to be form may be considered, but will only be used where selectors feel world, with some of the big names losing time. A very held the day before the BSOC. unable to make a decision based on the qualifying races. If so, only the young and obviously talented Danish girl took the girls title, 4. Whilst the BSOC will be run in school years (as usual), the Day 1 Special Aire regional event on 14th September and the Regional event on 2nd while the men’s went to Stephan Kodeda of the Czech Republic. The British highlight of Qualification Event will be run in the appropriate classes, i.e. M16, November in the New Forest will be used. the day was a 42nd place from Rhodri Buffet, although he was disappointed as at almost W16, M14 and W14. Students participating must be the correct age for 4. Priority for selection will be given to students from schools that enter a the halfway point he was in 5th position. In the evening was the opening ceremony, and that category. In particular, students must not run up (M/W12s are not complete team or teams (age class or whole school) at the BSOC. These I’m sure many of the athletes would tell you that the free access to Liseberg theme park eligible to compete). teams need not be in the category in which the individual is trying for was probably the highlight. Apart from all the usual formalities, the ceremony also included 5. The BSOA is affiliated to the International School Sport Federation selection. Priority means that 3 places in each selected team will be a Swedish rock band, containing a previous JWOC champion, Håkan Peterson, who beat through the English body for schools’ sport, the National Council for given to competitors whose school has entered at least one age group Thierry Giorgieu in 1998. School Sport. Regretfully, selection for the English Select teams must be team in the BSOC. (This need not be the same age group, or gender restricted to children with English nationality. as the competitor seeking selection). In cases where the selectors are Two days later was the middle qualification and after a rest day, all the British athletes were The ISF Special Rules for Competition state: unable to differentiate between competitors using this criterion, then the looking to improve on their previous day’s performance and qualify for the A final. This was • School Teams (only pupils from one school, pupils of foreign results from the Aire regional event (14th Sept 2008) and the November perhaps the tensest morning, as everyone knew they were capable of securing a place in nationality may compete, provided that they are regularly attending Classic (2nd November 2008) will be consulted. The selectors reserve the final with a solid run. The end of the day showed a mixed bag of feelings, with three this school) the right to ask to see proof that any team member has completed the disappointed boys but a record for the girls, with five into the A final after a disqualification • Selected Teams (all participants must have the nationality of the necessary 3 local events at the appropriate level prior to BSOC. allowed Julia Blomquist into 20th place. This set the team up for some good overall results country they represent) in the middle final, and even before the A finalists came through, Victoria Stevens had 6. All schools wishing to be considered for School team selection and Please note that this is not a British Orienteering team and funding is the got the Brits cheering with a winning run in the B final, along with a 6th place from Ralph individuals for Select teams must compete in both qualifying events. If responsibility of the schools or the individual team members. Many have Street. This meant that, after a disqualification in the women’s A final, that all 6 girls finished a pupil is unable to compete in one or both, the selectors (admin) must been able to obtain help to meet the costs in the past. in the top 60 runners, the best coming from Alice Butt in 37th. In the boys Hector Haines receive a written explanation by Friday 14th November, otherwise the was the top finisher in 27th after a solid performance. Winner in the women’s class was individual concerned cannot be considered. If a competitor becomes All areas for the competition weekend are now out of bounds, except during Venla Niemi of Finland, and in the men’s Johan Runesson of Sweden. unable to compete for a genuine reason during the weekend, the the SQE & BSOC. selectors must be informed before Wednesday 19th November. So there were mixed feelings in the GB camp after the middle races, but a rest day and The selectors are Pauline Olivant (Admin) Ben Chesters and Carol picnic/swim/sunbathe with the team support group (which came to be called the Tullidays Farrington. The team will be announced on the BSOA web site on Tuesday School Teams 25th November. plus one with the Tullie family, Halliday family and Simon Errington making up that all 1. All schools must be BSOA members on the final closing date for important part of the British line up!) meant that everyone was ready and determined to entries to BSOC/SQE and at the time of the International School Sports face what we knew would be the hardest challenge of the week, the long distance. Partille, Federation Schools Championship. the long distance area, lived up to our expectations with some technical and immensely 2. Selection for school teams will be based on the BSOC/SQE events, due School Championships physical terrain really testing the mental and physical strength of everyone in the field. The to the fact that all pupils are competing on the same course in the SQE, men’s race was an incredibly close event, with the top five finishers all within 18 seconds performance in this will take priority over BSOC for selection. British Schools Score Championships and just 6 seconds between 2nd and 5th. Johan Runesson once again took the gold, 3. School teams wishing to be considered for selection must compete in Saturday 11th October repeating ’ feat of last year. A great performance by Hector Haines put him in both events. Sherwood Pines, Nottinghamshire. 16th place, one of the highest ever placings of a British male in the long distance race, and 4. Once a school is selected for a ‘School’ place, the selection of its team Julia Blomquist led the way for the girls in 41st. members will be at the discretion of the school concerned. British School Orienteering Championships Hopes were high for the British relay teams and there was a very positive outlook from all (Training Day and Selection for ISF World Schools) the runners. However, the 1st leg did not go as planned, with Rhodri Buffet beating in Doug Saturday 15th November Tullie from the 1st team, and the girls teams down in 24th and 34th. On the middle leg, Frith Hill, Frimley, Surrey. Ralph Street ran well for the 2nd team, keeping them up in contention and finishing with a group containing the Czech, Danish and Russian 1st teams. Alice Butt ran well to bring British School Orienteering Championships the girls 1st team up into 21st place. The last leg saw Matthew Halliday hold on to finish Sunday 16th November 9th nation, Hector Haines pulling to less than 3 minutes behind. Hollie Orr finished well for Hawley and Hornley, Nr Farnborough, Hampshire the girls 1st team bringing them in to finish as the 10th nation. Winning both relays were Sweden, completing a hat-trick of gold medals for Johan Runesson. So after another tough Entry Forms: Please visit www.bsoa.org race, all that was left for the team was to wind down and enjoy the banquet. The week of JWOC had been a fantastic experience for all of the team, with individual successes and disappointments. However, with a team that contained two athletes with three more years, three athletes with two more years and three athletes with another year, as well as many athletes pushing close to being in the team, the prospects are looking good for Italy 2009, where the squad travelled to in August to train in next year’s terrain. Matt in action

04 Ozone Issue 7 - Autumn 2008 05 LAGGANLIA 2008 Coaching at Lagganlia by Zoe Harding and Tamsin Moran by Keith Marsden The British Orienteering training camp at Lagganlia You may have heard people chatting about lagganlia, and thought, ‘what’s that?’ It almost Outdoor Education Centre is aimed at top year M/W14’s. It is the first step on the ladder of coaching organised sounds Scandinavian, but Lagganlia is the venue of the first British Orienteering junior by British Orienteering for aspiring Juniors and is held in training camp, a Scottish outdoor centre just south of Aviemore. You stay for a week an area of the country offering a wide variety of easily learning new skills and refining your technique. Places on this tour mainly go to accessible terrains. second year M/W14’s but some go to first year M/W16’s who may have missed The key aim of the camp is to instil into attendees the out the previous year. Twenty four juniors from all around the UK are selected need for good planning on each and every orienteering leg that they tackle. The course does this by teaching a wide based on regional squad nominations and performances at specified variety of techniques and skills which the orienteer can selection races earlier in the year such as the JK & BOC. use in the right place at the right time in order to enable them to satisfactorily complete a course.

During the week we trained in the northern area of Inshriach. Amongst the techniques and skills being on some lovely areas around I found this area easier than all taught and practised are: Speyside which provide some the places so far because I had - Use of Compass - Fine and rough compass work, of the best orienteering terrain. begun to get used to ensuring that the junior can accurately follow a With intricate contour detail and the terrain, contours compass bearing. There is also the opportunity to try very few line features, it was and lack of paths. In different types of compass; thumb or protractor. quite a challenge. The coaches the afternoon we had - Selection and use of Attack Points - Ranging from were great and we did exercises a mass start gaffled simple path junctions to use of more complex contour that really taught us the new race on Strathmashie, attack points. techniques and how to use them. in which everyone ran - Aiming Off - Appropriate use of aiming off techniques So as well as familiar exercises a different course. The on a wide variety of line features such as re-entrants, such as attack points and control course lengths varied terraces etc. picks, we did lots of new things from 2.6km to 2.8km. held on Achlean, with a number training gave us a great excuse - Traffic Lighting - Ensuring good speed control like simplification, controlets, Jack Benham won the of tricky legs. Jack Benham to eat lots of cake. through all phases of a leg. relocation and found our track/ boys race while in the was the boy’s winner, while - Simplification - Avoiding unnecessary map reading terrain ratio. girls race, Lucy Butt Lucy Butt again won the girls. We also had a rest afternoon by identifying only those things necessary for accurate and Florence Haines The long race was held the so we went to Loch Morlich navigation. Tamsin continues, following morning on Inshriach and had a swim. Then we went And then bringing them all together in a race situation. “For our first north. The race winners were to Badaguish for a barbecue exercise we were Rona Lindsay and Ciaran Allen. and the annual Lagganlia vs. All the in-forest activities are reinforced split into three Badaguish football match. groups of eight by classroom sessions such as: On the last afternoon, on Badaguish is the equivalent - Race Analysis - Through reporting and discussion and across the three Inshriach south, we had a final tour for first year M/W16’s held parts of Inshriach the use of tools such as Route Gadget fun relay where as well as the at the same time about ten - Race Preparation - Knowing what to expect before (beside the Lagganlia juniors taking part, the coaches miles away, many of whom had Centre) and my the race put two teams in as well! The been at Lagganlia last year. - Injury Prevention - Warm ups, stretching and group started in the first team back was one of the middle area. We strengthening key muscles and joints coaching teams (but they had Before I went I only knew a - Nutrition - What to eat and when began by doing a put the controls out!) and the few of the others attending, but star exercise, once second team back was my everyone was really nice and round the centre and team which included myself, we all got along really well. I in the woods, both Tom Louth and Ben Maliphant, gained so much from the week, using pacing and who had a very fast run on both in orienteering experience Charlie compass bearings. last leg. and lots of great friends. I had We then did a 100m an amazing time and would Compass Says

run counting our Zoe adds, “In the evenings love to go to Badaguish next Whenever you use a paces so that we knew we had were only metres apart on the we had sessions where we year. Compass Always it right. We then did a 1.2km line. After the race in baking heat looked at race analysis and timed run along a path and then all anyone wanted to do was have route gadget, learning how we Tamsin concludes, “I would Remember to: repeated this over terrain. The aim a water fight in the river! could coach ourselves. There like to thank all the coaches of the exercise was to find out were talks on nutrition, ankle who taught us new skills and - Hold the how much faster we are on paths On the following days we did strengthening and we learnt gave up their time to run the than over terrain. more training on map memory, how important it is to warm up course, as well as the other Compass Flat controlets (picking out big features and about dynamic stretching. people who came to cook In the afternoon we moved to on the way to controls), attack excellent food for us. It was a - Let the Needle Inshriach south where the ground points, traffic lighting, control Although it may sound like it great opportunity to make new was plastered in contours and it Settle picks (using the last control as was orienteering go-go-go, friends and I’m looking forward was tricky to relocate if you got an attack point), relocation and we had time to do our own to seeing everyone again at - Turn Yourself to lost. The coaches tested us with a aiming off. thing. There was football, table events in the future. Lagganlia line exercise and an attack point tennis and lots of room to relax. was amazing!” Face the Direction exercise which I personally found At the end of the week we had the The food was really good and quite challenging. tour championships. This included of Travel a middle and long distance race. Zoe Harding The next morning we were The middle distance race was challenged with a set of exercises 06 Ozone Issue 7 - Autumn 2008 07 Junior Profile: Hector Haines News Age: 19 Club: EUOC, AIRE, GMOK

Age started orienteering? Juniors 11 Do your parents Volunteer orienteer? Yes, my father has orienteered for about 40 at Nottinghamshire years, but the rest of the Youth Games family started in 2001. Why/where did you start orienteering? My father got us into orienteering and my first major event was the British Orienteering Champs in 2001, at Newborough Warren.

What do you enjoy about What is your orienteering? best result? The times when you’re in perfect flow I suppose my silver medal for the EYOC and in control of your race. relays is pretty special, but my best run Katie with the winning team internationally has been my 16th in the from Rushcliffe Do you have a coach? Long race at this years JWOC in Sweden, Yes, my father has coached me all the where I was five minutes off the gold NOC juniors completed the Young Leader Award (YLA) way. after 10.2km. last October with the East Midlands junior squad. The If so, how has this What advice would you YLA training involved learning various orienteering helped you? give to people wanting teaching skills and games and then putting it all into My dad monitors my training and tells me to get into the GB practice with some willing volunteers. when to ease off and not to do too much. This is a very important part of training. Squad? Be focused. Remember, the pressure is With our newfound skills, we were put to good use at the Nottinghamshire on the best people to win so if you are of Youth Games helping the teachers and pupils get ready for their Where is your a good fitness and have a clean run you orienteering courses. I saw this as the perfect way to give something back favourite place to can often get in amongst the best and to the club that supports me. orienteer? get noticed. Tricky, as there are great areas in all The youth games have been running since 1999, as a competition between parts of the world, but I think Scandinavia What do you enjoy the top primary schools in the districts of Nottinghamshire. Its main aim suits me most. Tough terrain and doing outside of is to encourage fair play and to keep children involved in sports. Hopefully navigation – my strength in the terrain these games will unlock hidden talent and encourage a new generation of has always been a great asset of mine. orienteering? children to take part in orienteering. Also, I think I am very mentally strong Fell racing, X-country and playing pool and Scandinavia has never overawed me. with Jack Wood. This year Rushcliffe district won the orienteering element of the games, with enthusiasm being shown by all the children and by the families that came to watch. Whoever said orienteering couldn’t be a spectator sport? What kind of training do you do? I would recommend other junior orienteers becoming Young Leaders as It varies. In the winter I do lots of long it is great fun and very rewarding. For further information ask your club runs, long intervals on a track and plenty coaches. of gym work, then in the spring my load drops off and I just keep the quality Katie Taylor (W18) sessions. Summer is mostly multi day events.

www.britishorienteering.org.uk/ozone Increasing Participation Project Overview Orienteering Notice Board Six months have passed since the selection of the five ‘Increasing Participation Project’ clubs. All the clubs have been working towards establishing a weekly base for orienteering activities in populated areas (‘Community O’) with the assistance of the Participation Manager – Steve Vernon.

‘Community O’ is about creating a programme Below is a list of the facilities selected by Helen Baxter and volunteers of frequent orienteering activity that is based the ‘Increasing Participation Clubs’: from Lagan Valley Orienteers in a single, local, accessible venue. It will New Level 2 Coaches trained and qualified organised a ‘try O’ score activity provide newcomers with an opportunity to Barrow and District Orienteering Club: learn orienteering skills in a non competitive Hawcoate Sports and Social Club * with development funding support at a National Trust Outdoor environment that is accessible to all and to build ‘Club Activity Guide’ that will be used to Club Activity Guide stepping stones through the sport. South Ribble Orienteering Club: Activity Family Day and over St Thomas School Ripley plan orienteering activities as well as group LOC (7 new coaches), HALO (4), runs, circuit training and team games. The 100 people took part. As previously mentioned in the The main challenge faced by the clubs has been Southdowns Orienteers: participation clubs all hope to have their weekly CLARO (1) summer edition of Focus the ‘Club finding a suitable and affordable location that Blatchington Mill School club sessions running from early September Activity Guide’ is now available to is close to a populated area. It was decided Southampton Orienteering Club: and it is hoped that the next addition of Focus clubs currently practicing localised that each club needed a facility that provided Wide Lane Sports Pavilion (Southampton can highlight some of their successes. (Community ‘O’) activities or aiming both indoor and outdoor areas for orienteering University) activities and if possible an area for people Coaching to start them. The guide has been Wessex Orienteering Club: to socialise before/during or after each club Southdowns, Southampton and Wessex have produced as a resource for clubs Bournemouth Sports Club night e.g. cafe or bar area to create a friendly all had members attending level 2 coaching Southdowns Orienteers have aiming to provide orienteering * Barrow Orienteers were already using this courses this summer to enable an adequate produced a 6ft x 2ft banner for atmosphere. activities and training exercises facility on a weekly basis before being selected number of coaches to be available for the club use at their Summer Park ‘O’ Facility options and possibilities were discussed for current club members and for the increasing participation project. nights. Volunteers obviously play an essential series. The banner was developed between club committees and the Participation part in ensuring the success of club nights newcomers to the sport of to help attract newcomers and Manager in order to make the best decision for Week nights from 6:30pm will be the time of therefore Barrow and District Orienteering orienteering. a club base. Local Council Sports Development choice for clubs to run their weekly session Club are planning to use sports students from has proved really useful. Email Officers were also contacted to help provide for 1hr to 2hrs with a variety of activities taking the local college to assist them in delivering [email protected] The guide contains over 30 indoor and options. place. All clubs have received copies of the new club activities. These sport and P.E. students for a copy Participants at a recent outdoor activities and a guide to setting regularly require volunteer hours in order to gain ‘come & try it’ event up Street-O. It is hoped that the guide some of their qualifications so volunteering for can be used to increase participation a local club is ideal. The British Orienteering within the sport. The guide provides Young Leaders Award and the new UKCC clubs with a selection of activities that are Level 1 Coaching Award in Orienteering provide more accessible to newcomers enabling an ideal starting point for these students to Barrow and District Orienteering Club have been orienteering skills to be learnt before they become club volunteers. progress to traditional orienteering events. provided with the use of a mini bus by Chetwynde The following clubs now have a copy the Publicity and Marketing ‘Club Activity Guide’: Publicising and Marketing the new weekly School in Barrow. A number of the schools pupils sessions has been a challenge for the clubs are members of the club and the mini bus has Southern Navigators have held a • Barrow and District Orienteering Club * particularly as they want to attract as many new now enabled them to travel to events outside of series of three ‘Try O’ sessions at • Dartford Orienteering Klubb members as possible without overwhelming the venues frequented by the general • Derwent Valley Orienteers coaches with too many people at the sessions. Barrow such as the Battle Axe series in Cumbria. • Eryri Orienteering Club Clubs plan to advertise the session to their public this summer. At the • Harlequins Orienteering Club current members and then start distributing Surrey Heath Show volunteers • Lincoln Orienteering Group flyers to local schools, leisure centres, helped over 50 people to ‘have a go’. • Mole Valley Orienteers universities and youth groups etc. A number of • Nottinghamshire Orienteering Club the clubs are also looking to organise a number • Saxons Orienteering Club of low key ‘Come and Try It’ events at their club The Cumbrian • Southampton Orienteering Club * bases to help attract people. An example of • Southern Navigators this is Wessex Orienteering Club that plans to clubs West • Southdowns Orienteers * run a few Saturday morning activity sessions Cumberland, • South Ribble Orienteering Club * before introducing newcomers and beginners Border Liners, • Swansea Bay Orienteering Club to the club activity night. The East Midland Orienteering Barrow and • Wessex Orienteering Club * Association has obtained funding Lakeland have all • West Cumberland Orienteering Club British Orienteering has developed a new online from Sports England’s Community flyer package that can be used by clubs to held after school Investment Fund to start hub clubs *’Increasing Participation Project’ Clubs. purchase flyers without having to worry about competitions in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. All of British Orienteering’s Regional the hassle of design work. There are a number through the Development Officers also have a copy of of templates to choose from complete with Derwent Valley Orienteers now have the guide. images and art work all that is required is for spring/summer at a Lead Coach in post for their hub clubs to input the text details they want to which over 1,000 club in Buxton, this Community ‘O’ Anyone that would like a copy of the include. The flyers will be sent out directly to different primary club plans to start in October and wherever the person wishes and the prices ‘Club Activity Guide’ should email the and secondary will take place on Tuesday nights include all postage and packaging. Details are Participation Manager - Steve Vernon available from Caroline Povey: pupils took part! from Buxton Community School. at [email protected] [email protected] explaining how your club would benefit or telephone 01629 734 042. from its use.

22 Orienteering Focus - Autumn 2008 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 23 How much do you know about 5. Out of every £1 raised from members and participants how much is spent on membership, communication, events, British Orienteering Finances? governance (AGM, Board, committees, groups), IOF affiliation Whole Sport PlanUPDATE a £0.50p b £0.60p c £0.70p d £0.80p e £0.90p Try the following questions that are based on By Mike Hamilton Using the Vision for Orienteering agreed last year How will we try to help our ‘focus’ clubs anticipated costs for 2008; actual figures will 6. How much of the income obtained from members and the information many of our clubs provided we develop? be available next year in the annual report and (membership and event levies) will be spent on the Development have been able to draft ideas about how orienteering • Promoting ‘local activities’ in population centres, (including coaching) and International programmes in 2008? should be trying to develop over the next few audited accounts. using weekly sessions based around a single a £5k b £10k c £15k d £20k e £25k years. We’ve been trying out some of these ideas venue that offers a social or café environment. with initiatives such as ‘Increasing Participation’ 1. What is the budgeted expenditure for 2008? • Supporting clubs to stage local events that are 7. British Orienteering will receive approximately £304k of led by Steve Vernon. We are now at the stage in simpler to organise and more frequent – meeting a £500k b £650k c £800k d £950k e £1,100k funding from UK Sport in 2008, how much of this is ‘ring fenced’? developing the plan where we want you to tell us members’ needs at a local level. a £130k b £165k c £200k d £235k e £270k if the main ideas in the plan are ok or if we need to • Developing volunteers at club level using 2. How much income are the membership scheme and event change them. home learning and apprenticeships/mentoring levies expected to raise in 2008? Answers schemes; we think this needs coordinating Why do we need a plan – Why can’t we a £100k b £200k c £300k d £400k e £500k 1. d. – The nearest answer is £950k. The budgeted expenditure for 2008 is £956k. within the club by a ‘Volunteer Coordinator’. continue as we are? 2. b. – Approximately £200k, we expect to raise £95k from membership, £90k Clubs overwhelmingly told us that finding and 3. What is the anticipated cost in 2008 of ‘servicing our members’ levies and another £15k from JK/BOC income. Firstly we can continue as we are! However the developing volunteers is the key ingredient which includes: administering the membership scheme on behalf 3. b. – Approximately £110k but there are other overheads such as the office, plan will help coordinate and prioritise the efforts of required for the sport to develop. of British Orienteering, associations and clubs; communicating finance and marketing support, not included in this. volunteers and staff and enable more effective use of • Establishing ‘link programmes’ with schools and with members (FOCUS, Mailings etc…); supporting events; 4. c. – The nearest answer is £30K. We expect to spend approximately £32k our resources. We need to change our focus, mainly higher education; focusing on quality rather than governance (AGM, Board, Committees, Groups); IOF affiliation? including insurance, Ordnance Survey license, etc due to the age profile of orienteering becoming quantity. This does not include office costs, finance and marketing support. 5. d. – Almost 80p, the remainder goes towards staff and office costs older – if we can’t make the sport attractive to • Providing quality coaching on a regular basis to a a £80k b £110k c £140k d £170k e £200k 6. a. – You may be surprised to know that only £5k is spent on the Development young people and keep them participating in the club ‘talent group’. sport, there may be a serious risk to the future programme and NO member’s money is currently spent on the International 4. What do we expect to spend on supporting events in 2008? programme! of orienteering in the UK. The conundrum is that These ideas came from clubs and members and This includes insurance, Ordnance Survey license, etc 7. d. – The nearest answer is £235k. We will receive £238k of funding from UK without more volunteers we struggle to increase we believe they are the focus areas that orienteering Sport in 2008 consisting of £142k on World Class, £76k on Developing UK participation and without increased participation needs to achieve its vision. The plan includes ideas a £10k b £20k c £30k d £40k e £50k Coaching Certificate, £20k on Coaching for Teachers there will be less opportunity to increase the number about how these programmes will be delivered but of volunteers! The plan tries to find a way through at this stage we are trying to make sure our ideas Hopefully this has given you some insight into the financing of British Orienteering this thorny issue. meet with general agreement. and, more importantly, how your money is spent. Members, as always, are the people that turn ideas Benefits to clubs that are not identified as ‘focus’ into actions. The programmes outlined below should clubs will include resources such as the ‘Club Activity provide the focus to coordinate our efforts. Guide’ produced by Steve Vernon. Members of Recognising the resources available to orienteering clubs not in the first batch of ‘Focus’ clubs will be Funds Available are limited, we believe it is realistic to work with a able to watch developments, assess the success small number of ‘focus’ clubs. This will probably be and then decide if they want to try to become a In June 2008, the Development Committee The funds are listed below: less than ten clubs for a couple of years. We will ‘Focus’ club at a later stage or just use some of the reformed under new terms of reference. In their • Bertie and Elsie Ward Fund - Supporting then choose to work with another batch of clubs ideas that are suitable for their club. first meeting they recommended modifications juniors directly whilst continuing to support the first batch, but at a to the Multi-Day Levy fund. The fund is made • British Orienteering Development Fund- lower level of support. This means we can focus our We believe these programmes are right for up of income from the levy paid by multi-day Supporting the sustained and overall resources and be more effective. It also means that orienteering and we will be working with our funding events. At present it comes from the organising development of orienteering. if your club wants to continue on its own path it can partners to see which aspects of our plan they are regions of events such as the Scottish Six- do so – no pressure from us! Interested clubs will be able and willing to support. Days, Lakes and Welsh Five Days. These Clubs or Associations are able to apply able to talk to national staff about becoming a ‘focus’ regions keep half of the event levies for their for these grants. Application forms club in the future. Future articles will focus on particular programmes in own development projects and the other half is can be found on the website or can ‘bite-size’ pieces, however if you are interested and paid to British Orienteering and is contributed be sent out by the National Office and British Orienteering is in the process of agreeing would like to look at the Whole Sport Plan, further to this fund. Historically, there had been limits must be accompanied by a copy of the the way forward across the funding regions and information can be obtained from the News – Major to which regions and clubs could apply for budget for the project, copies of any other inevitably the funding available to support the plan Topics page of the web site. funding. However the proposed changes were: grant applications and copies of the club/ may well come from different funding agencies. We association balance sheets. Applications are know that funding is already agreed in Northern An example of a successful ‘Community O’ project is the • The ‘Multi-Day Levy Fund’ should assessed twice throughout the year. For more Ireland and a Development Officer is in place and be renamed the ‘British Orienteering information, contact Laura Young by emailing we are currently negotiating with Sport England South Ribble Orienteering Club participation project Autumn Development Fund’. [email protected] or telephone regarding their support for the next four years. SOA 2007- Spring 2008: • The fund should be open to submission from the National Office. will be seeking support from Sport Scotland in the all clubs and associations without restriction. coming months against their agenda for increasing • Autumn 2007: Saturday afternoons • After 4 weeks over 50 new members • The application process should remain the Application Dates: participation and, unfortunately, we have not yet (12noon – 2pm) in Lancaster parks had signed up to join the club and same for this fund and for the Bertie and been able to agree funding with Sport Wales to and small woods in and around the British Orienteering Elsie Ward Fund. Application Deadline 1st January 2009 support our plan – but we will continue to try. UK city • The club gained 22 membership • School/club links projects and bids for Pre-assessment by 8th February Sport does not provide funds for such plans at • Awards 4 All and British Orienteering units as a direct result, representing volunteer training funding should be Assessment by 22nd February the moment as it is focusing almost exclusively on grant funding used for publicity, 60 actual people. removed from the grant application process Payment by 3rd March London 2012. However British Orienteering does equipment and new maps • Spring 2008: follow on series of as these form part of the development have access to other funds such as the multi day • Lots of local publicity in newspaper, sessions budget for England. Applications for these Application Deadline 1st August 2009 fund which will be used to support this plan. shops, library, large employers, • One of the new participants is now should be sought via the Development staff. Pre-assessment by 7th September hospital, university, schools etc on their way to qualifying as a Level Assessment by 21st September The ‘Vision for Orienteering’ is More People, • Series of ‘Try Orienteering’ sessions 2 Coach (May 2008) At the British Orienteering Board meeting on Payment by 1st October More Places, More Podiums –What does this with Young Leaders and coaches to • Autumn 2008: plans for weekly 17th June 2008, the proposed modifications to mean? welcome and help newcomers training at a fixed venue in Lancaster the fund were approved. Orienteering wants to get more people involved, give • Numbers of participants rose from 90 in week 1 to 182 in week 4 with them a great experience that motivates them to stay Therefore, British Orienteering now has two over 70% being newcomers involved and help participants achieve their potential distinct funds for the support of different areas in the sport. of orienteering.

24 Orienteering Focus - Autumn 2008 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 25 POCS POCS

“I wish I could get my grandson to do some will “appear-as if by magic” on request and the sport on your behalf. Result! With a couple of this...he’s a bit of a loafing lard ***e....come occasional weekends. Ideal future venue for more courses planned, we’ve now ensured to think of it, so is his dad” was one typically county schools champs. good coverage of the county and will be able to Shropshire comment from a sprightly gent • Kinsley Wood (FC) - On Offas’ Dyke, at the hang all sorts of club training, schools leagues who had enjoyed his introduction course at edge of the known world...beyond there be and the like on to them. Time and money well Cardingmill Valley. The education officer there dragons! invested. The POC’s will still be around in ten has seen huge demand from schools and • Lyth Hill (CC) - Small country park with great years time.....when most of our current club college groups, visiting from all over the country views towards the Wrekin stalwarts probably won’t be quite as active! on field trips. The Forestry Commission want • Lilleshall Hall (CC) - Manicured grounds more...... independent schools we’ve heard where you can also hobnob with elite Thanks to all the Wrekin members who have nothing from in twenty-five years of the club’s athletes in the bar. helped.....especially the course planners, post existence suddenly want their grounds mapped • Severn Valley Country Park (CC) - Arrive by laying gangs (you can get POC markers in club and want to get involved in the sport. Local steam train! colours from metrosigns) and our club treasurer road-runners have been seen venturing off the • Telford Town Park (CC) - Large urban play Brian for helping keep on top of the inevitable Wrekin Orienteers’ tarmac, map in hand.....things are looking up! area. extra paper this venture has generated. It may • Madeley Court (CC) - Hoodie central and be 2012 before we can tell for certain whether attack of the POC’s The genuine worry that providing more open site of the original MADO year 9 score the project will help rescue our club from age- access orienteering would adversely affect orienteering. profile oblivion, but for the year 5+6 pupil’s by Tony Callow our club income from events and the POC’s from a tiny school in South Shropshire (with no would turn into a flock of large, weighty seagulls One big advantage of getting partners involved, playground and on the point of closure) who Back in 2005/6 I had done some coaching and mapping for Tony helps build doesn’t seem to have happened....in fact the apart from being more likely to obtain a grant went orienteering off-site for the first time and the new course map sales may become a useful long term in the first place, is that they start to advertise then wrote to us to say how much they enjoyed South Shropshire schools. The kids were very enthusiastic, source of funds. We have found outlets to sell their first tentative experience of the sport, its we got reasonable numbers for a series of coached sessions maps and advertise orienteering events for each been well worth it. They will be back. venue. The venues (Partner organisations) all Make sure your clubs POC’s are up to date on the British on Saturday mornings and a good turnout (180+) for a trial contributed to varying degrees. The venues Orienteering website festival. The problem was it was all happening on school include:

sites, there being nowhere else local to go and events • Vinnalls (FC) - Based on a Forestry extremely few and far apart, in both time and distance. Commission trail and picnic area in Mortimer forest, it is aimed at Ludlow schools and was the first POC completed. • Onny Meadows (CC) - An education/tourist centre at Craven Arms. The meadows alongside the pretty little River Onny, makes it The club itself was still relatively active given its At a club committee meeting sometime last year, Tip: You really need to get one of those ideal for families and primary schools. small size, but only put on 3-4 events a year, with we outlined the plan: “We were going to try to precise, pernickety types to do it, if your club has • Carding Mill Valley (NT) - Steep-sided sheep- a major event (SINS) every two years. It also caters get the biggest Awards for All Grant possible and them. Not someone like me. I doodle big pictures. grazed scenic valley. It gets thousands of for orienteers over a huge but sparsely populated use it to map and build as many self-sustaining Yes I do the odd map, but that’s a branch of visitors a year doing field studies who need area of Shropshire. Giving the bad news to newly permanent courses as possible.....in a year...... its arty doodling. Three rejections and three re- Carding other activities to fill the day. Orienteering, as enthusiastic primary children and their parents all here costed out on an excel spreadsheet. Well submissions and six months later we finally got we know, is far more fun than geography! > keen to do more “sorry but your next ‘local’ event it looked easy in draft, on one side of A4!” our grant (there are now glossy workshops for There are two separate courses to cater for Mill Valley is 2 months and 30+ miles away....the next club writing slick, precise grant submissions that you various age groups. event is in six months somewhere on the other can go on to save time and head-banging, clubs • Haughmond Hill (FC) - Once the haunt of side of the county” was getting a little depressing. can ask their RDO to book one). Besides, apart from really keen orienteers, who a few runners and mountain bikers, now almost a country park in terms of its use. wants to drive 50 or 60 miles to a C4 in a rough Actually I started working right away and just • Llanymynech Limeworks (CC) - Limestone bit of West Midlands wood....? kept my fingers crossed that some sort of grant quarries and works, now re-developed as a would appear on satisfactory completion of our major heritage site. History, superb views and Beginners and their families simply don’t. submission. In my ancient VW golf, I continued to orienteering. You can even arrive by canal Increasingly, schools and your ‘average’ orienteer check for suitable venues and chase leads. We’d boat! Its log-fired heated education room can’t afford to either. One possible solution is built permanent courses in the past, in Telford meant it was even a good venue for our club a series of small events focused in one part of Town Park, Severn Valley Country Park and more Further details of the courses can be champs in the middle of winter! the county, similar to the MADO series run by recently at Lilleshall. The club had a number of found via the British Orienteering POC • Attingham Park (NT) - A non permanent neighbouring club HOC. Sadly WRE have neither mappers and experienced planners and post flag-based course for schools use only that listing or Wrekin Orienteers website sufficient venues, nor the manpower. This itself layers, so I had no worries about that part of it. presents a problem. Finding partners and choosing the right locations would be the key. Gradually things began to slot Clearly one answer is getting more local parks into place and thanks to a lot of effort by a small mapped and permanent courses put in. Both number of people throughout the year, we now POCs in Practice by Philip Basford suggestions would increase opportunity and have an impressive and very diverse portfolio of generally raise the profile of the sport. In theory DFOK have been very successful One of their more unusual POCs permanent courses in scenic, accessible sites. If at developing Permanent is at the Woodland Farm Trust. this might eventually help generate more club you are ever passing through the county you may Courses and use their POCs in The farmyard is a small part of the members....and certainly would provide more like to check one out! areas for small local events and schools festivals. several ways including: Woodland Farm Trust and DFOK made them up a series of small But could we do it? Is the plan working? The club has already benefited by being able to run a lot more summer • Club activity/training/coaching controls with farmyard animals on It was time for an ambitious plan! Fortunately the “Who else will help?” “ err... various partners” evening events. Newer members obviously find days them for the younger children to use club committee went for it.....people who organise (a risky assumption here based on a vague it a lot easier to plan around established courses • Schools activity weeks with while having a go at their permanent and run events on the Shropshire hills tend to knowledge of the latest government “access and and are more likely to volunteer if the venue is on more schools now asking for course. The Woodland Farm Trust be very “can do”. I think it was a combination of participation” initiatives) “What if we don’t get the their doorstep. Schools are beginning to venture POC maps as well as a map also allows schools/businesses feeling sorry for me (I’d had to pack in teaching for grant?” (Starvation or supply teaching.....a difficult on to them in increasing numbers and we get of their own school grounds to use their course 2 or 3 times a the second time due to long term health problems) choice for me) “Of course we’ll get it...... 2012, very nice emails and letters sent. You know things • Evening summer events week with many participants then feeling smug (they had talked me into going for the lets do more sport .....etc” “OK....lets do it” “How are beginning to look up when whole council • Activity bases for corporate progressing to the POC in Shooters WM RDO job that no one seemed to want to do) will we phrase our bid?” “Awards for All.....gimme departments, who previously had little knowledge functions such as leadership/ Hill which is just across the road. and a desperate worry that the average age of our gimme gimme....increased access/participation/ of orienteering, base one of their activity days on management courses Orienteering has now proved to be club members would creep over the R.I.P. line if volunteer input/schools/some buzzwords, etc... a permanent course challenge and the local PCT • Scout groups for activity days one of their most popular activities. we didn’t try something ambitious and soon. should do it?” How difficult could it be to fill out an “walking for life” groups keep coming back for • Local running clubs for off application form? As it turned out, quite difficult! more and asking where else they can try. road training

26 Orienteering Focus - Autumn 2008 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 27 COACHING COACHING British Orienteering Level 1 UK Coaching Certificate Endorsed. What does this mean for you and for British Orienteering? INCREASING

What have we achieved so far? - Retraining of all British Orienteering Tutors AND SUSTAINING The initial work was to decide the needs of and Assessors. All tutors delivering the PARTICIPATION British Orienteering. Very quickly it was decided UKCC awards now have a teaching that there were two distinct audiences for qualification or the Certificate for Tutoring THROUGH COACHING Orienteering Coach Education. in Sport (CTS). Similarly Coach Assessors will have a professional qualification or the Research conducted in 2007 for sports coach UK (Townend & North: ‘Sports Coaching in the UK II’; Oct 2007) shows One covering the teaching of beginners, either certificate of Assessing Practice in Sport there is an excellent match between what individuals want children or adults, typically through schools (IAPS). from participating in sport and what good coaches provide. and outdoor education centres, by people Participants want sporting environments that emphasis fun, who needed to know the basics of orienteering In order to ensure consistency of quality of enjoyment, a potential to develop and socialise. They want instruction but did not wish to proceed to being the awards all UKCC courses will be Internally environments where they feel secure, confident, motivated and assessed after that training. Verified by individuals representing British Orienteering and holding the Certificate in are effective. They want their individual needs to be reflected in the structure of the sporting activity, in the environment or The other group, mainly regular orienteers, who Internal Verification in Sport (CIVPS) setting and to feel part of a group or community. wished to achieve a professional qualification and who may wish to develop their coaching None of the above has been a trivial undertaking Good, athlete-centred coaching should establish sporting skills in order to assist orienteers aiming to but we are now on the verge of running our first environments that tick all these boxes. Coaches provide the The United Kingdom Coaching Certificate improve and move on, possibly into the elite pilot courses of the UKCC Level 1 Awards. encouragement and engagement; they are locally based was proposed in a Government report back ranks. community and club role models. in 2002. It is an attempt to improve the quality So why is it important for British and consistency of Coaching across all sports We therefore decided to build two courses, Orienteering? There is a growing evidence base to support the role of and to introduce Coaching awards which are entitled Teaching Orienteering Parts 1 and For two reasons: coaches in inducing and sustaining participation. The research accepted as professional (with small ‘p’) not 2, for the former group and to pursue the - From the sport’s point of view it brings up to suggests that good coaches provide participants with the only in the UK but also across Europe. For more development of the UKCC awards for the latter date one of the longest established coaching sporting environments they require; they provide participants information visit www.ukcoachingcertificate.org group. systems in British sport. British Orienteering implemented a structured, progressive with fun, engaging and motivating sport; they provide the individuals with the skills and confidence to enjoy sport and to But why should British Orienteering We also established the UKCC National coaching system in advance of many of enjoy being part of a sports setting. There is specific evidence develop UKCC courses? Steering Group (NSG) which, together with other bigger and better funded sports. “Coaching - A Great to suggest that participants who have received coaching have For those who read Focus, you will be aware of British Orienteering’s Coaching Committee, - It illustrates to the various funding bodies longer participation duration and lower drop off rates than the development of the Whole Sport Plan (WSP) oversees the contents and development of the supporting British Orienteering that we take Route Choice” participants who have not received coaching. by British Orienteering. The WSP is the plan awards. The NSG is made up of representatives coaching seriously and that we intend to for the future of orienteering in the UK and will of the four Home Countries and individuals continue to provide a modern coaching translate into our request to the Sports Councils representing the interests of schools, outdoor environment as part of a widely based for funding to support our sport for the next education and clubs as well as British progressive sport. four years. Coaching, in its many guises, from Orienteering itself. PETER PALMER school to elite, is a major platform within that Wish us luck as we move into the development Coach of the Year plan. In the last few months we have: of UKCC Level 2. - Developed the UKCC Level 1 Award. This Implementing such a series of awards is not includes definition of the award content and Dates of UKCC Level 1 Coach Courses “Great coaches help to make great clubs!” something that can be undertaken lightly; production of the candidate pack. Tutor/ Over the next 12 months we will be running especially for a small sport like orienteering, that Assessor material and candidate resources courses in every region. If you are interested Nominations are now being has no pot of gold to pay for such a lengthy and such as teaching resources, Coaching in becoming a coach to help your club to Notes for Nominators: time consuming development. Handbook and a DVD. Once produced this introduce and keep new participants in accepted for the Peter Palmer Principle - A definition of a Coach is ‘one who helps an work has to be approved and signed off by the sport look out for the courses in your British Orienteering Coach of Fortunately about 18 months ago we were Sports Coach UK and QCA (Qualifications area. Further information on the website individual to realise their sporting given the opportunity by UK Sport to present and Curriculums Authority). This is the formal visit “Developing Orienteering > Coaching > the Year Award 2008. This year excellence or potential’. a Delivery Plan encompassing Levels 1 to 3 of endorsement that the headline refers to. Coaching Courses. we hope to receive even more UKCC. After about 12 months of delays and In order to be considered, the discussions we received funding for this work. nominations for this prestigious candidate must be a British award. The award will be presented Orienteering Licensed Coach at the Annual Coaching Conference from Level 2 to Level 5. Scott Fraser Appointed New SOA Professional Officer 2009. The current holders are Mark The nominator Annual Saunders (BOK) and Alice Bedwell should highlight the Scott Fraser has been appointed as the new SOA (BOK) for their work in coaching the Professional Officer. Scott is a current member of Coaching candidate’s success in the British Squad and brings a wide experience of Conference Welsh Junior Squad. the following areas: orienteering at major events having competed in Consideration will also be given to - Their success in upholding the principle above over twenty countries, including the last two World 6th- 8th February 2009 Nominations: - Their success in developing those around the following aspects: Championships. Scott has a Sports Science degree and has them (parents, helpers, coaches as well as - The coach’s work must uphold the British held various coaching and Junior Development roles with ESOA, The Coaching Conference is If you wish to nominate a coach for this award athletes) Orienteering code of conduct Midlothian District Council and ScotJOS. open to all British Orienteering then please email your nomination to - Their ability to work in the context of the members and will be held [email protected] by the 13th - All sessions must be held within the British development aims of the organisation (club, Orienteering safety guidelines Scott’s main role will be working with the Major Events, most January 2009 with the Peter Palmer British at Lilleshall National Sports region etc) for whom they are coaching for - Use must be made of all necessary rules significantly the Scottish 6 Days, but he will also attract and guide Orienteering Coach of the Year Award as Conference Centre near - Their cognisance of the wider context within - The coach must be sufficiently qualified for other major events in Scotland. the title. Newport to the West of orienteering rather than a purely coaching the work they are undertaking view - The coach should be involved in coaching Meanwhile, Hilary Quick continues to run all the activities based Birmingham. An application We need to know your name, the name and - Their recognition and use of the athlete on a frequent basis at the National Orienteering Centre including coaching weekends, form will available on the club of the coach you are nominating, your development pathway as appropriate - The coach should be aware of modern arranging training for clubs and squads, and courses for coaches, website in the Autumn. Book reasons for nominating them (with a summary Scott Fraser (e.g. for juniors from Club Squad to Regional coaching theory and developments as well as organising the Regular Orienteering Map Programme of their coaching activities), who they have been early to avoid disappointment. Squad to GB squad) (previously Map of the Month). coaching as well as anything else which might be of interest to the judges.

28 Orienteering Focus - Autumn 2008 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 29 Angela MTBO Brand-Barker B Course in action 1 Christopher Brand-Barker (M20) 1:00:46 British Mountain Bike 2 Tony Brand-Barker (M50) 1:01:54 The Ghost 3 Angela Brand-Barker (W40) 1:02:39 Orienteering Championships Stane 4 Emily Benham (W20) 1:04:58 Photo by 5 Heather Monro (W21) 1:08:42 Report & Photos by Janine Inmann Forestry 6 Bob Cherry (M50) 1:08:45 Commission The “7 stanes” (Scots word for stone) are seven Forestry Commission mountain bike centres spanning the south of Scotland. Two of these forests played host These races were the main selection races to this year’s British MTBO Championships – Dalbeattie for the Long Distance for the British Team going to the World and Mabie for the Middle Distance, both with brand new MTBO maps produced Championships this summer in Poland, by Janine Inman. “Big country riding, rolling hills, views to die for and mile upon and the European Championships mile of technical singletrack…some of the world’s in Lithuania this September. best biking” to quote the 7 Stanes website, and Congratulations to all those selected, Heart Cleft Stane so it was! particularly Bryan ‘Buff’ Singleton Photo by Forestry and regular MTBO organiser Mark Commission Stodgell who make their international debut in Lithuania this year.

the Ghost Stane towards the end Future Dates of their course as they flew past The UK MTBO League for 2009 on a small track in the lovely beech is already shaping up thanks woodland. The 2.25 ton sculpture to Nigel Benham, so keep a is made of white marble and has a lookout for confirmed dates in surface engraved with a local lace the British Orienteering and Trail those new to MTBO coming from pattern. Cyclists Association calendars. a foot-O background also made the classic error of mistaking the Jimmy Taylor was the convincing Date Venue Club “difficult riding” path symbol for the winner on the Men’s course with a 20th Dec 2008 Aldershot BAOC (TBC) vegetation boundary symbol; these six minute lead from Bruce Duncan March 2009 TBC Sarum aren’t used on MTBO maps for that and Andy Conn. On the B Course March 2009 Longleat Sarum very reason! the Brand-Barker family took a clean Spring 2009 Wharncliffe SYO sweep, Chris victorious by a minute Spring 2009 Cannock WCH Mabie warm up to start Andy Conn, now back in the from his father Tony with mum Angela Spring 2009 Chopwell EBOR past ancient oak tree UK after a year out in Austria taking the British Women’s Middle 20th June 2009 Moors Valley WIM concentrating full-time on MTBO, Distance Championships title a June 2009 European Champs Denmark convincingly won the Men’s course, further minute back. 1st August 2009 Central Scotland FVO over three minutes ahead of fellow August 2009 World Champs Israel A Course Dalbeattie: The Heart internationalist Jimmy Taylor. Emily Benham took the Women’s Long 1 Jimmy Taylor (M21) 1:07:23 Free Entry! Cleft Stone distance title, ahead of multiple 2 Bruce Duncan (M21) 1:13:20 3 Andy Conn (M40) 1:13:31 The Trail Cyclists Association and British Orienteering are working together to promote participation in MTBO and The long courses utilised the full British fell-running champion Angela 4 Andrew Windrum (M21) 1:16:39 increase the number of events that take place in the UK each year. MTBO can supplement events organised by spectrum of ridability on offer, Brand-Barker and new mum 5 Steve Nicholson (M40) 1:18:20 clubs and attract new audiences to the sport of orienteering. The nature of MTBO allows events on areas that including some of the 7 stanes Heather Monro. 6 Peter Strong (M40) 1:19:17 perhaps become unsuitable for foot-O, e.g. areas that become overgrown, working forests or those that suffer trails and board walks, cross from bracken in the summer. As such, the TCA would like to invite club representatives to MTBO events to see country single tracks plus other A Course how they work via a free entry. For more information visit www.trailquest.co.uk forest paths and rides. Complex 1 Andy Conn (M40) 1:16:51 path networks were intermixed 2 Jimmy Taylor (M21) 1:20:05 with fast flat-out riding, so staying 3 Bryan Singleton (M40) 1:21:15 Photos by Dave Gittus in control was crucial to not lose 4 Steve Nicholson (M40) 1:21:53 WORLD TRAIL O CHAMPS 5 Bruce Duncan (M21) 1:22:08 time. In the detailed northern area Those of us in Olomouc were delighted to see Dave each class deciding the placings, however all six will 6 Ian Nixon (M21) 1:23:54 you often had to stop dead and Gittus win the Bronze Medal in the Paralympic receive medals. look at the map; something those Class on Day 1 of the World B Course at the top are loath to do! The one Championships. On the second day John Crosby and All Trail Orienteering enthusiasts interested in selection 1 Emily Benham (W20) 1:21:59 way systems marked on the map new team member Peter Roberts were the counting should get to as many competitions as possible, 2 Tony Brand-Barker (M50) 1:25:26 reflecting the one way 7 stanes members for the fourth place in the Team Trophy including those abroad, and let Anne Braggins know 3 Angela Brand-Barker (W40) 1:28:06 tracks also added spice to route competition, Dave’s usual performance being affected about their interest by the end of 2008. 4 Heather Monro (W21) 1:35:35 choices. by an insect bite. 5 Sarah Bayliss (W40) 1:35:55 Anne Braggins 6 Charlotte Somers-Cocks (W40) 1:36:42 Towards the end, all three courses Germany won the Gold Medal in the two day Email: [email protected] passed by the Heart Cleft Stone, competition with Anne Straube beating Martin a mammoth piece of Dalbeattie Mabie: The Ghost Stane Fredholm (SWE) at the timed controls into second granite symbolising the local town Mabie is a more physical forest than place and Jari Turto (FIN) into third place. Anne has once being the heart of the granite Dalbeattie with a higher density lived and worked in Great Britain for some years now industry exporting stone all over the of paths and steeper hills testing and maintains that her win was a result of having world. The granite rock is certainly competitors to the full in the Middle planned this year’s Trail O competitions for the JK in welcomed by bikers, as it ensures Distance race. Sharp climbs, Surrey. near mud-free riding! fast descents, berms and water splashes were all incorporated into The IOF General Assembly approved change to the As usual in MTBO, navigation, the courses that again made use of format of the World Trail Orienteering Championships biking ability and fitness are tested some of the purpose built 7 stanes that will be effective form 2009 in Hungary. There Anne but also occasionally bike repair trails along with smaller paths, will be a two day competition for a team of three of Dave Straube skills! This race seemed to have forest tracks and cross country those eligible for the Paralympic Class and a two day Gittus won Gold more than its fair share of incidents, routes. competition for another team of three of any physical won on day 2 some affecting the results, but such ability. Finally the day two competition results will also Bronze is the nature of the sport and it is The fair number of “footpath only” count for the team competition with the best two from all part of the challenge! Some of tracks meant riders only glimpsed

30 Orienteering Focus - Autumn 2008 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 31 EVENT OFFICIALS NEWSLETTER BY BARRY ELKINGTON New Event Structure for British Orienteering A new three tier structure of events will be introduced to British Orienteering from 2009 to give a better range of local events, accommodate different formats and to give more focus to major events. The new system will give more opportunities for results at events to be included in a new national ranking list.

A working group was set up in 2007 to Events will not be exclusively classic look at the current event structure and cross country events. Middle, Sprint and make recommendations. The report Urban Races can also be included. was published in September 2007 with wide consultation during the autumn. Guidelines will provide an extended colour The recommendations were adopted coded system for use at cross country by Council in January 2008. Since then events - both local and regional. Much Event Committee and its constituent thought has gone into developing this groups has been working to develop the structure recognising the need to make necessary infrastructure. Inevitably 2009 it easily understood by non-orienteers will be a transition year with the new and existing orienteers alike. The existing structure to be phased in from the 1st names to designate Technical Difficulty January 2009 and be fully implemented (TD) have been kept with the ability to by the 1st January 2010. have different length courses within the colour as required. Competitors will be Local Events should be the focus able to choose a course based on TD Photo by Ben Roberts for clubs, aimed at providing easily and length. The number of courses used accessible events for members and will be determined by clubs depending Wales and Northern Ireland having the newcomers. The format of events will suit on the anticipated entry. Age classes can option of upgrading their Association local needs and range from the low key be mapped onto this course structure to Championship to National level. All events Saturday morning and summer evening allow age class prizes to be awarded e.g. at National level will be supported by the event to larger events in a variety of Association Championships. All currently recently formed Major Event Committee. formats, all aimed at providing a good registered C3 events will become programme with the emphasis on local Regional events. Clubs can apply to The ranking system will be adapted to participation and needs. All currently register other events, including larger C4 use the new structure with the ability to registered C4 & C5 events will become events, as Regional events if they meet view the list in a variety of ways. The Local Events. the guidelines. Masters Cup will also continue to run but based only on National events. Regional Events will provide quality National Events will be the only events attractive to orienteers over a events run in age classes. Many current The changes to the event structure SportIdent Score Event Guideline larger geographical area. Quality will national events in their present format should enable clubs to provide ample David Rosen has written an excellent article Score events offer a different orienteering challenge to that of a normal cross country course, encompass the standard of the area, will disappear. Area Championships opportunity at a local level to introduce entitled “Tips for Controllers – How to control requiring competitors to decide which of all available controls they can visit in the time available, mapping, planning, organisation and will provide high quality events at this newcomers to the sport and to promote SportIdent”, which is now available on the and the order in which to visit them. They also provide an alternative way of using small areas, competition. Courses will not be age level in addition to the JK and British new formats of orienteering while still British Orienteering web site under Event with electronic punching allowing options such as punching only even numbered controls class based thus improving the pathway Championships (including Sprint and providing opportunities for traditionalists Information / Controllers. These tips are during the first thirty minutes of a one hour event, and odd numbered controls for the second. for novices to progress from local events. Middle for all age groups). Midland, to enjoy a quality Sunday morning run in intended as a SportIdent specific supplement Four members of TVOC (Roger Lott, Peter Riches, Mark Thompson and Jim Prowting) have The current age class structure is a Northern and Southern Championships the forest. to Appendix I of the British Orienteering Rules, put together a Guideline on various ideas and good practice for Score Events and this is now barrier particularly to young adult novices. will be staged in England with Scotland, and contain information about the various types available on the British Orienteering web site. Even technically simple controls can offer a Further information will be published on the British Orienteering of SI equipment that are in use today, how they challenge in finding the best order to take them in. website during the autumn. This will include revised Guidelines and work, and considerations that a Controller (or Frequently Asked Questions. Planner) needs to take into account. Control Descriptions greater precision to the picture given by the map of the control feature and the location With the growth of sprint and urban races of the control flag in relation to this feature. By Colin Spears, Map Group Chairman the question of how much detail control Mapping However, a good control is found primarily by Matters descriptions should contain has been the map reading. Descriptions and codes can assist In recent years the Map Group has been 50, are able to read a properly surveyed I realise that the loss of near focussing is not subject of some discussion. Clearly the code in this task, but should be kept as short and assailed with requests for maps at ever 1:10000 map without any problem. the only way vision deteriorates but again, an is needed so that the competitor can check simple as is necessary to locate the control.” increasing scales. This is contrary to the nature optician should be the first port of call if you that they are in the right place, and in the days of the sport of orienteering that is a running There are various means of providing are experiencing difficulty with any aspect of of hand over-printing it was very easy for the Planners should remember that orienteering sport where a map is read to select the fastest correction, half lenses being one but also your vision. The use of cheap reading glasses control circle not to be exactly centred on the events are not treasure hunts and that ‘hiding’ route for a competitor between controls. We bifocals and varifocals. I use bifocals with assumes that both eyes require the same feature. However with the precision of modern controls, and then attempting to describe where are told that without an enlarged map, some the division a little lower than normal giving a correction. An incorrect lens may work in good printing this should not be the case. IOF Competition Rules and they are using the control description does not older competitors cannot see sufficiently well wider range of distant vision and allowing me light but in dense forest on a poor day the lead to an enjoyable event. enough to make those choices. to look down at the map. Some runners use depth of field reduces. This means that there is Removing Split Times pairs of contact lenses with one correcting little tolerance in the distance from the map to Following on from the above, the latest version Event Structure Review The deterioration of eyesight with age can for near vision for map reading and the other the eye for clear reading and that distance is of the IOF Competition Rules has recently been start from the age of 40 onwards and is often for distant viewing. One of my club members likely to be different for each eye. Updated Event Guidelines to reflect the published. One addition of relevance to all a loss of the ability to focus on objects at short uses contact lenses based on the Freznel changes made to the Event Structure will be competitors is the new IOF Rule 24.15. range. This makes it difficult to see details lens principle that gives three planes of focus Where map reading is difficult due to other eye published on the British Orienteering web site in “The results must be based on competitors’ on a map without some form of aid, often allowing the brain to sort out which information problems, it is now possible with laser printed The IOF control description booklet summarises due course. All event officials should read these times for the whole course. No changes may be a lens or a pair of half lens reading glasses is required. These all require an eye test and maps to produce enlarged maps. The policy the amount of detail required quite nicely: as soon as they are available. made to these times on the basis of split times.” from Ultrasport or Boots. I feel that these are an optician’s input and advice and that comes of the Events committee is that these may “The purpose of a control description is to give This rule applies to all IOF Events, and will be only compromise solutions to a problem that at a cost. However, eye tests are free once you be provided to enable orienteers to continue should be corrected by a visit to the optician. are over 60 and the benefits of good vision participating in their sport but that their runs applied by British Orienteering to all National Contributions to this newsletter are always welcome. Level Events under the new competitions I don’t receive complaints from orienteers will help in more than just your orienteering, it will be non-competitive. structure (i.e. British Championships, Area Any contributions, comments or questions should be sent to: who are long term spectacle wearers. Many, might even make you a safer driver! Championships, JK, etc). [email protected] including several in the map group, well over

32 Orienteering Focus - Autumn 2008 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 33 Photo Calendar Competition FIRST LIST OF Congratulations to the following who are eligible to claim a Championship Award as a result of their efforts in the BOC, the JK, the Scottish Championships and the The deadline for the photo CHAMPIONSHIP National events organised by SARUM, EBOR and HOC. competition is the 31st October 2008. Twelve photos will be AWARDS FOR 2008 chosen as winners and will feature in the 2009 British Orienteering calendar that Peter Hodkinson of NOC is the best performer so far this year having Doyle GO, Philip Eeles SOC, Barry W21 Kim Buckley SYO, Becky Carlyle EUOC, will be for sale from the 1st obtained Championship standard in both M18 and M20 classes. Elkington OD, John Embrey HOC, Mikhail Alison Crocker OUOC, Laura Daniel Badge Awards to August 2008 December – Further details Although this feat is possible every year, by running different age Gryaznevich TVOC, Peter Haines AIRE, SYO/SHUOC, Grace Elson SYO, Rachel Congratulations to the following orienteers who to follow. The photographer classes in the JK and BOC, I can only remember it having been Peter Haynes SLOW, Alun Jones TVOC, Elder CLOK, Helen Gardner EBOR, Karen have recently claimed their awards. achieved once before in the time I have been Badge secretary. Dave Kingham TVOC, Kevin Lomas NOC, Heppenstall CLOK, Jenny Johnson SYO, from each published photo Mick Lucking NOC, Alastair Mackenzie Mhairi Mackenzie WCOC, Sarah Rollins Gold will receive a prize. Please Only Liz Godfree (W60 DVO) and Mike Smithard (M55 DEE) have CLOK, Graham McIntyre INT, Donald Petrie BAOC, Michel Spillar WIM, Jo Stevenson JW1 Abi Jeffery KSODA, email your photos as a high managed to achieve Championship standard in all 7 eligible events, CLYDE, John Rye RMOC, Mark Smith GO, SYO, Pippa Whitehouse CLOK, Helen Charlotte Webster NOC resolution Jpg file to marketing@ with 12 other men (Roger Thetford M45, Ian Ditchfield M50, Barry Richard Tiley LOC, Keith Tonkin GO, John Winskill SYO. JW2 Angharad Lloyd KSODA britishorienteering.org.uk Elkington M50, Peter Haines M50, Peter Haynes M50, Mike Lucking Tullie RR. W35 Anna Chapman SO, Amanda Crawshaw JM2 Bryn Wilkinson SUFF M50, Axel Blomquist M55, John Britton M55, Peter Gorvett M60, Jim M55 Axel Blomquist BAOC, John Britton MDOC, EPOC, Heather Hartman INT, Beccy Osborn JW3 Sarah Jones BARRO stating your name, membership Prowting M60, Barrie Speake M65 and Andrew Suddaby M70) having Andy Hemsted HOC, Alan Leakey SLOW, FVO. JM3 Jordan Webster NOC number and a contact only missed out in 1 event. Among the ladies only Hilary Simpson Michael Napier NOC, Andrew Parkinson W40 Jane Ackland INT, Sara Campbell DEE, JW4 Rachel Collins SO, Laura Jones BARRO, telephone number. Please also (W65 OD) has achieved Championship standard in 6 of the 7 events. SO, Richard Payne EPOC, Robin Smith Lorna Eades INT, Sarah Francis SN, Tamsin Miranda Leaf HH, Rona Lindsay ESOC, include the name of any people SOC, Mike Smithard DEE, Charlie Turner Horsler WIM, Julia Jarvis SO, Ruth Ker Cari Littler SYO featured in the photo, the event In the junior classes 7 orienteers (Katrina Hemingway W12, Jack SLOW, Steve Whitehead EBOR. AIRE, Lesley Ross OD, Susan Skinner JM4 Andrew Lindsay ESOC, Chris Young HH Benham M14, Chris Owens M14, Aidan Smith M14, Jack Barrett M60 Steve Buckley LOC, Dudley Budden BOK, WCOC. JM5S Carl Edmonds BARRO, Chris Young HH (if applicable) and the month it M16, Thomas Fellbaum M16 and Jonathan Malley M16) are still in Peter Gorvett SYO, Mike Hampton OD, W45 Alice Bedwell BOK, Wendy Billing SYO, JM5M Carl Edmonds BARRO was taken. contention, having also obtained Championship standard in 6 events. Brian Hughes HOC, Julian Lailey SROC, Jackie Butt SARUM, Elizabeth Clayton JM5L/ Chris Brand-Barker WCOC Tom Lillicrap DEVON, David Palmer BOK, WCH, Jane Halliday OD, Alison Harding M16 Caroline Povey Ian Pierce SARUM, Jim Prowting TVOC, HH, Jane Morgan SOC, Karen Nash SROC, M12 Harrison McCartney OD Men Richard Rae BKO, Anthony Richardson Christine Patterson CLYDE Vicky Thornton W14 Rona Lindsay ESOC LOC, Paul Taylor CLOK, Mike Wimpenny MDOC. M10 William Louth WAOC M14 Andrew Lindsay ESOC DEVON. W50 Judy Burge LOC, Jackie Chapman LOC, We would like to apologise to the W75 British M12 Michael Adams SYO, Harry Butt SARUM, Alexander Chepelin W16 Charlotte Ward HALO M65 Arthur Boyt KERNO, Ian Cooper BKO, Tom Karen Clark EBOR, Anne Cranke CLOK, Champion Margaret Cromer (MOR) who we GRAMP, Nicholas Jarvis SO, Harrison McCartney OD, Tim M35 Mark Cheesman MV, Chris McCartney OD Edelsten CHIG, Keith Henderson WIM, Bill Anne Darlington ERYRI, Elizabeth Dickson Morgan SOC, Hamish Rogers OD, Patrick Ryan ESOC. W40 Sarah Louise Francis SN missed off the roll of honour in the last edition. Hyslop SROC, Frank Ince SWOC, Robert BAOC, Carol Dredge WCH, Carol Edwards M14 Jack Benham SARUM, Thomas Louth WAOC, Jack Millar LVO, Ker AIRE, Tim Pugh GO, Brian Shaw SYO, TVOC, Joanna Foster BOK, Jackie Hallett John Ockenden SROC, Chris Owens DEE, Aidan Smith SYO, Silver Barrie Speake EBOR, Trefor Williams TVOC, BOK, Kathie Haynes SLOW, Diane Leakey Duncan Taylor DEVON, Craig Thomson FVO, Chris Young HH. W14 Lisa Quickfall SROC Michael Wood EPOC. SLOW, Christine Robinson SLOW, Janet M16 Jack Barrett FVO, Michael Beasant DEE, Duncan Birtwistle W16 Flora Hetherington SROC, M70 Lin Callard NGOC, Robin Campbell CHIG, Rosen HH, Alison Simmons BOK, Kirsty CLARO, Peter Bray SN, Tom Butt SARUM, Jonathan Rebecca Quickfall SROC Mike Crockett QO, Tom Crowther AIRE, Staunton WIM, Shirley Wood AIRE. Crickmore SO, Thomas Fellbaum MDOC, Jonathan Malley M16 Matt Nash SROC Andrew Gregory MDOC, Tony Noott BOK, W55 Sarah Brown SLOW, Judith Guillaume OD, EBOR, Jamie Stevenson FVO, Robin Tett SYO, Matthew Vokes M45 Clive Wilkinson SUFF Colin Spears HOC, Andrew Suddaby BL, Christine Kiddier GO, Gill Manning SWOC, DEE. M55 Ron Hunnisett SO, David Young SO Peter Wells EBOR, Derek Wise SN, Bill Beryl Offley LOC, Susan Stevens AIRE. M18 David Abrams GO, Tom Beasant DEE, Alan Cherry AYROC, Vigar QO. W60 Sheila Carey OD, Liz Godfree DVO, Jill Daniel Fopma TVOC, Robert Gardner OD, Declan Gray Bronze M75 Roger Baker TVOC, Donald Moir LEI, Peter Gorvett SYO, Sue Hands WIM, Hilary SARUM, Matthew Halliday OD, Peter Hodkinson NOC, Kristian JW1 Bronwen Mansel SUFF Seward SBOC, John Spence TVOC. Palmer NOC, Carol Pearce CHIG, Teresa Jones SBOC, Patrick Low MAROC, Alasdair McLeod SARUM, JM2 Daniel Figg HH, Roderick Mansel SUFF Turner SLOW. Mark McLeod ESOC, Mark Salmon TVOC, Ben Windsor LEI. JW3 Hazel Browne SROC W65 Jane Christopher WCH, Vicki Crawford M20 Rhodri Buffet SWOC, Simon Gardner WAOC/EUOC, Hector JM3/ Samuel Francis SN Women WIM, Janet Gibson BKO, Ann Hughes Haines EUOC, Peter Hodkinson NOC, Mikey Hopkins WCH, M14 DEVON, Rae Lomas MDOC, Shirley Moss Mike McIver LOC, Michael Noblett WCOC, Chris Smithard W10 Louise Adams SYO, Ella-Rose McCartney JW4 Kira Browne SROC BL, Susan Parker SO, Ruth Rhodes SO, DEE, Douglas Tullie EUOC. OD, Anne Ockenden, Emma Wilson. W12 Hazel Browne SROC Hilary Simpson OD. M21 Duncan Archer CLOK, Rob Baker SYO, Nick Barrable SYO, SROC, W40 Sarah Mansel SUFF, Sally Wilkinson SUFF W70 Sue Birkinshaw MDOC, Ruby Campbell Matthew Crane SYO, Jon Duncan WAROC, Scott Fraser INT, W12 Rachel Emmerson OD, Katrina Hemingway M21 Neil Carter SUFFOC CHIG, Barbara Plant BL, Alison Sloman Graham Gristwood OD, Daniel Halliday OD, Oli Johnson SYO, WCOC, Evelyn Mason MAROC, Helen HOC, Celia Wells EBOR. Joe Mercer OUOC, Neil Northrop SYO, Marcus Pinker FVO/ Ockenden SROC. W75 Anne Donnell BOK, Pat Grenfell BOK. SHUOC, Matthew Speake EBOR, Michael Sprot SYO, Anthony W14 Lucy Butt SARUM, Florence Haines AIRE, W80 Pen Harwood WIM. Squire INT, Thomas Tala TVOC. Zoe Harding SROC, Rona Lindsay ESOC, M35 Richard Barrett BAOC, Ben Hartman INT, Jason Howell HOC, Katrina McLeod GRAMP, Katie Reynolds Jason Inman FVO, Andrew Monro EBOR, Andy Simpson OD, SBOC, Rosalind Shepherd INVOC, Awards and certificates are available from records are not available on the Internet. Steve Watkins AIRE. W16 Alice Campbell CHIG, Fiona Claxton NOC, Chris Boycott, 13 Dawlish Avenue, Stafford, As I only get about 20% of event results it M40 Charlie Adams SYO, Brendan Bolland WAROC, Jon Cross Delyth Darlington ERYRI, Jenny Evans ST17 0EU on receipt of all relevant details, helps me if you can send photocopies of FVO, Andrew Dale ECKO, John Duckworth DVO, Jeff Green NOC, Alice Fellbaum MDOC, Katrin Harding the appropriate fee (cheque made payable relevant results CHIG, James Logue NWOC, Dale Paget WSX, Dave Robertson SROC, Sophie Kirk OD, Abi Longhurst FVO, to British Orienteering) and an appropriate c) Position and time of claimant in each CLYDE, Colin Smith SYO, Alan Velecky SO, Martin Ward Kirstin Maxwell RR, Aine McCann LVO, SAE (A4 size with a Large letter postage event. SPOOK. Joanna Shepherd INVOC, Charlotte Watson stamp for certificates). d) Club and British Orienteering number of M45 James Clemence SWOC, Clive Hallett BOK, Kevin Harding WCOC. claimant. HH, Quentin Harding SROC, David Harrison SYO, Steve Long W18 Alice Butt SARUM, Lauren Campbell Details required: e) The standard being claimed. TVOC, Mark Saunders BOK, Tim Tett SYO, Roger Thetford AYROC, Alice Leake EBOR. a) Full name and age class of claimant. TVOC. W20 Emily Benham SARUM, Kitty Bray SN, b) The organising club and dates of the 3 M50 .Paul Addison DVO, Bruce Bryant OD, Roger Coombs Anne Edwards TVOC, Joanna Halliday OD, events, which must be within a 2-year Woven cloth badge £1.50 MAROC, James Crawford GO, Robert Daly GRAMP, Charles Rebecca Harding HH, Hollie Orr EUOC, timespan. Back claims are possible if I Age (e.g. M60) flash £0.50 Daniel BOK, Colin Dickson BAOC, Ian Ditchfield MV, Alastair Rachel Smirthwaite MOR, Victoria Stevens have the relevant records, as a lot of old Certificate £0.50 AIRE, Jenny Thornton CLOK.

34 35 LOUGHBOROUGH BUILDING SOCIETY AND BRITISH ORIENTEERING

The Loughborough Building Society has “South Ribble Orienteering Club have been working with British Orienteering used the money from Club of the Year since 2002 and over that time has to fund the publicity for another series donated several thousand pounds to of introductory events for families and orienteering development projects. The newcomers in Lancaster. Club of the Loughborough offer British Orienteering Year has not only created a real focus members a dedicated savings account for our club members, but also opened and each year generously donate the other doors - e.g. it definitely helped us equivalent of 1% of the balance to the gain access to wonderful gym facilities Federation. at a local school, under the British Orienteering Participation Project.” The Loughborough Building Society is Martyn Roome – SROC currently offering a fantastic rate on the (Club of the Year Winner) dedicated British Orienteering instant access account to all members. This account allows you to earn a great rate “The money MAROC received has been of 3.45% Gross*/AER** on your savings allocated to our school development whilst at the same time supporting plans and getting more youngsters British Orienteering. Each April, The involved in the sport. The initiative Loughborough will donate 1% of all includes mapping 20 schools, helping balances to a chosen British Orienteering to introduce orienteering to 700 school development project. What’s more, take pupils, holding 3 schools festivals out a mortgage with Loughborough and developing contacts with “Active Building Society and on completion, Schools Coordinators” across 5 they will donate an extra £100 to British secondary schools in Aberdeenshire. Orienteering. For further information Our future plans include a part-time paid please telephone 01509 631 960. Schools Coordinator who would help develop closer links between MAROC This year British Orienteering received a and Active School coordinators.” cheque for £921.20 that was given to the Simon Brighty of the Loughborough Building Club of the Year winners and runners up Jon Musgrave – MAROC Society presents Caroline Povey with the to fund their development projects. (Club of the Year Runner up) Development fund cheque.

Claro, the Duke Thursday saw a turnout of seven Claro members to pack the stall, all suitably attired and the Great in club T-shirts. Later that morning HRH did Yorkshire Show indeed turn up and, even better, stopped to By Chris Dicken chat at our stall, albeit very quickly, and so we had our brief moment of fame. We managed to get a few pictures, not an easy feat with the Back in September 2007, at the entourage that surrounds him and we can now YHOA development day, one of the use the visit and pictures for future publicity. speakers was Heather Kennedy from Sport England. Heather Overall a very useful three days. We learnt a mentioned that Sport England lot and will be even better prepared next year. Whilst a lot of visitors to the Sport England usually has a stand at the Great stand were more attracted to the prize draw for Yorkshire Show (GYS), where a free glider flight on the stall next to us than getting muddy in the forest, we had a good local sports clubs can attend and The Duke of Edinburgh looks at number of people genuinely attracted to what she even thought that there was an map on the Claro Stand a small orienteering course at the orienteering had to offer – some even turned thin on the ground we hurriedly put together up the following Saturday at our local event. Showground. This sounded like a as much as we could for a first attempt – our great opportunity for some good trusty publicity display boards, lots of flyers We have now developed a relationship with the local publicity and I immediately about the club, our local events, fixtures list and Yorkshire Agriculture Society – who have given asked her if we could take part in the British Orienteering ‘Adventure Sport for All’ us permission to map the Showground, with 2008. Heather readily agreed. (The leaflets. The first day (Tuesday) saw a steady its intricate set of buildings and land together stream of people and some good interest, both with the surrounding woodland that it owns. GYS showground is located in from local people and those from far away. We During 2009 we hope to take advantage of Harrogate, so local to many Claro of course, tried to attract anyone and everyone the contacts that we have made by putting an members) to the sport. We also learnt that on the orienteering event on at the Showground. Thursday, HRH Prince Phillip would be visiting Fast forward nine months and with the publicity the Sport England stand. for the show gathering pace it became apparent that this was the 150th show and the Working with Sport England meant we had a prominent position at the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh would be Show, for free, and would be situated next to other like minded and attending. supportive groups. So, given the number of similar shows throughout the Now this is the first time that Claro has tried country why not give it a try, see if your club can team up with the local such an undertaking and with details a little sports body, get a stand and attract some new members.

36 Orienteering Focus - Autumn 2008 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 37 National Office: British Orienteering 8a Stancliffe House, Whitworth Road, Darley Dale, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 2HJ Office hours: Mon-Fri 9.00am-5.00pm Tel: 01629 734042 Fax: 01629 733769 Contacts e-mail: [email protected]

National Staff: Committee Chairs: Development Team Chief Executive: Coaching: Keith Marsden – England Mike Hamilton [email protected] EA (Bedfordshire, Cambridge, Essex): Mobile: 07966 305800 Ed Nicholas Development: Helen Errington e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 07725 912593 Tel: 01727 842 883 Accounts Manager: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Jannette Blunden Events: Lyn West EA (Norfolk, Peterborough, Suffolk): e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01206 322905 Michael Chopping Coaching Programme Manager: [email protected] Tel: 01553 841 669 Vicky Thornton International: Dave Harrison e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01629 540779 EM: Pauline Olivant Development Manager: [email protected] Hilary Palmer Tel: 0115 9872083 Tel: 0115 9820651 Group Chairs: e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] NE (Durham, Tees Valley): Elite Competitions: John Palmer Executive Officer: Mike Hardy Tel: 0115 982 0651 Tel: 01287 624521 Laura Young e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Fixtures: Peter Guillaume International Programme Manager: NE (Northumberland, Tyne and Wear): Tel: 01926 511490 John Crosby Hilary Bloor e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01670 736242 Junior Competitions: Susan Marsden Email: [email protected] Marketing Manager: Tel: 01923 225197 NW: Sarah Watkins Caroline Povey e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01524 844915 Major Events: Mike Forrest e-mail: [email protected] Membership Manager: Tel: 07774 626850 SE (Hertfordshire & N. London): Nicole McKenna e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Helen Errington Map Group: Colin Spears Participation Manager: Tel: 01727 842 883 Tel: 0121 458 1268 e-mail: [email protected] Steve Vernon e-mail: [email protected] email:[email protected] SE (Kent, Surrey, Sussex & S. London): Rules Group: Barry Elkington Performance Director: Christine Robinson Tel: 01926 854639 Tel: 020 8255 7176 Derek Allison e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01539 531167. email: [email protected] Senior Competitions: TBA SC: Denise Harper ADVERTORIAL e-mail: [email protected] HILLY CLOTHING Start and Junior Potential Manager: Tel: 0118 9482934 Gareth Candy Useful Contacts: e-mail: [email protected] Hilly Clothing is one of the UK’s leading Britain’s greatest Long Distance Runner. His e-mail: [email protected] SW: Celia Watkinson suppliers of technical performance socks and greatest achievement came in 1970 when he Anti Doping: Mike Hamilton Tel: 01629 734042 Tel: 0117 9688627 accessories. Designed for running, the socks won the Commonwealth Games Marathon Directors: e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] can also be used for a variety of other sports, Gold medal in a then World Record 2:09:28. WM: Tony Callow including: cycling, racket sports, walking and This was just one of many highlights in his Chairman: Neil Cameron British Orienteering Website: e-mail:[email protected] Tel: 01743 884219 orienteering. The socks incorporate many career that included winning the European Tel: 01684 294791 (before 10pm) e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Badge Claims: Chris Boycott, key features, including wicking yarns to Marathon, Athens 1969 and the Boston YH: Colin Best help keep the feet dry and in turn helping to Marathon, 1970, in a course record of Chief Executive: Mike Hamilton Tel: 01785 612825 e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 0114 2302621 prevent blisters, anti-microbial qualities and a 2:10:30. Ron also represented his country e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] seamless toe construction. at three Olympic Games in Tokyo 1964, Peter Christopher British Schools’ Orienteering Association: Peter Bylett Mexico 1968 and Munich 1972. His best Tel: 01785 660133 Tel: 01562 631561 Hilly Clothing was started back in 1992 finish was 5th in Tokyo but he was never to e-mail:[email protected] Development Team e-mail: [email protected] by running legend, Dr Ron Hill, MBE, the win a medal at a games. This year sees Dr Roger Hargreaves – Northern Ireland: Child Protection: Mike Hamilton former European and Commonwealth Ron turn 70. Made even more special is the Tel: 01872 277320 Tel: 01629 734042 Helen Baxter marathon champion. At the time he saw an fact that Ron will have reached his goal of e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 07701 018037 opportunity to develop a range of technical racing in 100 different foreign countries by the Chris James Fixtures Secretary: Pat Martin e-mail: [email protected] performance running socks. With a PhD, in milestone in September. To date, Ron has run Tel: 01989 720122 Tel: 01842 753801 Textile Chemistry, he was able to combine his every day since the 20th December 1964. e-mail: [email protected] e-mail:[email protected] technical expertise and running background He has covered over 150,000 miles and still David May Development Team Hon. Records Officer: TBC to produce a core range to cater for the competes to this day. Tel: 01600 711507 – Scotland: e-mail: [email protected] Lake District Access Officer: Carol McNeill needs of the runner. Hilary Quick The Hilly range is split into two categories Ed Nicholas Tel: 01229 861507 e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01479 861374 Ron is Hilly’s technical consultant and with all namely: Mono Skin and Twin Skin (both Tel: 07725 912593 e-mail: [email protected] the miles he has under his belt we are very registered trademarks). The Mono Skin (single e-mail: [email protected] Scottish National Orienteering Centre confident that he knows a bit about multi layer) range included the Marathon Fresh, Off Jenny Peel - Treasurer Tel: 01479 861374 Schools’ Orienteering terrain running and its requirements! Road and Super Racer Plus (now renamed Tel: 0114 2663169 e-mail: [email protected] Hilly is now regarded as one of the UK’s Lite) and the Twin Skin (double layer), Moisture e-mail: [email protected] TCA/ MTBO: John Houlihan Liaison – Wales: Tel: 01943 876393 leading technical brands and has plans to Management. All four socks have been Martin Ward Mair Tomos significantly develop the range going forward, improved over recent years. Tel: 0114 220 9553 e-mail: [email protected] Ron Completing Tel: 01286 830 142 maintaining its policy of offering technically e-mail: [email protected] Trail Orienteering: Anne Braggins 150,000M at ASFC e-mail: [email protected] advanced and value for money products. Hilly also offer a comprehensive range Lyn West Tel: 01763 260333 of accessories, including: hats, gloves, Tel: 01206 322905 e-mail: [email protected] Commonwealth Games, Born in Accrington, Lancashire, Ron was reflectives, neoprene products (for carrying e-mail:[email protected] Edinburgh, 1970, WR appointed MBE in 1971 for ‘services to gels, coins, keys, Mp3’s etc), water bottle 2h09m.28s athletics’. Ron has often been considered belts and much, much more! www.britishorienteering.org.uk

38 Orienteering Focus - Autumn 2008 More People, More Places, More Podiums (MP3) 39