Incidentally, congratulations to John's father Ted (BVOC), winner of a pair of Adidas running shoes in a reader survey in Irish Runner.
All is not doom and gloom, however: Ed Niland has been in touch to say that he is starting a new O-club in Limerick and is looking for old maps of the Limerick area. If any readers can help him out, please contact him at edniland@hotmail.com.
At one time Limerick supported two clubs: Tho and PLO, Plassey Orienteers, a student club at NIHE, later University of Limerick. It would be great to see orienteering thriving again in Limerick - a city which prides itself on its sporting heritage.
Incidentally, Ed Niland himself got married in Glendalough at the end of August. Congratulations!
Heather was a familiar face at orienteering events and hill races. We extend our deepest sympathy to Wally and Helen and to Heather's sister and brother, Carla and Mark
M20 W20 David Healy Niamh Lalor Niall McAlinden Sharon Lucey Matthew McCloskey Niamh O'Boyle M21 W21 Allan Bogle Aislinn Austin Niall Bourke Fionne Austin Stewart Caithness Veronica Beherunara Bill Edwards Nuala Higgins Steven Linton Violet Linton James Logue Ruth Lynam Brendan O'Brien Petranka Pacheva Andrew Quin Nina Philips Colm Rothery(from Ruth Blair, NIOA Selector)
The Irish Orienteering Team for the World Orienteering Championships 2003 held in Rapperswil, Switzerland from 4-9 August was as follows.
The Men's Team as selected: 1. Niall Bourke 2. Bill Edwards 3. Andrew Quin 4. Neill Dobbs 5. Brendan O'Brien 6. David Healy The Women's Team as Selected: 1. Violet Linton 2. Fionne Austin
Overall there was considerable competition for places, and I'd like to thank all of those competitors who made themselves available for selection and competed in the selection races for their efforts and commitment.
An interesting point to note is that the average of the men's team is 25 [down from 34 in 2001], surely a good sign for the future .
Brendan O'Brien, Team Manager.
Incidentally, Violet Linton has also been selected for the World Mountain Running Championships in September, representing Northern Ireland. Violet's husband, Steven, has represented Ireland at several World Orienteering Championships. Congratulations, Violet!
Middle Distance Results MEN Heat 1 1. Thierry Gueorgiou France 21:27 30. Neil Dobbs Ireland 32:25 MEN Heat 2 1. Marian Davidik Slovakia 22:36 26. Bill Edwards Ireland 27:59 MEN Heat 3 1. Troy De Haas Austria 23:49 34. Niall Bourke Ireland 41:01 Relay Results MEN 1 Sweden 1:58:42 28 Ireland 2:29:58
Tuesday's Sprint Finals at the World Orienteering Championships in Switzerland saw strong performances from Ireland's Violet Linton and Niall Bourke.
Men's Sprint Final Results 1. Jamie Stevenson Britain 12'43" 42. Niall Bourke Ireland 16'10" Women's Sprint Final 1. Simone Luder Switzerland 13'21" 44.Violet Linton Ireland 21'05" Long Distance Qualification - Unterägeri, 4. Aug. 2003 MEN*1 ( 9.5 km, 390 m) 1. Mikhail Mamleev RUS 1:07:43 2. Carsten Jörgensen DEN 1:08:05 22. David Healy IRL 1:24:54 MEN*2 ( 9.4 km, 410 m) 1. Yuri Omeltchenko UKR 1:08:08 28. Andrew Quin IRL 1:31:33 35. Po Lok Chau HKG 2:36:04 MEN*3 ( 9.5 km, 375 m) 1. Björnar Valstad NOR 1:09:36 30. Brendan O'Brien IRL 1:47:47 36. Chi Hang Liang HKG 2:15:18 WOMEN*1 ( 6.2 km, 220 m) 1. Marie-Luce Romanens SUI 52:04 2. Heather Monro GBR 53:34 WOMEN*2 ( 6.2 km, 220 m) 1. Karolina Arewang Höjsg SWE 56:01 1. Paula Haapakoski FIN 56:01 3. Brigitte Wolf SUI 57:19 22. Violet Linton IRL 1:19:19 31. Katherine Scheck CAN 1:59:02 WOMEN*3 ( 6.0 km, 230 m) 1. Simone Luder SUI 43:05 31. Fionne Austin IRL 1:34:53 Long Final, Eschenberg Winterthur, 6. Aug. 2003 MEN (16.7 km, 540 m) 1 Thomas Bührer SUI 1:48:20 2 Yuri Omeltchenko UKR 1:50:35 3 Emil Wingstedt SWE 1:51:08 4 Carsten Jörgensen DEN 1:51:42 14 Daniel Marston GBR 1:56:09 WOMEN(11.8 km, 350 m) 1 Simone Luder SUI 1:26:14 2 Karolina Arewang Höjsg SWE 1:29:19 3 Brigitte Wolf SUI 1:32:52 14 Heather Monro GBR 1:38:36WOC now happens every year, rather than every two years as has been the case since Ireland first participated in 1976. Next year's WOC is at Vasteras in Sweden.
(There is to be a mountain bike orienteering World Championships too, from 2005. The 2005 MTB WOC will be in Slovakia, 2006 Finland, 2007 Czech Republic.)
Crossmurrin is a new area, close to the Marble Arch caves. It is described as being very technical with limestone depression features, littered with rock outcrops and extensive areas of scrub, mainly hazel, peppered with clearings. SportIdent timing will be used.
The team for the Junior Home International is:
M14 Nicholas Simonin (BOC), Ruairí Short (CNOC), Stephen Potts (FermO), John Power (BOC), reserve: Cian O'Boyle (CNOC).
M16 Seamus O'Boyle (CNOC), Hugh Power (BOC), Robert Browne (LOC), Nicky O'Donoghue (BOC), reserve: Kevin O'Brien.
M18 Christian Foley-Fisher (MNAV), Ted McCormack (GEN), Diarmuid Collins (BOC), Patrick Higgins (LVO), reserve: Paul Power (BOC).
W14 Erika Jones (FIN), Meghan O'Driscoll (FIN).
W16 Erinna Foley-Fisher (MNAV), Ciara Largey (FermO), Rosalind Hussey (FermO), Louise McBride (FermO), reserve: Martha Callanan (BOC).
W18 Sarah Browne (LOC).
M40 Marcus Geoghegan (AJAX), Aonghus OCléirigh (AJAX). M45 John McCullough (3ROC), Senan O'Boyle (CNOC). M50 Seán McSweeney (DFO), Bill Simpson (LVO). M55 Nigel Campbell-Crawford (3ROC), Bob Pinker (CorkO). M60 Ted Feehan (BVOC), Alan Gartside (LVO). W40 Nadine Grant (FermO), Mary O'Connell (3ROC). W45 Ruth Lynam (CNOC0, Anne Savage (LVO). W50 Wyn McCormack (GEN), Monica Nowlan (3ROC). W55 Trina Cleary (3ROC), Jean O'Neill (FIN). W60 Maura Higgins (SET), Clare Nuttall (LeeO). Team manager: Alan Gartside.
Apart from these, their 2003 programme included events like the Finnish 5-Day, the World Championships in Switzerland, the Swedish 5-Day, the Jukola overnight relay in Finland, the World Masters O-Champs in Norway and the Golden Week in Madrid.
For details of the SOT 2004 programme, see www.scottishotours.co.uk or contact SOT at 39 Breckview, Pitmedden, Ellon, AB42 7GQ, Scotland.
First, skilled orienteers often adapt the equipment they use: they fold the map when carrying it, thumb the map, draw a line down the center of their thumb to aid thumbing, wear the control description card on a sleeve rather than carrying it loose...and so on. I know this all helps make life easier, but I am interested in uncovering the exact mechanisms (e.g., thumbing reduces attentional demands associated with attending to the map to view one's current location) by which it makes it easier.
Second, I'm interested in how skilled orienteers prepare for a specific event (getting maps in advance of the area where an upcoming event is likely to be held, speaking to people who have already been there, traveling to the area to practice orienteering on the local terrain, finding out which company/person is going to map the area, finding out who is going to be designing the course, etc.) in contrast to preparing generally for an event (e.g., practicing compass work).
Anyway, if you are a national squad member or an aspiring squad member, I would really appreciate it if you could give me an email at deccles@ihmc.us so I can ask you some questions about the above aspects.
I hope my work is of interest to you - ultimately it is aimed at benefiting the coaching and skill acquisiton process in the sport. David W. Eccles, Ph.D., Research Scientist, Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, 40 South Alcaniz Street, Pensacola, 32501, USA
The new start was from one of the remotest locations in the Wicklow Mountains, near the Sally Gap. The overall winners were Eoin Keith (a regular winner) and Paul MacArthur with a total of 12800 points out of a possible 16200.
The controls were spread out in a rough circle approximately 20 km in diameter at locations throughout the hills and woodlands, requiring a high level of stamina, navigation and teamwork to succeed. The challenge in the Rogaine is to choose what you think is the best route to gain the highest points in the time allowed - 24 hours, Saturday midday to Sunday midday (28-29 June).
For those who haven't heard about rogaining, it's a 24 hour large scale "score" orienteering event for teams of 2 or more - you've 24 hours to check in at as many markers, scattered around Wicklow hills and forests, as you can. Each marker has an orienteering punch to record your visit, some locations are worth more points than others. The team with the highest points wins. There were prize categories (subject to demand) of Open, Female, Mixed, Open Vet, Female Vet and Mixed Vet. Each team needed their own copy of Harvey's 1:30000 Wicklow map.
The start/finish doubles as a base camp, where refreshments and an area for tents were available during the night for those wishing to return for some rest. Rest is optional!
Planner: Hugh McLindon, Organisers: Setanta Orienteers
Results
Male Eoin Keith and Paul Mac Arthur (12800) Killian Mullet and Paul Mahon (10200) Ken Barry and Cathal Berry (9900) Female Emma and Clare Glanville (7300) Mixed Nina Phillips and Russ Ladkin (6300) Mixed Veteran Ruth Lynam and Don Short (8900) Male Veteran Doug Corrie and Kieran Donaghy (9000) Mick Mangan and David O'Donovan (6800) Female Veteran Ger Power and Barbara Foley-Fisher (4200)
National Governing Body 2003 Allocation (excluding Athens Enhancement)
Athletic Association of Ireland €600,800 Badminton Union of Ireland €280,167 Comhairle Liathróid Láimhe na hÉireann €99,913 Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael €62,540 Cumann Peile Gael na mBan €85,500 Cycling Ireland €237,175 Equestrian Federation of Ireland €467,520 Golfing Union of Ireland €318,700 Irish Amateur Boxing Association €297,713 Irish Amateur Fencing Federation €21,517 Irish Amateur Rowing Union €245,700 Irish Amateur Weightlifting Association €10,075 Irish Basketball Association €374,573 Irish Canoe Union €244,988 Irish Cricket Union €100,625 Irish Gymnastics Limited €111,316 Irish Hockey Association €257,575 Irish Judo Association €118,800 Irish Ladies Golf Union €119,625 Irish Martial Arts Commission €8,900 Irish Orienteering Association €34,050 Irish Sailing Association €304,100 Irish Squash €102,741 Irish Surfing Association €42,910 Irish Table Tennis Association €70,000 Irish Taekwondo Union €3,650 Irish Ten Pin Bowling Association €15,271 Irish Tug of- War Association €36,101 Irish Underwater Council €41,333 Irish Wheelchair Association €217,044 Motor Cycle Union of Ireland €74,985 Motor Sport Ireland €119,000 Mountaineering Council of Ireland €74,889 National Community Games €249,718 Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland €90,639 Racquetball Association of Ireland €16,600 ROI Snooker & Billiards Association €50,917 Special Olympics Ireland €302,000 Speleological Union of Ireland €14,990 Swim Ireland €357,596 Tennis Ireland €455,858 Volleyball Association of Ireland €139,840 Total €6,877,954
Trail-O rules can be seen on the IOF website: www.orienteering.org/publications/trailrul.htm and more information can be found at www.trailo.org
At the French 5-Day you could try Trail Orienteering on the first four days: there were a few controls near the assembly area where you could try out your map-reading skills without leaving the path. The open runnable forest on sand dunes was ideal for trail orienteering. It's surprisingly taxing: as Alan Gartside said, he has never finished a competition feeling as completely shattered as he did after a trail-O championships. First three placings: Niamh O'Boyle CNOC, Darina Cunnane CorkO, Heather Ervine LVO.
3ROC Cork Orienteering Club GEN * Great Eastern Navigators MN * Midland Navigators BVOC * Blackwater Valley Orienteering Club GMIT O * Galway Mayo Institute of Technology Orienteers BOC * Bishopstown Orienteering Club Kerry Orienteers UCDO * University College Dublin OrienteersIf your club is not on the list please note that you are not covered by the IOA insurance. A letter requesting affiliation fees was sent to all clubs at the end of June. I would appreciate it if you could ensure that your club pays the appropriate affiliation fee as soon as possible.
John Casey
IOA Treasurer