Looking for helpers! – Be Active Festival
We have been invited by Sport Ireland to run an activity in the Sport Ireland Campus on Sunday 24-SEP-2023 as part of the Be Active Festival. Last year, 1,500 people attended the Orienteering stand at this festival and took part in a 30m x 30m maze. Final details for this year have not yet been confirmed but it is quite likely a similar layout as last year.
We are looking for around 8 people to work for OI and help run the activity and the only requirement is that you are enthusiastic about orienteering! You would be involved in – getting people started on the maze, general crowd control, download, pack down, handing out leaflets, etc. Most likely 9am-4pm.
If you are interested in working at the festival please let me Mark know at markstephens@orienteering.ie, or if you have someone in mind who would suit this work then tell them to get in touch.
Keep in mind this will clash with the Fingal Newbridge Scatter Event.
VHI – Call for runners!
In need of a W35 and an M35 runner for the VHI in October.
Dates: 30 Sep and 1 Oct 2023
Venue: Forest of Dean (Mallard’s Pike) in conjunction with the Caddihoe Chase.
Location: South Wales. Accommodation booked and plenty of Irish Team members to travel with, both from Belfast and Dublin areas. It’s a Middle Distance and a Relay event usually good fun while gaining a cap for Ireland Vets!
If you have competed at IOC and JK level, BOF or IOF registered that would be interested please contact Sharon at: vhi@niorienteering.org.uk
W/M40 willing to run up is also very acceptable.
News from the North: History of Orienteering (1998)
At the recent AGM of NI Orienteering, Chairman David Blair referred to a History of Orienteering document that had been in the possession of the late Noel Bogle.
This had been compiled in 1988 by Jason Kane, then the Chairman of Fermanagh Orienteers. The project is available at About Us>History of Orienteering 1998. Long standing members are likely to find their names, or even maiden names, whilst newer members will discover how the sport was run before the days of OCAD maps and online results.
Colin Henderson Trophy 2023 Awarded
Alan Gartside arrived at Lagan Valley Orienteer’s WEE Series event last August in fine fettle after his second hip replacement surgery. Having requested planners to return unused maps and bags for recycling a box of maps was awaiting him. The box contained maps of Dundrum, Woodburn and even JK 2011 maps, but lurking underneath was the Colin Henderson Trophy already engraved with the name of Alan Gartside.
It was of course announced at the recent NIOA AGM that Alan was to be the recipient of the 2023 Colin Henderson Trophy for services to NI Orienteering. Alan has done much for the sport over decades in many roles, but particularly since the advent of digital maps by checking and printing many thousands of competition maps. Even before that Alan has been compiling the NI Colour Series League and of course has introduced the niche discipline of Trail Orienteering, having been on the podium at the Trail Orienteering World Championships.
Well done Alan!
Club Event First Aid & Safety Grant 2023
As we start to prepare for the next season, OI invite clubs to apply for funding to purchase, replenish or replace their club first aid kits, and/or advanced safety equipment for events.
Only purchases for the provision of first aid equipment (not training), portable defibrillators, or group survival shelters (ie https://www.bergfreunde.eu/rab-group-shelter-4-6-bivvy-bag/?searchparam=Rab%20-%20Group%20Shelter%204-6%20-%20Bivvy%20bag) are eligible for funding under this scheme, with clubs required to provide receipts (not quotes or invoices) to access this funding.
The maximum amount available per club is €800, with clubs contributing a minimum 33% towards the total cost of First Aid, Defib or Shelter equipment. These items will remain the property of clubs upon funding being granted.
Only clubs that have paid their 2023 affiliation fee on or before 31st May 2023 are eligible to apply for funding, with the deadline for applications on 31st August 2023.
Clubs must submit a list of purchases, clearly indicating the total spent, as well as receipts for all items purchased.
Applications for payment must be made by email only to osec@orienteering.ie
MapRun Webinar – 23rd March
Join us for a Zoom Webinar to talk through MapRun.
We will be discussing how to get the most out of MapRun as a user and also as an event organiser, either from a Club or LSP perspective.
This webinar is aimed at all levels, beginners to avid users!
Other topics include:
- How to run a MapRun Event.
- Implications of using MapRun for an event.
- Differences between planning and organising a MapRun event and ‘normal’ event.
- How MapRun can be used to bring in newcomers.
Questions and discussions are very welcome
Please register for the webinar below.
Willie Cunningham Memorial Event
Following the very successful 50th anniversary event held in Kilfinane recently, Bishopstown Orienteering club handed over a cheque to Marymount Hospice.
The cheque for €1000 was the very generous proceeds of the collection held in conjunction with the event.
We were overwhelmed with the generosity of all those who contributed to this amount.
On the day of the event and the presentation we were joined by members of Willie Cunningham’s family.
For BOC it was important to mark the contribution of Willie to Orienteering in Ireland.
All of the information, sketches, articles and maps from Willie have been added to the Irish Orienteering History page.
Michael Wall, Esther Wall, Deirdre Haughey, Billy Emery- Marymount volunteer, Sean Cotter, Paul O’S-Hourihan.
Liam & Maia.
‘Tis the season.. – Festive Events
There are 2 easy festive-themed events on this weekend. The first is night orienteering around Suburban Rathfarnham, followed by refreshments in the Yellow House. The second is a ‘Turkey Trot’ in Tyrrelstown. Both events are suitable for novices although under-16 should be accompanied for the night orienteering..
Saturday 10th December, 6pm – Night “Chrimb-O” in Rathfarnham:
- Under 16s should be accompanied
- Courses are straightforward, with the emphasis being on the meeting up in the pub after to discuss maps and meet people. Newcomers are particularly welcome.
- you don’t have to be in a club to take part
- you can go in pairs, groups or individually
- More details and entry before Thursday night on:
Sunday 11th December, 11am – Turkey Trot in Tyrrelstown:
- Straightforward navigation, suitable for beginners and juniors (under 10/novice juniors accompanied, over 12 with some experience alone)
- you don’t have to be in a club to take part
- you can go in pairs, groups or individually
- More details and entry before Friday night on:
There will be other festive events across the country later in the month including Pine Forest with 3ROC on St Stephen’s Day so keep your eyes on the fixture list!
See you there for Mince pies!
Senior Home Internationals 2022
The SHI is taking place over the weekend in England. Relays are on Saturday near Guildford and the individual race is on a new map in the New Forest on Sunday.
Best of luck to all the team!
Team is as follows.
M20
Dan Earnshaw
Eoin Simpson (relay only)
W20
Ellie Simpson (relay only)
M21
Aidan McCullough
Conor Short
Darren Burke
Laurence Quinn
Paul Pruzina
Ruairi Short
W21
Niamh Corbett
Róisin Long
Toni O’Donovan
Keep an eye on our social media pages for updates.
FB : @Irish.Orienteering Twitter: @OrienteeringIRE Instagram: @Orienteeringireland