HERE IS THE SENIOR ORIENTEERING NATIONAL TEAM 2024
Now it is clear what the national team in orienteering in 2024 look like.
After a top season in 2023, the national team is now aiming for next year’s sprint WC in Scotland and forest EOC in Hungary, and the World Cup season with four rounds.
There are small changes in the national team squads after the successful 2023 season.
We are delighted to have Juniors that have moved up and a few athletes re-joining the team.
New to the squad are :
Laurence Quinn
Jonathan Quinn
Conall Whelan
Eoghan Whelan
Niamh Corbett
Liam Cotter
Women
Róisín Long
Niamh Corbett
Aoife O’Sullivan
Clodagh Moran
Aoife McCavana
Eadoin McCavana
Niamh O’Boyle
Men
Paul Pruzina
Cílín Corbett
Colm Moran
Eoghan Whelan
Josh O’Sullivan – Hourihan
Kevin O’Boyle
Liam Cotter
Laurence Quinn
Conor Short
Aidan McCullough
Jonathan Quinn
Conall Whelan
Ruairi Short
Sprint WC 2024 in Scotland
July 12 sprint
July 14 sprint relay
July 16 knockout sprint
World Cup 2024
Round 1 in Switzerland
May 24 qualifying knockout sprint
May 25 knockout sprint finals
May 26 sprint
Round 2 in Italy
June 1 sprint
June 2 sprint relay
Round 3 in Hungary with forest EOC
August 17 middle distance
August 18 long distance
August 20 relay
Round 4 in Finland
September 26 long distance
September 28 middle distance
September 29 relay
Time for European Championships in fast Italian terrain
The international orienteering season will come to an intense end, when the European Orienteering Championships and World Cup Round 3 are decided over three sprint races in northern Italy in the coming days.
Verona, Soave and Vicenza in Italy’s Veneto region host a Sprint, a Sprint Relay and a Knock-Out Sprint respectively.
All three terrains offer flat and fast orienteering – primarily on hard surface in the historic cities with some park and open areas along the way.
If you are not travelling to Italy to follow races at the arenas, there will be a high quality TV-production on IOF TV from all finals at EOC.
IOF’s experienced commentators Katherine Bett and Jonas Merz will guide you through the races in English.
Find start lists, results, maps and GPS-tracking at IOF LIVE
Good luck to our Irish Team runners Niamh, Eadaoin, Alice, Colm and Josh. They are looked after by Paul for the trip.
You follow our team in Instagram here.
EOC and World Cup Round 3 Program
All times CEST (UTC +2)
Wednesday, October 4
Sprint, Verona
08.45 Sprint Qualification first start
14.30 Sprint Final First start
14.30 – 17.00 IOF TV Broadcast
Friday, October 6
Sprint Relay, Soave
15.30 – 17.00 IOF TV Broadcast
15.45 Sprint Relay start
Sunday, October 8
Knock-Out Sprint, Vicenza
8.30 KO Sprint Qualification first start
12.25 KO Sprint Quarterfinals start
14.00 – 16.00 IOF TV Broadcast
Senior Home Internationals 2023 – Team Selection
Congratulation to all selected for the Senior Home international 2023.
Women:
Clodagh Moran
Aoife McCavana
Aoife O’Sullivan
Eadaoin McCavana
Sarah Knight
Men:
Eoghan Whelan
Liam Cotter
Aidan McCullough
George Savell
Laurence Quinn
Cillin Corbett
Colm Moran
Ruairi Short
We are wishing all athletes best of luck this weekend 9th/10th September at Merthyr Common South & Clydach Terrace, organised by SWOC, in Wales.
Senior Squad Sprint Camp – Dublin – Recipe
“Team cook” : Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan
Ingredients:
- Days: 4
- Maps: 9
- Controls: 162
- Average kms: 80km – 92km
- Helpers: 3
- Course Planners: 8, 6 internationals
- Photographers: 1
- Juniors: 2, 1 international
- Fun: to much to count
Day 1:
Day one saw 3 athletes on a training course designed by Anton from Sweden to kick off the training weekend. Great route choices kept the athletes thinking on their feet … pardon the pun.
Day 2:
Today the “cook” dished out a knock-out sprint simulation with different maps of different areas. It included correct time delays between qualification, quarter final, semi final and final. It was to mimic WOC sprint timing between knock-out events. Course Planner was Kevin O’Boyle for the quali and quarter final events who put a lot of thought into the planning with interesting route choices that encouraged great discussions.
The afternoon training block saw courses planned by one of Ukraine’s national team runners Olena for the semi final and final events. And boy were the stakes raised. Like in WOC and EOC races, the athletes had 20 seconds to look at route choices before the mass start.
Day 3:
After very intensive day 2 the team had a slightly “easier ” day. The morning saw a gaffled sprint interval training and the course at Dublin’s dockland was set this time by Warre, a Belgium national team runner.
The afternoon had the team training a line-O designed by Matthias, national team runner from Austria, before a fast sprint style training set by Kerstin, national team runner from Estonia.
Day 4:
And to finish the training camp, the team had two final task. At this point desert was served by the “cook” with a cherry on top. The team headed to Tempelbar & Grafton Quarter for another sprint style training and to leave everything “out there”. The course was set by Leo from Holper&Zapf course planning . The team delivered once again with some very fast foot speed.
And finally the afternoon was planned by the High Performance Manager Jens himself. This rounded up a very successful and first team sprint training.
Wrapping up:
My profound thanks goes to the “cook” for the training weekend Josh. The team piggy backed on his training, that he planned for himself.
I am also thankful to Donore Harriers to lend us their clubhouse for a team debrief and analysis evening. Josh is a member of that club and got permission.
I want to mention Ruairi ( currently injured ) who helped out and gave the team his insight on WOC this year, thank you. Not to forget Kevin, he not only planned courses but made himself available to train and support.
Finally, I can not wait to have many more of these trainings that are conceived & organised by other members of the senior squad.
Please help support our team and all the other internationals who planned and designed training for the team. It helps our national team to reach out and connect to other orienteering nations and their teams for future endeavours.
Jens | High Performance Manager | Orienteering Ireland
European Orienteering Championships 2023 Orienteering Ireland Team Announcement
The High Performance Manager and Orienteering Ireland are delighted to announce the athletes selected to represent Ireland at the European Orienteering Championships (EOC) in Italy from the 1st-8th of October 2023.
Ladies: Aoife O’Sullivan, Aoife McCavana, Eadaoin McCavana and Niamh O’Boyle.
Men: Kevin O’Boyle and Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan
Team Official: Paul O’Sullivan-Hourihan
Orienteering Ireland would like to wish all the athletes the very best of luck at the Championships.
Jens – High Performance Manager
WOC starting July 12th
The Irish Team is ready and super excited to start WOC 2023 in Flims/Laax, Switzerland.
Last preparation were completed today.
A big “thank you” to Ruth who has become our Team Official last minute.
You can follow the senior squad almost live on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/irishorienteeringsquad/
You can find all the latest updates on WOC here .
And of course for some in-depth analysis why not pop over to world of O.
And finally, may I introduce the athletes. Good luck to you all and have fun out there.
Jens | High Performance Manager
Name: Clodagh Moran
Instagram: @clodaghmoran
Age: 23
Hometown: Dublin
Currently living: Leaving Gothenburg, going to Frankfurt
Club: @3rockorienteering
@goteborgmajornaok
@orienteeringucd
No. WOCs: 2
2023 events: Middle, Long
What do you think of the WOC terrain: Hardddd. So much detail, really fun but will be tricky
Favourite biscuit: Custard Creams
Orienteering strength: Open mountain
Favourite Map/Terrain: Sand dunes
Result most proud of: JK W10 Bronze
Favourite Irish mountain: Djouce
Name: Paul Pruzina
Instagram: @ppruzina
Age: 26
Hometown: Comber, Down
Currently living: travelling for the summer, moving to Cambridge in September
Club: LVO, @real_drongo, @ifklidingosok
No. WOCs: 2
2023 events: Middle, Relay
What do you think of the WOC terrain: Really nice terrains, lots of detail to make it tricky. Some fast running but other places to really slow down and get things right
Favourite biscuit: Digestive cream
Orienteering strength: All-rounder. Not the fastest or the best navigator, but pretty OK at both
Favourite Map/Terrain: Fontainebleau, France
Result most proud of: JK 2011 mini relay gold
Favourite Irish mountain: Sliabh Liag. Lovely mountain with fantastic cliffs and some nice scrambling if you’re up for it.
Name: Ruairi Short
Instagram: @ruairishort
Age: 34
Hometown: Blessington, Wicklow
Currently living: Dublin
Club(s): @cnocorienteers , @oklinne
No. WOCs: 8
2023 events: Middle, Relay
What do you think of the WOC terrain: Very interesting detailed areas which will provide some great technical courses. Thick enough forest in places too so having the confidence to push through it will be key.
Favourite biscuit: Mikado
Orienteering strength: Navigation
Favourite Map/Terrain: Lunsen, Uppsala, Sweden
Result most proud of: JHI 2007 M18 1st
Favourite Irish mountain: Diamond Hill, Connemara. Great childhood memories from climbing it many summers.
Name: Colm Moran
Instagram: @colmmemaybe_yo
Age: 30
Hometown: Dublin
Currently living: Edinburgh
Club: @3rockorienteering, @interlopersedinburgh
No. WOCs: 5
2023 events: Middle, Long, Relay
What do you think of the WOC terrain: A fascinating blend of vague hillside and intricate rock detail, fun.
Favourite biscuit: Fox’s Golden Crunch
Orienteering strength: contours – nothing else matters
Favourite Map/Terrain: Aveyron limestone (Les Bouzigasses)
Result most proud of: WUOC 2016 Beer Relay Gold
Favourite Irish mountain: Big Gun (An Gunna Mór)
Orienteering Ireland Selection Announcement World Championships 2023, Flims & Laax Switzerland
Orienteering Ireland is delighted to announce the athletes selected to represent Ireland at the World Orienteering Championships (WOC) in Switzerland from the 11th-16th of July 2023.
Middle Distance
Ladies: Clodagh Moran
Men: Paul Pruzina,Colm Moran & Ruairi Short
Reserve: Laurence Quinn
Long Distance
Ladies: Clodagh Moran
Men: Colm Moran
Reserve: Paul Pruzina
Relay Men
Colm Moran, Ruairi Short, Paul Pruzina
Orienteering Ireland would like to wish all the athletes the very best of luck at the Championships.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the selectors for this years WOC.
Jens – High Performance Manager
WOC Test Races and Training Camp for Team Ireland
Our senior elite team will be heading to Switzerland this week for their final preparation and selection for WOC 2023!
And here is the team heading over:
- Zoë Tyner
- Clodagh Moran
- Cillin Corbett
- Seamus O’Boyle
- Laurence Quinn
- Colm Moran
- Ruairi Short
- Paul Pruzina
We will be on various training maps between May 31st and June 2nd in the Flims Laax region. The athletes will take part in three rounds of test races between June 3rd and June 6th.
To give you a taste of the Swiss training, check out the map for a middle distance :
There won’t be GPS tracking, however you can follow your favourite athlete through live results here : https://woc2023.app/live
For more information why don’t you head over to the WOC 2023 page for all information. https://woc2023.app/teams
Send your athlete good luck wishes on their social media channels, or on the Orienteering Ireland social media channels!
Good luck folks and enjoy, the weather promises to be great.
European Orienteering Championships ’23 Application Policy
Senior Elite Squad Updates & Changes
Orienteering sport at the world level is an absolute top sport. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognises the sport that is not (yet) part of the Olympic Games. Inclusion in the Olympic program is one of the declared goals of the International Orienteering Federation (IOF).
World and European championships are held in all four orienteering sports. A world ranking list is kept. There is a World Cup for all orienteering disciplines, an unofficial European Cup is the counterpart to this.
In the dominant orienteering nations are several athletes who train at a professional level and can make a living from their sport, at least temporarily. Paid coaches are standard, not only for the national teams but also for many clubs in these nations.
In addition to the international title fights, the big Scandinavian club relays, such as the Tiomila, the 25-manna in Sweden, or the Jukola and the Venla in Finland, enjoy high prestige.
At international championships and the World Cup live reporting via TV and the Internet is now standard.
Orienteering sport in Ireland is currently far away from such conditions. The Irish athletes are currently not among the best in the world in orienteering sports.
Nevertheless, talented athletes and committed coaches take a lot of time and effort to assert themselves in the best possible way.
I am delighted to announce a new elite senior squad policy, guidelines, and application process for the competition year 2024.
And here are the soundbites of what’s new:
- Performance guidelines for athletes/coaches & guidelines for international competition results
- A new & comprehensive application form for anyone eligible wishing to be part of the senior team for the competition year cycle
- The application deadline for the senior squad team is October 30 annually.
- Senior squad team announcement in November annually.
- An annual publication of the season calendar in November which includes dates for training camps, test races, and relevant national and international competitions