Orienteering Ireland Annual Awards
Orienteering Ireland presents three annual awards. These awards are of equal status and reflect the Irish orienteering community’s recognition of an individual’s contribution to the sport.
Spirit of Orienteering Award
This award is given to one person each year. It is in recognition of outstanding service or performance in the sport, either for exceptional efforts in a single year or for a long term contribution that makes a lasting impact on the sport.
Nomination process
The OI executive nominate candidates for this award. The support of two members of the executive are required for a successful nomination, and in the event of more than one nomination a vote will decide the winner, with the Chairperson having the casting vote in the event of a tie.
Sean Cotter of Bishopstown Orienteering Club received the Spirit of Orienteering Award 2021
‘Over many years the name Sean Cotter has been synonymous with orienteering in the Munster region. He has been a constant promoter of the sport for many years and has been either directly or indirectly responsible for introducing many people to the sport. Some of these have gone on to represent Ireland at the highest level. Irrespective of ability his constant positivity has ensured people keep coming back. On completion of a run everyone always gets a positive affirmation of their effort.
He has competed, Planned, Controlled and mapped for many years. He has been involved at club level, schools and with many scouting and volunteer groups. He was interacting with Local Sports partnerships and county development groups for many years.
His emphasis now is on accessible Orienteering for mass participation. Every Sunday at BOC events around the Cork county area he always has large numbers of beginners and novice Orienteers returning for their regular fix of the sport.’
Performance Excellence Award
Introduced in 2012, this award is given when an athlete performs to a high level in an International Event
| Year of Award | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| Aislinn Austin | 2011, 2001 | WOC 2011, JWOC 2001 |
| Alex Simonin | 2010 | EYOC 2010 |
| Andrew Quin | 2006 | WOC 2006 |
| Aonghus O’Cleirigh | 1988, 1987 | WOC 1987, JK 1988 |
| David Healy | 2010, 2003 | JWOC 2003, WOC 2010 |
| John Feehan | 2001, 1999, 1992, 1991 | JK 1999, JWOC 1991, WOC2001, JWOC 1992 |
| Marcus Pinker | 1999, 1997, 1993 | WOC 1999, WOC 1997,JWOC 1993 |
| Niamh O’Boyle | 2010, 2009,2003 | JK 2009, JK 2010, WOC 2010,JWOC 2003 |
| Niamh Corbett | 2010 | EYOC 2010 |
| Nicolas Simonin | 2010, 2009, 2007 | WOC 2010, JWOC 2009, JK2010, JWOC 2007 |
| Sarah Browne | 2003 | JWOC 2003 |
| Toni O’Donovan | 1999 | WOC 1999 |
| Una May | 1995, 1994, 1993 | JK 1993, JK 1994, JK 1995 |
| Wally Young | 1978, 1981 | WOC 1978, WOC 1981 |
| Wilbert Hollinger | 2011 | WTOC 2011 |
Criteria for OI Performance Award
Below are the criteria that were developed and used in 2012 to select recipients for the Performance Excellence Awards. Some of the Criteria may seem overly complicated but the reason is that it was to reflect the performance that is now required to qualify for a WOC Final.
Seniors:
World Orienteering Championships
Middle: A top 45 place in the Final.
Long: A top 45 place of all competitors, but top 50% if there are less than 90 competitors.
Sprint: A top 45 place in the Final.
Knockout Sprint: Qualification for the Quarter Finals, i.e. top 36
European Orienteering Championships
Middle: A top 45 place in the Final.
Long: A top 45 place of all competitors, but top 50% if there are less than 90 competitors.
Sprint: A top 45 place in the Final.
Knockout Sprint: Qualification for the Quarter Finals, i.e. top 36
Jan Kjellstrom
Achieving a Top 10 place in W21E or M21E – or top 20% if field size is less than 40
World Cup
Top 40% place in the overall results of the World Cup.
World Military Orienteering Championships
Reaching the final of the World Military Orienteering Championships;
In the years where there is no qualification races then being in a top 45 place of all competitors, but top 50% if there are less than 90 competitors, for years when the best runner from each country qualified then as above counting all competitors in the qualifying races
World University Orienteering Championships
Reaching the final of the World University Orienteering Championships;
In the years where there is no qualification races then being in a top 45 place of all competitors, but top 50% if there are less than 90 competitors, for years when the best runner from each country qualified then as above counting all competitors in the qualifying races
World Trail O/Mountain Bike O/Ski O Championships
Top 33% of field
World Masters Orienteering Championship
Achieving a 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in the Final
Juniors:
European Youth Orienteering Championships
Achieving a Top 20 place, or top 40% of the field if less than 40 runners.
Junior World Orienteering Championships
Reaching the final of the Junior World Orienteering Championships;
In the years where there is no qualification races then being in a top 60 place of all competitors, but top 50% if there are less than 60 competitors, for years when the best runner from each country qualified then as above counting all competitors in the qualifying races
Other Criteria:
Recipients should be members of OI affiliated clubs or non-members competing for Ireland.
It is possible to receive more than one medal in a single year.
Mac Tíre Award
Awarded for the Development of the Sport of Orienteering
Mac Tíre Award: for the development of orienteering – achieving something that will grow the sport. Some examples are: a new map; a new technology; bringing orienteering to a new part of the country; introducing a new group to the sport; revitalising a neglected area of the sport; enhancing the social aspects of the sport, staging a major event.
Eligibility:
– Once five years have passed a person is again eligible to win an award that they have won before
– Serving OI committee members cannot receive the Mac Tíre Award.
Nominations:
– must be from an OI affiliated club or a member of an OI affiliated club and they do not need to be seconded
– must contain a short description of why the nominee should receive the award – typically this will be two or three sentences.
– should indicate if the person was nominated unsuccessfully in a previous year
– must be submitted by the closing date
– should be for an individual – group nominations are discouraged
– will be published on orienteering.ie in advance of the award ceremony
– cannot be from a current Judge or from a current member of the OI Executive committee
Judges:
– the previous year’s award winners will form a committee with three equal votes and will select the winners of this year’s three awards
– The award will be judged by the previous three recipients of the award. (In 2014, this will be the three people who received the Silva Award, Silva, Trophy and Mac Tíre Trophy in 2013, in 2015 this will be the recipient in 2014 plus those who received the Silva Award and Trophy in 2013. In 2016,the judges will be the recipients of the award in 2014, 2015 and the last recipient of the Mac Tíre Trophy in 2013. Subsequent years it will be the previous three recipients of the Mac Tíre Award.)
– if committee members are unavailable then the OI chairman will nominate alternative members
– the judges’ decision is final
– group awards are discouraged – the judges should strive to select individual winners
– if there are no nominations, or if the Judges feel that the nominees are not of the required standard, then an award may not be given.
Awards:
– will be publicised on orienteering.ie and elsewhere
– should be given out at the AGM of the OI, unless there is a good logistical reason for choosing another occasion
– will be kept safe by the winners and returned to the OI administrative assistant in good time for the next award ceremony.