Junior Training Sessions 2020

SADLY WE HAVE CANCELLED MARCH’S EVENTS In light of the Taoiseach’s announcement earlier today and the request that as a nation we reduce social interactions, we are cancelling orienteering events and organised training activities for the next two weeks up to and including the 29th March. Please check back towards the end of March when we will update the post with regards to April’s sessions. In the meantime, we hope you and your family can get out into the open spaces and enjoy the Spring at this difficult time.

David Healy of GEN Orienteers has kindly invited all orienteers in the M/W10-12 age classes to his open training sessions to be held on three Saturdays in each of March and April.

What’s the training about?

Well it’s about providing a training resource for young orienteers to gain new skills, have fun and make new friends and all for free!

David Healy and his team will be using the permanent orienteering courses (and some kites) . Parents will be expected to print the maps ready for the training sessions, you can find the links on the venues above. This will keep our costs down and ensure only the maps needed will be printed! It will also help families understand how to use the fantastic free orienteering resources available around the country in Coillte forests and other public places.

Questions, comments and offers of help?

Please contact davidjosephhealy@gmail.com

Portugal O Meet 2020

In the run up to the selection of Irish athletes for World orienteering Championships our senior athletes attend a number of World Ranking events across Europe. These enable athletes to qualify for selection both to gain a place at the Championships and ultimately to be eligible for selection on the Irish Team. The races also give fantastic racing and training opportunities on high quality maps and varied terrain, testing athletes fitness as well as orienteering.

Niamh Corbett, Kevin O’Boyle, Niall McCarthy and Cillin Corbett attended the Portugal O Meet (POM) , a four day competition to count along with two more sprint races as a separate event. There was a world ranking long distance race on the Sunday – Niall was best of the Irish in M21E category finishing in 36th place. The race was over 18.5km with a 395m climb, check out his run on Strava!

Niamh Corbett had some great runs finishing fifth overall in W21E in the Portugal O Meet (5 person podium, hence the medal!) and second in the sprint in W21E. She also finished with a fantastic 8th place in the World ranking Forest race over 13.3km and 285m climb.

Kevin ran well in the Sprint races finishing 7th overall in the combined sprint results with 9th and 12th place finishes on the day and night sprints respectively.

Map courtesy of http://omaps.worldofo.com/

Debbie Whelan

If you have an orienteering story or news piece to post please contact me on comms@orienteering.ie

Sprint Training Camp

You are invited to an open Sprint Camp in Belfast from 14th-16th of February The camp is open to anyone over 18 years who would like to practice Sprint Orienteering. All National team runners are encouraged to participate, but we’d love to see anyone who is interested in improving their Sprint tactics.

The plan is to start with a team relay on Friday night with knock-outs on Saturday and racing a traditional Sprint on Sunday. The aim is to practice race tactics with as many participants as possible whilst having a fun weekend. With WOC fast approaching, as well as the selection races this will help our National team, and you, prepare for your next Sprint race.

Please Email Anton on Hallors_92@hotmail.com for more information. Registration is mandatory and registration deadline is 9th February.

Why not JOIN US!