The Junior Home Internationals- Where/ When/ Who?

For many Junior Orienteerers the JHI’s (Yes, yes, so many acronyms), the Junior Home Internationals are where out Juniors first cut their teeth on the international stage. They are held every year in either Wales, Scotland, England, and on occasion Northern Ireland.  We attend under the kind invitation of the NIOA.

Always fun, and challenging these competitions encourage friendships between Juniors of these countries. But don’t take my word for it.

I asked Ruairi Long, to tell me why he liked going to the JHI’s:

“The JHI has been a feature of my Orienteering calendar ever since I was 13. It’s no laughing matter as a junior with little international experience. But looking back after 2 EYOC and 1 JWOC experience, I can say that it’s a defining moment for anyone. Getting to know the British Juniors that you will spend the rest of your competitive career with has been a highlight, but in a sport as individualistic as Orienteering nothing beats the team spirit. The team is really just a family of 24. Oh, and pulling on a top with the word ‘Ireland’ on the back is something else too. “

If you think this is something that you would like to be involved in, please contact me.

We are holding a final selection race on the 9th of September in Gortalunghay, Florencecourt, Co Fermanagh.

If you have any questions I would be delighted to answer them.  In the meantime, happy running…

EYOC 2016 Selection Policy

The European Youth Orienteering Championships 2016 (EYOC) will take place in Poland this June.

Eligible for selection are M/W18s (born 1998, 1999) and 2nd year M/W16s (born 2000). In exceptional cases first year M/W16s (born 2001) may be selected.

The main selection races are as follows:

Selection Events
 Fri 25 March Sprint JK Leeds University – M/W 18E or 16
 Sat 26 March Middle/Long JK day 2 Wass Forest – M/W 18E or M/W 16A
 Sun 27 March Long JK day 3 Kilnsey – M/W 18E or M/W 16A
 Sun 17 Apr Long Leinster Championships, Carrick Mt., Co. Wicklow (classes tbc)
 Fri 29 April Sprint Irish Championships, Waterford IT – (classes tbc)
 Sat 30 April Middle Irish Championships, Coumshingaun – (classes tbc)
 Sun 1 May Long Irish Championships, Mahon Falls, – (classes tbc)

There will be no automatic selection based on results. The selectors will also take into account athletes’ level of commitment as shown by:

 Orienteering regularly and often
 Attending training camps/competitions
 Achieving and maintaining a high level of fitness
 Training with relevant non-orienteering sport clubs (eg hill-running, cross-country, athletics, etc.)
 Participating in relevant non-orienteering races.
 Maintaining an online training diary e.g. Attackpoint
 Responding promptly to emails, and communicating if unable to attend training or other squad events.

More details can be found in the full selection policy document available here: IOA Junior Selection Policy EYOC 2016

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JWOC 2016 Selection Policy

The Junior World Orienteering Championships 2016 (JWOC) will take place in Switzerland this July.

Eligible for selection are M/W20s and 2nd year M/W18s (born 1996, 1997, 1998). In exceptional cases first year M/W18s (born 1999) may be selected.

The main selection events are as follows:

Selection Events
 Fri 25 March Sprint JK Leeds University – M/W 18/20E
 Sat 26 March Middle JK day 2 Wass Forest – M/W 18/20E
 Sun 27 March Long JK day 3 Kilnsey – M/W 18/20E
 Sun 17 Apr Long Leinster Championships, Carrick Mt., Co. Wicklow (classes tbc)
 Fri 29 April Sprint Irish Championships, Waterford IT – (classes tbc)
 Sat 30 April Middle Irish Championships, Coumshingaun, Co. Waterford – (classes tbc)
 Sun 1 May Long Irish Championships, Mahon Falls, Co. Waterford – (classes tbc)

There will be no automatic selection based on results. The selectors will also take into account athletes’ level of commitment as shown by

 Orienteering regularly and often
 Attending training camps/competitions
 Achieving and maintaining a high level of fitness
 Training with relevant non-orienteering sport clubs (eg hill-running, cross-country, athletics, etc.)
 Participating in relevant non-orienteering races.
 Maintaining an online training diary e.g. Attackpoint
 Responding promptly to emails, and communicating if unable to attend training or other squad events.

More details can be found in the full selection policy document available here: IOA Junior Selection Policy JWOC 2016

JHI 2014 Selection Criteria

Below you will find a link to the 2014 JHI Selection Policy. Please read it carefully.

Any questions or queries, please e-mail mike.long at ucd.ie

Policy: JHI Selection Policy Irish Team 2014

Selection Policy for Irish team to:

JHI 2014

Junior Home International (JHI) 2014, 30-31 August, Oban, Scotland.

Classes M/W 18, 16, 14 (max 4 runners per class)

To compete on the Irish team at the JHI, an athlete must be a current member of a NIOA or IOA club, and must either:

• Have been born, or have a parent who was born in Ireland or Northern Ireland
• Have established residence for at least one year, (this includes students who can prove a home base in Northern Ireland/Ireland).

Requirements for selection:

** Compete at the Irish Championships 2014 Middle and Long races.

** Accumulate at least three counting results from the list of competitions below.

Athletes who cannot satisfy these requirements may be eligible for selection if there is good reason.  Please notify the selectors in advance if you can’t attend these events.

Competition results to be considered for JHI 2014 selections:

Required Events:

** Sat 3 May     Irish Championships Middle, Camaderry, Wicklow – appropriate A/L/E age class

** Sun 4 May    Irish Championships Long, Lough Firrib, Wicklow – appropriate A/L/E age class

Other races:

• Sun 6 Apr     Leinster Championships, Dysart, Co. Laois – appropriate age class
• Fri 18 Apr     JK Sprint – appropriate age class
• Sat 19 Apr    JK day 2 – appropriate A or E age class
• Sun 20 Apr   JK day 3 – appropriate A or E age class
• Sat 21 Jun    Donard Forest, Co. Down

The selectors will consider all known form, and will also take into account the level of commitment of athletes as shown by

• maintaining an online training diary e.g. Attackpoint
• responding promptly to emails
• giving valid excuses for not attending training camps/competitions
• joining an athletics club
• running non-orienteering races as training
• orienteering regularly and often
• running the March 2014 Time Trial

Juniors are also reminded that they should only wear their Irish Squad kit when representing Ireland at international competitions, club kit should be worn at all other times.

It is hoped to finalise the team by the end of June.