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Share  Tweet Thursday 24th December 2020

Looking Back at 2020: Overview Snapshot - from the month of May 2020

 

British Orienteering supported Mental Health Awareness Week (18-24 May).

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Lockdown Orienteering Continued.... this time with a 3-day Classic Orienteering themed Weekend.

Friday 8th to Sunday 10th May 2020.

A 3-day orienteering competition from the comfort of your sofa with ‘classic’ orienteering themed stages. All challenges were themed around ‘Classic’ orienteering = Forest orienteering!

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GB Gold Medal winner Grace Molloy talked about her day-to-day and weekly training during the Lockdown restrictions.

“It is a great opportunity to work on your fitness. Being outside and exercising is, in my opinion, some of the best things to do at the moment so enjoy the chance to do those.”

Read more here.

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Grace Molloy training
Fiona Bunn training

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Fiona Bunn (CUOC / TVOC) is named Sports Person of the Year, at the first ever University of Cambridge Sports Awards.

Fiona Bunn said: “I was really honoured to be considered for the award amongst such talented sports people, and to win it was a lovely surprise.”

Read more here.

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50 years! Northern Ireland Orienteering Association was formed in 1970, in May at a meeting in Belfast.

(Source:  British Orienteering Federation Archive).

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British Orienteering launched three webinars to support clubs and members 

  • First up – was Simon Errington, Happy Herts Orienteering Club (HH) explaining Routegadget.
  • Followed by a week later with Pat MacLeod, North Gloucestershire Orienteering Club (NGOC) explaining all about MapRun.
  • The third in the Lockdown Series of Webinars was with Ollie O’Brien from South London Orienteers (SLOW) and the creator of the easy map creation tool. Ollie demonstrated how to use Open Orienteering Map, the practicalities and functions of the platform as well as relating its use for creating Virtual Orienteering Courses.
One attendee said: “Really insightful, thank you all.”

 

 

A series of online workshops and webinars was also launched in Scotland, by the SOA, covering topics including MapRun, Event Safety Workshops, and social evenings with Grace Molloy and Chris Imray.

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World Orienteering Day in 2020 – went virtual in May!

Thanks to Lockdown Orienteering...World Orienteering Day was enjoyed  as a Virtual Event and saw 2,000 people register with 1,000 people taking part from a staggering 52 different countries.

Countries taking part were from all around the world such as Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Malaysia, Qatar, Great Britain, Spain, Russia, France, and Australia.

The most people taken part in the virtual online event from any one country was from Great Britain with 376 competitors.

Read more here.

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A series of Insightful Interviews took place with some GB Athletes and the Impact on Training in Lockdown.

British Orienteering published a series of inspirational interviews this month with GB athletes to find out they were getting on in the ‘new normal’ and talked about how over the last few months lockdown restrictions have impacted on their daily and weekly training routines and drills.

Check out these interviews by clicking on the GB athlete name below.

Alastair Thomas (EUOC / WCOC), Jo Shepherd (INVOC), Fiona Bunn (TVOC / CUOC), Kirstin Maxwell (Roxburgh Reivers), Hector Haines (AROS), Cat Taylor (SYO), Sarah Jones (Lakeland OC).

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British Orienteering 2019 Awards 

The Chichester Trophy is presented for the best map by an amateur mapper.

The winning map was: Arncliffe & Kilnsey North by Tony Thornley (Airienteers).

Tony said:  "I am delighted to have been awarded the Chichester Trophy for my map for last year’s British Champs. The trophy is very special; it is the binnacle compass from the yacht Gipsy Moth V. Sir Francis presented it to British Orienteering when he was president in 1971, shortly before he died. Along with the British Orienteering Championships M21E ‘King of the Forest’ trophy it is probably the most iconic and special of all British Orienteering awards.”

Read more here.

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British Orienteering Awards - The Coach of the Year.

This year’s winner: Paul Murgatroyd.

“Paul’s recognition is well deserved for the tremendous amount of hard works he’s put in for the benefit of others.”

Read more here.

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British Orienteering Awards - Winner of The Bonington Trophy.

The Bonington Trophy is awarded annually for the best contribution to mapping. In all cases this reflected considerable input and support to the sport over many years.

Winner: Alison Sloman (Harlequins Orienteering Club).

Alison said of her award: “I am surprised and delighted to be awarded The Bonington Trophy. It is nice to have something happen to be cheerful about in these difficult times especially as I cannot get out mapping which I enjoy so much.”

Read more here.

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British Orienteering Awards 2019 - Winner of The Walsh Trophy.

The Walsh Trophy sponsored by Walsh Shoes is for the best urban or sprint map to ISSOM standards.

The three judges agreed that the winning maps were:

Falkland and Macrosty Park 6 days, both by Graham Gristwood and awarded the same overall score.

Graham, said: “I am delighted to have won the Walsh Trophy for the third year in a row. It was fantastic to get the opportunity from the National Trust for Scotland to access Falkland Palace and Gardens for Scottish Spring last year - a really interesting area to map, and it was also great to map and plan the sprint race at the Scottish 6 Days for the second time. Hopefully, we can continue to find interesting and challenging terrains to map!”

Read more here.

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Tony Thornley (Airienteers)
Paul Murgatroyd.
Alison Sloman (HH)
Graham Gristwood (FVO)

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British Orienteering Awards -The Young Volunteer of the Year.

This year’s winner was Ingebjørg Holmedal.

Commenting on her award Ingebjørg, said:  “I definitely feel like my volunteering work with OROX (Orienteering Runners of Exeter) has given me much more than I have given it. It is an amazing club full of people new to the sport with a real passion for learning and enjoying the sport both at the highs and the lows. It makes for an incredibly supportive and fun club that it has been amazing to coach! Thank you to everyone who made it such a joy.”

Read more here.

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British Orienteering Awards - The Club of the Year.

This year’s winner was Forth Valley Orienteers (FVO).

Jen Leonard, President of FVO said: “FVO is delighted to be recognised as Club of the Year! I would like to thank each and every one of our 224 club members for contributing to such a great year, whether that be volunteering at events, serving on the committee or achieving success in the forest.”

Read more here.

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British Orienteering Awards - Winner of The SILVA Trophy.

The SILVA Trophy is for the best map produced by professional mappers.

The winning map was: Dunfermline by Chris Smithard.

Chris said: “Making a map of Dunfermline was a pleasure! It is the place where my Dad grew up and where my Uncle and Aunt still live so holds a special personal connection for me. Thanks to Kingdom of Fife Orienteers for giving me the opportunity to map it.”

Read more here.

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Ingebjørg Holmedal (right / 37)
Forth Valley Orienteers (FVO)
Chris Smithard

British Orienteering Awards - Winner of The University Club of the Year.

This year’s winner was Edinburgh University (EUOC).

“British Orienteering certainly appreciates and recognises all of the commitment, time and effort that goes into our sport from all our volunteers in clubs across the country. Especially in the current environment. It’s been pleasing to hear the positive comments and plans clubs have to get back out in the forests and parks once restrictions are lifted.”

Read more here.

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British Orienteering Awards - Winner for The SILVA Award.

The winner for The SILVA Award.

This year’s winner was Roger Jackson, West Cumberland Orienteers (WCOC).

Roger said: "I hope I have been successful over the decades in being able to facilitate and help other club members to promote the sport and the club, keeping the 'WCOC' cogs turning."

Read more here.

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British Orienteering Awards - The Volunteer of the Year.

The winner for The Volunteer of the Year.

This year’s winner was David Nicol, Forth Valley Orienteers (FVO).

On hearing about his award David said: "I am grateful for the nomination and the recognition of the role I played in helping to put on the Scottish Six Days 2019. I have had a significant role in each of the Six Days since I was the Computer Manager for the Taysinde 2009. I have been an Assistant Day Organiser and Day Organiser four times, and for every Six Day since I have managed everyone’s' start times. It has been fun. But 2019, was the heaviest involvement yet. Thank you for the nomination."

Read more here.

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EUOC
Roger Jackson (WCOC)
David Nicol (FVO)

Congratulations to all the winners. British Orienteering certainly appreciates and recognises all of the commitment, time, and effort that goes into our sport from all our volunteers across every year. Thank you.

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Who are you thinking deserves recognition for what they done in 2020? 

Who are you going to be nominating in 2021?

 

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