Left to right:  Kris Jones, Ralph Street, Hector Haines after the World Orienteering Championships Forest Relay 2015, 4th place.

British Orienteering has announced the selection of 36 athletes for its Senior Performance Programmes in 2016–2017, as the teams focus towards converting podium places to medals over the next five years.

The British Orienteering Development and Performance Programme selections are based upon the potential to win medals in relay or individual events in the World Orienteering Championships (WOC) and is split into two levels: Performance (for athletes with the potential to win medals in the next one to three years) and Development (for athletes with the potential to win medals in the next two to five years). In addition, the Watch Squad includes athletes that are transitioning between junior and senior programmes.

British Orienteeirng has selected 11 athletes for its Performance Programme and 9 athletes for its Development Programme. 16 athletes have been selected for the Watch Squad. 

British Orienteering Performance Manager, Jackie Newton, said: "2016 was an exciting year for the British Orienteering Programme as, for the first time ever, we achieved podium success in every IOF Championship. This has inspired and gives us confidence to go after the medals. We need squads that are focused towards this vision and our selections reflect this.  The athletes will receive support and expert input to progress their abilities, reach their full potential and achieve our aims and we are very much looking forward to working with them towards these aims over the next year".

PERFORMANCE SQUAD (11)

Graham Gristwood - FVO

Hector Haines – INT

Peter Hodkinson – NOC

Kristian Jones - FVO/SBOC

Alasdair McLeod – CLYDE

Hollie Orr – LOC

Tessa Strain – EUOC

Ralph Street – SLOW

Catherine Taylor – CLOK

Jess Tullie – BASOC

Charlotte Ward - HALO

DEVELOPMENT SQUAD (9)

Megan Carter-Davies - MWOC

Alan Cherry - EBOR

Jonathan Crickmore - EUOC

William Gardner - OD/ShUOC

Alice Leake - SN

Jo Shepherd – INVOC

Aidan Smith - SYO

Christopher Smithard - DEE

Charlotte Watson - WCOC

WATCH SQUAD (16)

Dane Blomquist - ShUOC/SYO

Peter Bray - SN

Lucy Butt - SARUM

Matthew Elkington - OD/ShUOC

Julie Emmerson – OD

Zoe Harding - EUOC

Sarah Jones - EUOC/LOC

Kirstin Maxwell - RR

Rhona McMillan - ShUOC

Jamie Parkinson - DEVON/OUOC

Adam Potter - BOK

Mark Purkis - EUOC

Katie Reynolds - SBOC/EUOC

William Rigg - LOC/EUOC

Oliver Williams - DEE

Joe Woodley - ShUOC

Item posted by Jackie Newton, Performance Manager