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Share  Tweet Friday 18th May 2018

Royal Deeside is preparing for the Royal Wedding and the influx of nearly 1,200 orienteers from across the country.

The Scottish Orienteering Association (SOA) is staging the British Orienteering Championships 2018 this weekend (Saturday 19 May to Sunday 20 May 2018) in Royal Deeside. The Long Distance Championships are being held over the Balmoral Estate with the British Relay Championships at nearby Torphantrick (Cambus o’May).
The British Trail Orienteering Championships are being staged on Sunday 20 May at nearby Crathes Castle. 

Saturday 19 May:  British Orienteering Championships - Long distance race (UKOL)
Find out more:  British Orienteering Championships (UKOL) - Balmoral nr. Braemar.

Sunday 20 May:  British Orienteering Championships - Relay event
Find out more:  British Relay Championships - Torphantrick nr. Ballater.

Sunday 20 May:  British Trail Orienteering Championships
Find out more:  British Trail Orienteering Championships - Crathes Castle nr. Banchory.

Scottish Orienteering Association Satellite

Royal Deeside is preparing for the Royal Wedding and the influx of nearly 1,200 orienteers from across the country. In addition to most of our elite athletes who recently competed at the European Orienteering Championships in Switzerland, we are also welcoming young competitors from local schools in an initiative supported by Aberdeenshire Council.

With a recent spell of fine weather, the Planner and Assistant Controller report the area is now snow free but Lochnagar still has plenty of snow in the gullies. Torphantrick on the banks of the River Dee is also looking lovely, and hopefully, the water will still be sparkling on Sunday.

The race arena build starts on Friday, including some innovations from the Scottish Orienteering Association with their new satellite broadband system. Live GPS tracking is not planned, but there will be extensive footage taken for the BBC Adventure Show – expect headcams, drones and running cams wherever you are in the forest. Dougie Vipond, presenter and drummer of Deacon Blue, will be on site to provide commentary for TV. Chris Poole and Andy Munro will be doing live coverage at the event.

Prize-giving will be on Sunday, and we thank Judith Holt, Chair of British Orienteering for offering to award medals and trophies.

Full BOC 2018 event details now available here

Thanks go to the Balmoral Estates and in particular Garry Marsden for permission to stage the Long Distance Championships at Balmoral on Saturday 19th May – the same day as the Royal Wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Torphantrick is part of the Inchmarnoch Estate, and thanks go to Mrs J C Carson for permission to use this area for the British Relay Championships on Sunday 20th May.

Key Officials and Clubs: 

Thanks go to the clubs who have given up their time as volunteers to help stage this competition. Mar Orienteering Club (MAROC), Edinburgh Southern Orienteering Club (ESOC), Tayside Orienteers (TAY), Loch Eck Orienteers (ECKO), Clydeside Orienteers (CLYDE) and Forth Valley Orienteers (FVO) are the main clubs involved with the Long Distance Championships. 

Grampian Orienteers (GRAMP) and Badenoch and Strathspey Orienteering Club (BASOC) are the main clubs involved with the British Relay Championships.  Individuals from other clubs across Scotland are also involved.

Event Coordinator, Day Organiser and Safety Officer: Colin Matheson (Events Manager, SOA)
Assistant Coordinator: Ross Lilley (ECKO) 
Treasurer: Jackie Reynard (GRAMP) 
Entries: David Nicol (FVO) 
Payments: Sarah Hobbs (Membership & Communications Officer, SOA) 
Long Distance: Planner: Steve Nicholson (FVO) 
Assistant Planner: Ian Hamilton (GRAMP) 
Controller: Brian Bullen (FVO), Assistant Controller: Dave Armitage (GRAMP) 
Relays: Planner: Clive Masson (ESOC), Assistant Planner: Chris Huthwaite (BAOC) 
Controller: Donald Grassie (MOR).
 

British Orienteering would like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers involved in putting on the British Orienteering Championships in Scotland this year.  Thank you to all for your hard work, commitment and support.  With best wishes for a great weekend of orienteering. 

Who will be crowned British Champions this Royal weekend?

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