Congratulations to Jacky Dakin from South Yorkshire Orienteers who has won the Continued Contribution to Orienteering Award 2023!

Here, we share what her peers had to say while casting their nominations in this year’s Annual Awards.  

The Continued Contribution to Orienteering Award recognises and celebrates the volunteer efforts of those in our sport who contribute greatly, often behind the scenes, over an extended period of time.

Jacky Dakin, South Yorkshire Orienteers

Jacky is South Yorkshire Orienteer’s Jack(y) of all trades.

She is completely focused on the development of all juniors. She is a qualified coach, who coaches the newest and youngest juniors at SYO's weekly club night.  She organises kit sales and bake sales to raise money for our junior funds and provides much of the baking herself! As junior captain she organises the trips to all the junior competitions filling coaches with parents and kids.

Under Jacky's captaincy our juniors have brought home a huge number of trophies but more importantly return full of a love for orienteering after trips away. She also always has the welfare of the children she coaches at heart – finding them orienteering shoes or trousers from her kit stock if they don’t have any, enlarging maps for those that need it or briefing those attending their first major events.

Outside of SYO, she is the chef for the Yorkshire Squad weekends. She has recently expanded her repertoire to also cater for JROS tours. This year she was lead chef for the Hawkshead weekend for over 100 M/W16s and adults and she also catered for the Deeside tour in Scotland and the Yorkshire squad tour to Sweden. 

However, Jacky is not just junior-focused. She is also SYO's membership secretary - no mean feat with well over 300 members and she has organised countless events, helps at almost every event and is queen of the club BBQ. She is also the go to person for emergency help, willing to step in at the last minute to solve problems and lend a hand.

As if she isn't busy enough, she is also JK 2025 co-ordinator. SYO would not be the club it is without her invaluable contribution!

Congratulations again to Jacky on winning this year’s award!

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It’s important to us, to recognise the other individuals who were nominated for the Continued Contribution to Orienteering Award 2023. Here they are, alongside some of the comments regarding their contributions over the past year.

Nominees for the Continued Contribution to Orienteering Award 2023

Robin Sloan, East Lothian Orienteers

“Robin is the face of SI in central belt Scottish orienteering. He has played huge roles for SOA, the Sottish 6 Days and his local club ELO. Always supporting others, and a key figure in Scottish orienteering over time.”

Donald Grassie, Moravian Orienteering Club and Grampian Orienteers

“Donald was originally a member of Grampian Orienteering Club where he served on the committee for many years in various capacities including as secretary and during that time he helped as a coach and also carried out some mapping for the club which he still does for them.

When he heard that MOR was struggling to find a new chair he offered to fill the role and during that time helped with a reorganisation of club structures and procedures and then helped the club as a coach and mapper.  He continues to help mentor and plan events for the club.

He enjoys planning and for both of his clubs and acting as mentor support for the development of younger volunteers.”

Mike Bolton, Mole Valley Orienteering Club

“As our current Membership Secretary, he is a nurturer of new members, always going the extra mile, and always with a personal touch. He is a long-standing committee member with the club, having been on our committee since the 1980s, and as Membership Sec since before we all used computers. He’s won our Mole of the Year award twice, in 2008 and 2017.

His communications with the members are always an engaging read. And because of this, and his friendly face at events, Mike has an uncanny knack for getting people to want to help/support/volunteer.”

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Next, we conclude our spotlight series on the Club, Coach and Volunteer Awards by recognising the Silva Award Winner 2023. Check our website or social media daily for the latest updates.