The 2018 season was reduced from 12 counting races to 11, following the cancellation of two of the races earlier in the year. The Edinburgh City race was cancelled as a consequence of very icy (and therefore dangerous) conditions in Edinburgh on race day, while the Midland Championships at Belvoir Castle also fell victim to the winter weather, with deep snow preventing the event from taking place.

In the inter-club competition, current leaders are Bristol (BOK), who won the league last year. While in theory, the second placed team, South Yorkshire (SYO) could challenge them, it seems highly unlikely given that the final race weekend is in the South. Chasing third place in the club league are Southdowns (SO), Thames Valley (TVOC), West Cumberland (WCOC) and Deeside (DEE), all of whom are very close on points currently. You'd expect SO and TVOC to both have lots of runners at the Southern Champs weekend, so it'll be a close battle.

The 2019 UKOL season starts not long after the New Year. The first races are in Royal Deeside, Scotland, on the weekend of 23rd and 24th February. Race 1 is the British Night Championships and race 2 a Scottish Orienteering League competition, and both will be on top quality Scottish forest terrain.

The UK Orienteering League features some of the best orienteering competitions around the country. Thanks again to all the clubs and volunteers that host the events and make it possible!"

Useful links:

• UKOL
• Southern Night Champs
• Southern Champs
• British Night Champs 2019

Racing starts in Sheffield with a sprint at SYO’s Urban Race on Saturday 9th March.  Wharncliffe Woods, a classic area of rock features and forested slopes, is the venue for the Northern Champs the next day, mapped and planned by Oli Johnson.

On Saturday 23rd March Juniors and Seniors are split for rounds 3 and 4.  Juniors racing in a specially organised sprint selection race at Lancaster University. Seniors running a technical middle distance on Haverthwaite Heights, scene of past British Championships.  All re-group at Hampsfell & Eggerslack Woods on Sunday where Juniors step up to a middle and Seniors to a long.

Scottish Spring has become a regular fixture in the League due to its reliability for high-class orienteering. This year it's the 13/14th April around Falkland with a middle (Senior counter only) and sprint on Saturday followed by a Scottish Orienteering League long on Sunday.

The JK Festival (19-21st April) is the penultimate weekend of the series where all three races count, starting with the sprint at Aldershot Barracks. Focus and map contact will be necessary to succeed in the middle amongst the dense contours and paths of Windmill Hill. Cold Ash, used for JK 2013, hosts the long.

Arncliffe & Kilnsey’s open fell and contour detail will provide a fast finish to the League at the British Championships on 5th May.

Scoring: Best 6 scores from first 9 races for juniors, the best 6 scores from first 10 races for seniors, the final British Champs race to count for all.  At least 1 and maximum 3 scores from any one discipline (sprint/middle/long) to count.

Go to ukeliteoleague.org.uk for race information, scoring rules and links to old maps.  You can follow @ukeliteoleague on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up-to-date as the season progresses."

Supporters and Sponsors

The UK Elite Orienteering League aims to be an attractive series for competitors by providing prize money and prizes. 53 different athletes have been supported via the prize fund over the last four seasons and have gone on to compete at World Championships, Junior World Championships and various levels of European competition.

If you are interested in supporting the league, either with a contribution to the cash prize fund, or with clothing, or equipment, please email: ukeliteoleague@gmail.com or visit: ukeliteoleague.org.uk/support where you can donate online. All contributions are greatly received. If you are a sponsor we can promise publicity through articles and social media, at the major races in the UK orienteering calendar, as well as being associated with the elite orienteering scene.

To find out more - please see details of Julie's Orienteering Challenge at this link: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/juliecleary

Orienteering Control Challenge for The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia on MyDonate

mydonate.bt.com

Visiting 120 orienteering controls - 1 for every month in the 10 years since my stroke.