British Orienteering announces changes to the Performance Management team

Pippa said:

“I have made the difficult decision to focus on my climbing instructor business, with both roles requiring a significant time commitment. Many of you will appreciate the challenge of needing to be strategic when identifying which goals to pursue!

“I will continue in my orienteering role until a new Performance Manager is appointed and in post in early autumn, to ensure a smooth handover. More information on future plans for the performance programme will follow.

“I remain passionate about supporting elite orienteering in the UK and am sure I will see many of you at future training opportunities and races, as you pursue your orienteering adventures.”

Pippa also thanked the wider performance team, including Rachael Handley, Graham Gristwood and Mark Nixon, as well as the many volunteers who support athletes at training camps and competitions.

She added:

“The programme would not function without the army of volunteers who have supported athletes at camps and competitions over the past few years. I would also like to thank all the athletes in our squads and teams for their passion and enthusiasm for our wonderful sport.”

Plans for the Performance Programme

A significant amount of work has already been undertaken to consider the future direction of British Orienteering’s performance programme.

Peter Brooke (CEO) and the Performance Pathway Steering Group (PPSG), led by Ruth Beale, have been reviewing the current performance structure and considering how it can best support athletes over the coming years.

The review has concluded that the overall structure and direction of the performance programme remain appropriate. However, British Orienteering believes it is important that the incoming Performance Manager has the opportunity to undertake a strategic review of the programme alongside the PPSG.

The Performance Manager role will be advertised shortly, with the aim of having a new postholder in place by the beginning of October. One of their initial priorities will be to review the strategic leadership and delivery of the programme, working with a subgroup of the PPSG.

As a result, there may be some adjustments to the anticipated timeline for selecting the GB senior squads for 2027. British Orienteering believes that taking the time to establish a clear and sustainable direction for the programme is the right approach for its long-term future.

The Performance Administrator role will be advertised once the new Performance Manager is in post. This will allow the incoming manager to have an appropriate role in determining the administrative support required by the programme.

British Orienteering remains committed to supporting athletes throughout the transition and will keep athletes, coaches, volunteers and the wider performance community informed as plans develop and key decisions are made.

The organisation would like to thank both Pippa and Rachael for their considerable contribution to British Orienteering and wish them every success in the next stage of their careers.