Junior European Cup teams confirmed

The Junior European Cup (JEC) represents an exciting opportunity to race internationally, compete against some of the best junior orienteers in Europe and gain valuable experience at a major championship.

This year's competition is running from 2-4 October 2026 in conjunction with the Sörenberger OL Weekend in Switzerland. The best junior orienteers from all across Europe will compete in the Junior European Cup. The programme consists of a relay on Friday, an individual sprint race on Saturday and a long distance race on Sunday.

Around 70 athletes declared their availability for JEC, highlighting the strength of interest and enthusiasm among Britain’s junior orienteers. With only six places available in each age and gender category, selection was always going to be highly competitive.

Here is the selected team:

W20 Team

Ruth Gooch
Heather High
Jocie Hilton
Lyra Medlock
Daisy Rennie
Freya Tryner

Reserve: Hebe Darwin

Images below: Ruth Gooch, Credit: Bengt Strindhagen; Heather High, Credit: Svensk Orienteering; Jocie Hilton, Credit: Filip Andersson.

Images above: Lyra Medlock, Daisy Rennie, Credit: Tymofii Teremetskyi; Freya Tryner, Credit: Eszter Kocsik.

M20 Team

Lily Birkinshaw
Michael Bishenden
James Hammond
Dan Heppell
Ruben Razzetti
Tommy Rollins

Reserve: Freddie Lake

Images below: Lily Birkinshaw; Michael Bishenden; James Hammond, Credit: Tymofii Teremetskyi; Dan Heppell, Credit: Rob Lines; Ruben Razzetti, and Tommy Rollins, Credit: Bengt Strindhagen.

W18 Team

Emily Atkinson
Ella Baxter
Charlotte Chapman
Scarlett Kelly
Iona Scott
Anna Todd

Reserve: Sophie Crawford

Images below: Emily Atkinson, Credit: Johanna Wilhelmsson; Ella Baxter, Credit: EYOC Official; Charlotte Chapman; Scarlett Kelly, Credit: Jiří Mrkvička; Iona Scott and Anna Todd.

M18 Team

Ruari Cottier
Oliver Duncan
Finlay McLuckie
Oscar Peel
Marcus Perry
Finn Selmer Duguid

Reserve: Toby Heppell

Note: Ewen Wilkinson (M18) was pre-selected for JEC but is no longer available to compete.

A huge congratulations to all of the athletes selected for JEC. We wish the teams the very best as they prepare for the competition and look forward to following their progress.

Thank you to British Orienteering, the Orienteering Foundation, and Edinburgh University Orienteering Club who have all contributed or raised funds to support this year's JEC team, allowing us to take a full team to the competition.

Images below: Ruari Cottier; Oliver Duncan, Credit: Tymofii Teremetskyi; Finlay McLuckie; Oscar Peel, Marcus Perry, Credit:Jakub Kijak ; Finn Selmer Duguid, Credit: Svensk Orienteering.