Club info

JK 2012 – a weekend of seconds

Just back from the JK and trawling through the results the overall impression is quite a few 2nds for GRAMP, some good personal performances from some and two 1sts – congrats to Sasha and Tim Gomersall for adding to their silverware collection! Some pretty tough terrain out there, not helped by a lot of recent windblow, made for some long days for some of us with quite a few knocks and sprains (oh and don’t forget the evil nettle patch at the relays) but the brain cells also took a hammering as it was generally good technical, tricky stuff. Most of us came out of it still smiling (although maybe it was smiling at the prospect of the well-earned seconds of Easter Eggs?) and enjoyed it even if we weren’t bothering the podium people at all.

In no particular order:

2nd place for Helen Cromie in both the WOpen Sprint and W21S (living closer to the Scandi action must be paying off?), Sam Griffin M10B, Jack Gomersall M18L,Richard Oxlade M50S, Calum/Sasha/Jack Men’s Short Relay (10 minutes ahead of the ‘old men’ Doug/Nick/Dad!)

1st place for Sasha M16 Sprint and Tim Gomersall M20L

Hats off to the three brave orienteers who had a tilt at the Elite classes – Calum McLeod M18E 17th (and one MAROC scalp), Katrina McLeod W18E 15th (and two MAROC scalps!) and not quite last but enjoyed every energy-sapping minute of it Gordon Urquhart M21E 54th!

3rd place for Anne Hickling on W55S and she found time to help with the Trail O (and is still seeking helpers for WTOC2012 please BTW)

Well done too to the Junior Ws who did well considering their lack of experience of big events like the JK but kept it together on both days – Maya Reynard W10B 8th, Josie Gomersall W12B 5th and Chloe Raynard W14B 4th.

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Scottish Sprint Champs 2012

Congratulations to both Carolyn McLeod W45 and Sasha Chepelin M16 who won Scottish Sprint Champion status at St Andrews Uni Campus over the weekend. Katrina was also on the podium, 2nd equal in W18, having kept up the McLeod family tradition of racing each other over the same courses and beating Mum by 55 seconds.

SALE! EVERYTHING MUST GO!

We have some old tops and hoodies going cheap – first come, first served. Contact Ali if you’re interested.

GRAMP RACE TOPS (Adults £15, Juniors/Students £10)   NB These are the castle-on-the-bum style, not the latest Fugro-sponsored version.
Small – 3 No    Medium – 3 No    Large – 1 No    X Large – 2 No

GRAMP HOODIES (£8)
Large – 2 No

We also have some Gramp jackets.

Telegramp newsletter

Feel free to send contributions to the editor any time – reports on events, thoughts/opinions, jokes, photos, big birthdays or other things to celebrate…….  newsletter@grampoc.com   Ta in advance!

2010   Jan/Feb   Mar/Apr   May/Jun   Jul/Aug   Sep/Oct   Nov/Dec
2011   Jan/Feb   Mar/Apr   May/Jun   Jul/Aug   Sep/Oct   Nov/Dec
2012   Jan/Feb   Mar/Apr   May/Jun   Jul/Aug   Sep/Oct   Nov/Dec

2013   Jan/Feb   Mar/Apr   May/Jun   Jul/Aug   Sep/Oct   Nov/Dec

GRAMP Champs Final Rankings 2011

Congratulations to all our 2011 Champs and especially to Naomi Lang (W12) and Mark Stockton (M21) who earned Most Improved Junior and Senior Awards respectively.

GRAMP Champs Final Rankings 2011 in pdf by age class and by weighting (to compare results across age classes)
The 2011 CHAMPS file in xls showing each event’s results in case you want to do some more analysis.

3 GRAMP 2011 Scottish Score Champs

Well done to 3 GRAMPS who won Scottish Score Championship status at Stirling today (27/11/11) – Tim Griffin M45, Dave Armitage M60 and Katrina McLeod W18. Also to Sam Gomersall M50 who came second behind Martin Dean (which is as good as winning in my book as the area is Martin’s back yard!!)
The ingenious trade-off between fast grass and tarmac around the University Campus coupled with the steeper rougher terrain to the north made it quite difficult to judge how long you thought you’d take in each area and to decide whether to do the Campus loop first with fresh legs or to leave it to last to stagger through on the way to the Finish. Another nice touch, that caught many folk out, was the inclusion of several of the highest scoring controls very close to the Start/Finish rather than in the furthest corners of the map as is often the case. Those that took a moment to read the instructions and map carefully before pegging off were rewarded with some unexpected easy hits – good for the confidence and ego!
Full results can be found on the FVO website.

GRAMP Officials Expenses Claim Form

You can claim expenses from the Treasurer for event and other club activity related expenses by using this form and following the instructions on it.

Gramp expenses form xls

New to Orienteering?

Click here for a video or read on….

So you want to know what this orienteering thing is all about?

Well….. the basic idea is to navigate your way around a course, usually in the woods, using a specially drawn map which shows features such as streams, fences, boulders and crags. You have to start at the Start (!), finish at the Finish (!!) and visit a series of control points along the way, but it’s entirely up to you how you get from point to point and whether you run hell for leather or bimble round with the kids and dog and have a picnic en route. If you like treasure hunts, the outdoors, running or any combination of these then give it a go.

Where do events take place and how to find them?

Our fixtures list shows what’s happening where and when and gives you a grid reference and a link to Google maps online maps so you can find us. When you get close to the event carpark you’ll probably see red and white orienteering signs to show you the way. The summer events are particularly ideal for beginners being either in or close to Aberdeen and hopefully warm enough that it doesn’t matter if you take a while to get into the swing of it.

What to bring?

Trainers or lightweight boots and tracksuit bottoms or similar that you don’t mind getting a bit mucky; a large clear plastic bag to put your map in; a compass if you have one for orientating the map; a drink/snack for afterwards; a few £s to pay for your map.

What to expect at your first event….

Having parked, look out for a queue of people by a car or tent waiting to register. You’ll be asked for your name (so we can keep track of who’s out there and the time taken for keen competitors) and which course you want to try. Don’t be afraid to ask advice about which course is the best for you. To begin with try the yellow/orange courses as they are based on tracks or other linear features such as walls. Eventually you’ll work up to a light green and beyond where things start to get a bit more technical. You’ll be issued with a map, a set of control descriptions and usually an electronic timing device called an emit brikke (the system comes from Scandinavia.)

The map…. will look a little strange at first with colours and symbols that might as well be hieroglyphics, but you should be able to recognise tracks, paths, streams and contours. There should be a legend printed down the side to explain the other features but for beginners courses you’ll be using linear features so make sure you know what a track, path, stream, fence and a wall look like and forget about the rest for the time being. The other thing you should note about your map is the scale – we use 1:10,000 or 1:15,000 scale maps to get the necessary detail in. That means that 1cm on the map represents 100m or 150m on the ground respectively. Imagine what the 100m dash looked like on the school playing field and that should help you judge the distance you need to go between controls.

The control descriptions….  will show a list of controls and you must visit them in that order. Control sites are marked by special orange and white “kites” to make them easier to spot at a distance. Each control on the list will have a number or letter code next to it. When you actually reach that control, it will have a code physically attached to it so you know you’ve got the right one. The list also gives a brief description of the feature that you’re looking for, e.g. path/stream junction, fence bend, to help you home in on it once you’re in the right area on the map. The desciptions are in the form of a pictorial code – just ask someone for a translation or ask for one of our cards explaining the different symbols.

The brikke….  should be attached to your finger using the strap and fits snuggly in the palm of your hand, orange side facing outwards. Every time you get to a control, including the Start and Finish, place the brikke onto the base plate, orange to orange, and make sure that the red LED on the control flashes. At the Start, as soon as you lift your brikke from the control, any previous timing data is wiped and the timing starts for your run. (So don’t punch the Start again by mistake instead of the Finish if you’re bothered about timing!)  Again, don’t be afraid to ask for help on the use of these – there is always someone hanging around to help beginners.

Starts…. generally you can start whenever you like after you’ve got your brikke and map but there will be a last start cutoff time and also a time when all courses close, as obviously the people organising would like to get home sometime the same day! If you want you can leave your car keys at registration before setting off.

Finish…. once you’ve punched the Finish control, go to the download point (often the same place as registration) and hand in your brikke. You will be given your time on a slip of paper which also shows how long it took you between each control. IMPORTANT – Even if you don’t finish your course, you must still go to download to hand in your brikke – this is the only method we have of knowing that you’re back safe and sound and we don’t need to call out International Rescue.

FAQs

What should I wear?
A pair of trainers or lightweight boots and jogging bottoms or similar will do fine to begin with. You might also want to bring a light cagoule if it looks like rain and something to change into afterwards as it can be a bit muddy at any time of year.

Do I need to know how to use a map and compass?
A rough idea of what North is all about should be more than enough. Although we use compasses, we don’t take bearings the same way as hillwalkers do – rather we use the compass to make sure that the map is orientated correctly relative to North as there are special lines on an orienteering map that represent magnetic North. Ask for a lesson on how to do this when you register or have a look at this online guide to using a compass.

Who can take part?
Pretty well anybody can take part in normal orienteering events – there is usually a short course of 1km or so on main paths aimed at kids plus a series of courses getting progressively longer and more technical. We have a couple of ladies who manage to get round quite rough stuff with the aid of sticks and although not as fast as they used to be they still enjoy the navigational challenge. There is a special brand of orienteering originally created to allow the physically disabled to compete on an equal basis called Trail-O, but these are specialised events that don’t take place that often.

Is it really competitive?
Yes and No! If you find that you and orienteering click, you can progress to the level where you compete nationally or even internationally. On the other hand, probably 50% of Gramp’s members are more than happy to take part for the simple pleasure of being outdoors and getting a bit of exercise both physically and mentally.

How much does it cost?
Local events typically cost £2 per adult per course, bigger events £6 upwards (unless you join a club in which case you get a discount.)
Entry fees are usually advertised in the event details. If you want to join Gramp then there is a small annual fee – check the Joining post for current fees.

Is it always the same kind of courses described here?
Generally, yes, but there are other variations on the theme such as Night-O, relays or Score events where you have a time limit in which to find as many controls as you can in any order you like. There are long distance events in moorland/mountain terrain,  mountain bike O, park races and street events . For the summer series, Gramp members get really creative and put on all kinds of inventive courses to try and give a simple area a bit more of a challenge for experienced orienteers.

Can I practise anywhere else apart from the organised events?
There are several Permanent Orienteering Courses (POCs) in the Gramp area and also some up the Deeside valley which are looked after by Maroc. And Bennachie FC visitor centre can supply you with maps for the semi-permanent courses always available there, details on the POCs page.

Where can I look up all these new terms and abbreviations I keep coming across?
Try the most excellent Jargon Buster courtesy of SOA – sorry that’s jargonese for Scottish Orienteering Association – and Fixture List De-Bunker.

Club Data Privacy Policy and Child Welfare Guidelines

Data Privacy Policy
Child Welfare Guidelines (2010)

Joining

2012 MEMBERSHIP SCHEME

N.B. The following assumes you are a new member. Existing members will receive their renewal forms from BOF every December and don’t need to follow the instructions below.

To join GRAMPIAN Orienteers you must decide which level of membership you would like, i.e. either:
1) Local Membership of British Orienteering or LBM
2) National Membership of British Orienteering or NBM

The benefits of the 2 levels are laid out below, but in simple terms if you will only enter events in Scotland then join as a local member LBM, but if you might want to enter events outwith Scotland, i.e. in the rest of the UK or overseas, then join as a national member NBM.

Both types of BOF membership also include membership of SOA (The Scottish Orienteering Federation) and GRAMP.

As in 2011 BOF, SOA & GRAMP are offering FREE LOCAL MEMBERSHIP FOR NEW LOCAL MEMBERS until the end of 2012.  Total fees for National Membership are listed below for comparison.

If you join/joined between 1st September 2012 and 31st Dec 2012 your membership will be valid until 31st December 2013.

N.B.  If you decide not to join at all then you will have to pay an extra £2 to enter most of GRAMP’s (and some other clubs’) bigger events.

Once you receive your membership card please remember to bring it to all events to claim the members’ event fee.

How to Join
Complete this form (with the payment details as below) indicating which level of membership you require and return to BOF, with your cheque if applicable, to the address on the form.

If you have any questions about completing your form please contact the GRAMP Membership Secretary:

Jayne MacGregor,
135 Desswood Place,
ABERDEEN,
AB15 4DP

Tel : 01224 638906 (h) 0797 990 1151 (m)
Or use the contact form here.

It is possible to join online via the BOF website. If you are new to orienteering (i.e. you haven’t belonged to any club in the past 3 years) then make sure you tick the ‘New to Orienteering’ box that appears if you select LBM in order to qualify for the free local membership deal with SOA and GRAMP. It also takes BOF a long time to pass your details on to our Membership Secretary so best to send her an email on the address above so that she can get you registered for our newsletter and email list for club related info.

Benefits –National BOF Membership
· Insurance cover (liability to 3rd parties) at events registered with British Orienteering
· Quarterly issue of the British Orienteering magazine, Focus and for juniors 3 copies of the junior magazine, Route Choice #5
· Eligibility to compete in Level 1 British Championships, Level 2 (JK, national, regional) and Level 3 (local) events in all regions
· Discounted entry to Level 2 (JK, national, regional) and Level 3 (local) events in all regions
· Discounts for sponsor supported deals
· Papers for the AGM and a vote at the AGM
· Mailings will be, Nov (Focus + renewal), Dec/Jan (Membership card), Feb/Mar (Focus + AGM), May/Jun (Focus), Aug/Sep (Focus + WOC report)

In addition National BOF members can be event officials or Grade 1,2 & 3 Controllers

Benefits –Local Membership of British Orienteering
· Insurance cover (liability to 3rd parties) at events registered with British Orienteering
· Newsletter to be investigated (1 or 2 sides)
· Eligibility to compete in Level 2 (JK, national, regional) and Level 3 (local) events
· Discounted entry to Level 2 and Level 3 events within the club’s region only (i.e. Scotland)
· Discounts for sponsor supported deals
· Papers and vote at the AGM
· Mailings inc Nov (Newsletter + renewal), Dec/Jan (Membership card), Feb/Mar (Newsletter + AGM papers)

In addition Local BOF members can be event officials (planners & organisers but only Grade 3 Controllers)

Note: If you intend to enter events outwith Scotland on a regular basis you are advised to opt for national BOF membership to avoid paying increased entry fees.

Committee members and other useful club contacts

Blue = committee                                                       To contact anyone on this list, click on their name.

Chairman: Pete Lawrence  
Secretary: Ian Hamilton
Treasurer: Kevin Reynard
Mapping: Vacant but emails will be forwarded to someone who can help
Emit kit and club archive: Rob Hickling

Fixtures
Fixtures Coordinator and Officials: Vacant
Fixtures Permissions: Adrian Will
Fixtures Registration (British Orienteering): Adrian Will

Membership: Jayne McGregor
Newsletter: Rachel Scott
Website: Rachel Scott
Coaching: Ali Robertson
Child Protection: Sean O’Sullivan
Publicity: Sam Gomersall
Social: Helen Anderson

GJO team: Kate Robertson, Doug Guy, Carolyn McLeod, Oonagh Grassie, Ewen Rennie, Ian Barraclough