Click here for the full 2024 AGM minutes and reports. Or for those of you strapped for time here’s a summary of the headlines/highlights in no particular order:
- working around storm damaged areas and other limitations we still put on/assisted with 29 events in 2023 including our day at S6D in Moray, the GMC at Mar Estate and helped with the Scottish Universities Championships at Glen Dye. Gramps also took up/continued in posts as Mapping, Technical and Finance Directors for the Scottish 6 Days.
- started our celebrations of the club’s 50 year existence with a colour coded event at Balmedie in February and then our Club Dinner held at Park Café at Hazlehead Park in April. This was a fantastic success, where we invited many former members along to celebrate.
- the Gramp surplus is still keeping its head above water, largely thanks to the income generated by the GMC, and it was suggested that in light of higher current interest rates the club investigates a better deal on the savings account
- Ian, David and Zoe all indicated that they wish to step down/reduce their roles in some form next year and the club really needs to think about its future and how the members want it to be run. Orienteering membership/volunteering generally seems to be on a downturn sparked by numerous factors (including severe damage to prime forest areas making the sport less attractive to “trad” orienteers, lockdowns made many reassess their travel habits/environmental footprint, aging demographic etc.) so everything is pointing to the need for a major rethink.
- much discussion over finding and funding areas to map/extend. Tyrebagger, Scolty and Countesswells are all still closed while FLS carry out felling works and other privately owned areas are highly unlikely to be tackled in the next few years so the emphasis has been on urban areas such as a new map of Stonehaven. Pete is assisting the committee in identifying and applying for funds and it was suggested we could try crowd funding or similar. Any more ideas on areas or funds are always welcome…
- David Kirk reminded us that he is stepping down as GMC organiser and that if we’re going to put it on again in 2025 then approaches to estates need to be put in motion soon. Anyone wishing to find out more about what would be involved in taking this over should contact him directly.
We have 2 trophies, kindly donated by past members Margaret and Oliver Musgrave, and the Chairman’s Quaich which are awarded to members who have gone above and beyond in the service of the club in a variety of ways:
Musgrave Trophies
Neil Mclean – For truly outstanding results throughout the year (see above)
Ros Nicholson – For her Mapping duties. Not an easy gig at the best of times and she has really been putting in the hours investigating leads on possible new areas and building relationships with organisations like Haddo Country Park volunteers.
Chairman’s Quaich Zoe Griffin
Not only does she keep the Chairman in check, she organized the brilliant Club Dinner and also had the time to plan our day at Moray ’23 at Roseisle.
Gramp Champs 2023 Congratulations everyone!!
Junior Men – 1st Fergus Gallagher, 2nd Lennon Atchison
Senior Men – 1st Matthew Thompson, 2nd Lachlan Kirk, 3rd Calum McLeod
Veteran Men – 1st Julian Robinson, 2nd David Esson, 3rd Adrian Will
Super Veteran Men – 1st Ian Hamilton, 2nd Bob Daly, 3rd Dennis McDonald
Junior Women – 1st Samantha McDonald, 2ndOrla Gallagher, 3rd Joanna McDonald
Senior Women – None
Veteran Women – 1st Claire Gallagher, 2nd Emily Arthur
Super Veteran Women – 1st Oonagh Grassie, 2nd Lesley Gomersall, 3rd Helen Rowlands
Full Gramp Champs results to follow.
Jon Duncan Junior Deeside Cup
2nd Orla Gallagher W10
2nd Joanna McDonald W12
1st Samantha McDonald W14
1st Fergus Gallagher M10
3rd Logan Thompson M10
3rd Lennon Atchison M12
Other Successes
Scot Champs – 1st Neil Mclean plus 4 podiums
Scot Score – three 1sts – Tim Griffin, Bob Daley, Neil Mclean plus 9 podiums
SOL – two 1sts – Neil Mclean & David Esson plus 5 podiums
S6D – two 1sts – Sam Griffin & Neil Mclean – 7 podiums
Scottish Schools – 2nd Fergus Gallagher, 3rd Samantha MacDonald
Scottish Middle Champs – 3rd Tim Griffin plus 3 top 10s
JK – 5 top 10s
BOC – 3rd David Esson, 10th Duncan Grassie
DNC 22/23 – Ian Hamilton won best course + Helen Rowlands was 3rd Female + David Esson attended every event (6 years in a row)
GRAMPIAN ORIENTEERS 