Congratulations to Sam Griffin on his selection for the ScotJOS Squad and the British Orienteering Talent Squad Tier 1. Despite the lack of events this year, Sam’s been keeping fit with lots of running and cycling and we had wondered if he would be able to remember how to orienteer still but any concerns wereContinue reading “Sam’s in the Squads!”
Category Archives: Club info
Nothing to do with orienteering but…
…does feature three Gramps. Can you spot them?
Glen Dye snaps and thoughts
Well, who would have thought all that mud, marsh, bog and assorted wet stuff would have produced so many excited, grinning faces? We’re a weird bunch! It’s been a very strange few weeks as what was supposed to have been a simple little local event firstly attracted folk from far, far further afield than we’dContinue reading “Glen Dye snaps and thoughts”
Thank you, EUOC!
I just wanted to acknowledge EUOC’s sensible attitude to recent announcements and to thank them for their decision to pull out of our event at Glen Dye this weekend. Technically they didn’t have to as there is no travel ban as such but they’ve obviously taken on board the recent headlines that “researchers at UCLContinue reading “Thank you, EUOC!”
Is it mapped?
Urban-meets-classic. Even just getting there would be fun, never mind keeping track of yourself in that maze.
MapRunF: how to amend your results for missing controls
For the geeky amongst you here’s an advantage to using MapRunF rather than MapRun: you can review, amend and re-submit your splits to include controls that didn’t ping for whatever reason. On the grounds that many folk are self-timing and will be running straight through the control sites rather than waiting for a ping, I’mContinue reading “MapRunF: how to amend your results for missing controls”
Oooh! Shiny new stuff!
Look what we’ve got to play with for future events now we’re gearing up to restart O post Lockdown! Control numbers have been added to the ‘Technical Info for Planners’ post which can always be found easily (along with info for Organisers, Controllers and Competitors) using the menu at the top. We also have aContinue reading “Oooh! Shiny new stuff!”
Duthie Park POC
The Duthie Park permanent orienteering course has had a face lift, courtesy of two energetic young lads. Andrew and Matthew live close to the park and were looking for a lockdown exercise challenge. QR codes, a map and a marker pen later and they have ensured all the controls are legible once again. If youContinue reading “Duthie Park POC”
That nice welcoming ‘ding’!
The Gramp MapRun Factory (Rachel) has been busy over the last couple of weeks and we now have several more courses uploaded courtesy of Sarah Dunn. From Aberdeen Uni and Perwinnes Moss (4 variations Easy to Tech) down to Stonehaven via Cove. Or a novelty twist based on and Aberdeen Street Art Trail. You paysContinue reading “That nice welcoming ‘ding’!”
All orienteering suspended due to Covid 19 coronavirus
Those of you who are British Orienteering members will have received an email this morning (17/3/20) announcing the suspension of all orienteering activities with immediate effect on the advice of PHE, WHO and others. All bets are off as to when we can recommence but I think you’ll need to find alternatives for your exerciseContinue reading “All orienteering suspended due to Covid 19 coronavirus”
CompassSport Cup/Trophy Heats and Scottish Middle Distance Champs 2020
Well done to the 5 Gramps who went down to Errochty over the weekend to fly the flag for the club (metaphorically, don’t think they actually took a banner) in the CompassSport Trophy for smaller clubs. I’ve seen the maps and looks like Sam & Tim Griffin, Sam & Lesley Gomersall and Bob Daly betweenContinue reading “CompassSport Cup/Trophy Heats and Scottish Middle Distance Champs 2020”
Johnshaven SOUL
Always thought Johnshaven would make a good place for a SOUL and Maroc proved me right today with Nick Hale exploiting the best bits to full advantage. David Esson was keeping his powder dry for his Birsemore Black Binge tomorrow but wandered around watching the entertainment and took some photos of various Gramps (and 2Continue reading “Johnshaven SOUL”
New Membership Secretary
Many thanks to Helen Anderson for diligently carrying out Membership Sec duties over the last decade or so – not sure when she started but it certainly feels like a loooooong time ago. She’s now handed over the files of office to Lesley Gomersall so thanks to Lesley too for taking over. Anyone else outContinue reading “New Membership Secretary”
Scottish Night Champs 2020
Congratulations to those Gramps who travelled up to take part in the Scottish Night Champs held at Findhorn last weekend. Looks like an intriguing mix of urban/forest/dunes judging from RouteGadget so it’ll be interesting to hear what they thought of it. Did it encourage a few more folk to have a go than would doContinue reading “Scottish Night Champs 2020”
SOA Gift Aid declaration
Just before Christmas SOA’s Finance Director, Ben Hartman, sent round an email asking any tax-paying members to complete a Gift Aid declaration. As the SOA is a registered charity, Gift Aid allows it to claim extra funds from HMRC on any donations made – including our membership fees – as long as we’ve completed aContinue reading “SOA Gift Aid declaration”
MapRun
Sarah Dunn of Scottish Orienteering is championing this mobile based version of orienteering using your phone’s GPS capabilities to track and time yourself while running one of our MapRun courses. Upload to Strava too so you can challenge your Stravamates. Visit the MapRun page for more info, instructions and downloads for the MapRun app andContinue reading “MapRun”
Christmas Brain Teaser
Anne Pearson of Tay to thank for this Christmas Brain Teaser.There are 51 points available. 1 point for getting the IOF symbol correct, if there is a + sign you get an extra point for then converting O speak into a word/ phrase that makes sense in the letter. One point for each Christmas symbol.Continue reading “Christmas Brain Teaser”
AGM 2019 roundup, Gramp Champs and other successes
The hot news from the AGM is the unanimous decision to swap from Emit to SI Air. Our old Emit kit has served us well over the years but is getting tired and outdated and needing more and more TLC (see above) so time for an upgrade. The future is definitely contactless punching and althoughContinue reading “AGM 2019 roundup, Gramp Champs and other successes”
Scottish Junior Inter Areas 2019
North Area were the overall winners of this years Junior Inter-Area Champs and Sam Griffin looks very pleased with the trophy and remarkably relaxed unlike the poor frozen runner photobombing in the background! It was a very crisp couple of days at Scolty and Cambus O’May for Relays and Individuals where over 100 Juniors competedContinue reading “Scottish Junior Inter Areas 2019”
Rachel ha ganado tercero W50 en El Trofeo de Las Pueblos Blancos
Three events of very different natures, in or close to 3 of the typical Pueblos Blancos in Andalucia, go to make up the competition. Typical Spanish organisation which means very relaxed but it all comes together in the nick of time even if it means some nifty improvisation like using oranges straight off a treeContinue reading “Rachel ha ganado tercero W50 en El Trofeo de Las Pueblos Blancos”
GJO news and congrats
Firstly, congratulations to three GJOs who have just achieved milestone awards (or should that be kilometrestone in Ospeak?): Olivia Coman – 50 events Lachlan Kirk – 25 events Isobel Anderson – 10 events And congratulations to Jeremy and Pamela who have a new born son, Magnus. “Not long before he’ll be running in events! TimeContinue reading “GJO news and congrats”
GRAMP SOULsters
Katrina is W21 Scottish Score Champion 2019
Congratulations to Katrina McLeod on winning the W21 Scottish Score Champion crown at Faskally last weekend!
GJO Awards
Eddy Coman has been hunting down GJOs to hand over certificates for various awards: Ailsa Anderson – 10 events Paul Caffyn – Green Morven Farquharson – Light Green Rory Halliday – 10 events Patrick Lang – Orange, Green Robert Prince – 5 events Emily Robertson – 5 events, Yellow Oli Robertson – 5 and 10Continue reading “GJO Awards”
SiEntries now provide enhanced event searching.
SiEntries and SPORTident have been working on an enhanced orienteering events list. They have combined the search functions available from the SiEntries website with the events list published by British Orienteering. The new list can be used to see all orienteering events in the UK and to filter the list by club, association, event date,Continue reading “SiEntries now provide enhanced event searching.”
Strathearn 2019 Scottish 6 Days
Good morning, Grandtully! This was the peaceful, misty scene snapped by Pete as he was waking controls up at 7 on Saturday morning for Gramp’s big day. A few hours later there were heffalump tracks everywhere and folk milling about all over trying to keep track of subtle vegetation changes while helter-skeltering downhill, gravity assisted.Continue reading “Strathearn 2019 Scottish 6 Days”
Gramp Junior success at the Scottish Schools Orienteering Festival 2019
Three GRAMP juniors attended the Scottish Schools Orienteering Festival held at Hopetoun House. All three represented Aberdeen Grammar school and ran really well to get second place S3 boys team . Sam continued his good form of the last few weeks to win overall and retain his title from last year. Patrick came 4th andContinue reading “Gramp Junior success at the Scottish Schools Orienteering Festival 2019”
Scottish Orienteering Champs 2019
Solway Orienteers hosted this year’s Champs way down in the southwest corner if Scotland and several GRAMPs made the long trek down to compete. We have three podium places – congratulations to Neil, Sam and David! Neil McLean M75L 1stKatrina McLeod W21E 10thLindsey Esson Yellow 7thSam Griffin M16A 1stDavid Esson M40S 3rdTim Griffin M50L 13thBobContinue reading “Scottish Orienteering Champs 2019”
JK 2019 & BOC 2019
I had hoped to bring you some updates from JK 2019 but still can’t figure out the results by class so that’s still pending. I did have a trawl through Steve Rush’s photos and found this photo of the lesser spotted Daly though. BOC 2019 in Yorkshire is still going strong with Relays today (6/5/19) andContinue reading “JK 2019 & BOC 2019”
Proof of the Pudding – WSOC 2019
Remember all those cakes we’ve been eating recently? Here’s photographic evidence from the World Schools Orienteering Champs of Sam Griffin during the warm up day. Long race Wed 1st – starts from 11am Estonia time – that’s 9am our time. More happening throughout the week and no doubt Zoe will keep us posted via comments below.Continue reading “Proof of the Pudding – WSOC 2019”
JK 2019 Podium Success
Gramp has already had podium success at Day 1 of the JK 2019. Sam Griffin came 2nd in the M16 Sprint. His father also got a top ten placing in M50. Today is Middle Distance day, and we have three more Gramps competing, having kept their powder dry yesterday!😂 Good luck to Bob Daly, PaulContinue reading “JK 2019 Podium Success”
Junior Sprint Selection – Go for it Sam!
GJO Sprint Maestro Sam Griffin is going down to Lancaster University this weekend for the BOF Junior Sprint Selection Race where M/W 16 – 20s from all over the UK will be competing. It’s a fantastic location to test aspiring squad members, with multiple complex route choices on a very busy map so full onContinue reading “Junior Sprint Selection – Go for it Sam!”
Think Fast | Run Hard | Go Orienteering – coaching videos
Even if you can’t manage the Run Hard bit it’s definitely worth taking a look at this suite of 8 coaching videos funded by Sport England and produced by SLOW Orienteers along with GB Team members explaining and demonstrating various techniques to help you plan your routes between controls and nail them more accurately thusContinue reading “Think Fast | Run Hard | Go Orienteering – coaching videos”
SRUC tick research project has recommenced for 2019
The idea is to build up a database to help estimate the risk of exposure of humans to ticks and tick bites in Scotland and many of you helped this citizen science project by Scotland’s Rural College last year by reporting the presence, or absence, of ticks after you’d been orienteering or doing other outdoorContinue reading “SRUC tick research project has recommenced for 2019”
British Night Champs 2019
Well done to assorted Gramps for braving a looooooooong walk in and out as well as the technicalities of Dinnet to contest the British Night Champs over the weekend. Congratulations to the medal winners and commiserations to those who ran out of steam/brainpower especially after helping at the SOUL at Cove earlier in the day. W21L KatrinaContinue reading “British Night Champs 2019”
2019 Scottish Night and Sprint Champs
We can’t claim any champions this year but we can claim some near misses. Pete, Rachel, David and Katrina ran at the Night Champs held at the John Muir Country Park just outside Dunbar 2/2/19 – very flat and fast compared to most DNC fare but good fun and an amazingly clear and starry nightContinue reading “2019 Scottish Night and Sprint Champs”
2018 AGM roundup and Roll of Honour
The Minutes of the 2018 AGM have been circulated around the club members by email so for those that missed out or have lost that email, here’s a quick summary of issues discussed, prizes awarded and the 2018 Roll of Honour.
GRAMP Champs 2018
2018 GRAMP Champs by category (for trophies).pdf Congratulations to all our trophy winners! Juniors: Morven Farquharson & Sam Griffin Seniors: Katrina McLeod & Mark Stockton Veterans: Rachel Scott* & Tim Griffin Super Veterans: Lesley Gomersall* & Bob Daley* *these folk retained their 2017 titles The trophies were presented at the AGM. If you weren’t thereContinue reading “GRAMP Champs 2018”
Scottish Score Champs 2018
Four GRAMPs made the trip down south to Roxburgh Reiver’s event at Elibank in the Borders (to get in a bit of Score practice priot to the post-AGM event next weekend?) and did very well! Congratulations to Pete Lawrence and Neil McLean who are this year’s champions for M55 and M75 respectively. Bob Daly cameContinue reading “Scottish Score Champs 2018”
GJO success @ World School Orienteering Championships 2018
Three Gramp juniors had an enjoyable day at the Scottish Schools selection races for the World Schools Orienteering Championships which were held on Sunday at Faskally, near Pitlochry. Patrick Lang, Rory Halliday and Sam Griffin were representing Aberdeen Grammar and came a close second to George Watsons School in the team competition placing 9th, 8thContinue reading “GJO success @ World School Orienteering Championships 2018”
So how do they orienteer?
According to Space Weather News for Sept. 6, 2018 JUPITER HAS AN EXTRA MAGNETIC POLE: NASA’s Juno spacecraft has discovered something extraordinary about Jupiter. There is an extra magnetic pole near the giant planet’s equator, dubbed “The Great Blue Spot” by researchers who identified it. Jupiter’s unexpected magnetic morphology is a sign that strange thingsContinue reading “So how do they orienteer?”
World Masters Orienteering Championships 6th – 13th July 2018
We have 3 Gramps running at WMOC 2018 over in Denmark – Oonagh Grassie W60, Rob Hickling M60 and Peter Bellarby M80. Following the opening ceremony complete with flags, steel band and Indoor Sprint event amongst other things, they got down to business on Saturday with Sprint Qualifiers followed by Sprint Finals today. Tomorrow seesContinue reading “World Masters Orienteering Championships 6th – 13th July 2018”
GJO news: Sam Griffin selected for Regional Squads’ summer camp
Good news for one of our junior members… Sam Griffin got an email on Friday…. ‘Congratulations on your selection for the Regional Squads’ summer coaching camp at Lagganlia’ He wasn’t on the original list but was top of the reserve list after some strong peformances over the last months and gaining a Championship time atContinue reading “GJO news: Sam Griffin selected for Regional Squads’ summer camp”
JST event summary
Congratulations to all the Gramp junior competitors at the Jamie Stevenson Trophy event at Braemar on Sunday. Amidst strong competition, especially from Maroc and Moravian, Gramp juniors made a great effort, gaining four top-ten places including a podium place for Sam Griffin on the boy’s Light Green course. Many thanks to everyone, especially Zoe, TimContinue reading “JST event summary”
Jamie Stevenson Trophy 2018
Big congratulations all round to the Gramp Team who ran at the JS Trophy today at Morrone Birkwood, Braemar: Mia and Olivia Coman, Morven and Kirsty Farqhuarson, Noah and Sam Griffin, Oli Robertson, Reuben Cole and Connor Whitelaw. Between them they scored 558 points coming 6th overall which is a great result for such aContinue reading “Jamie Stevenson Trophy 2018”
Great Schools Orienteering Festival success for Gramps (aka Aberdeen Grammar)
Three junior Gramp members (two ‘old’ hands and one very recent one) competed in the Scottish Schools Orienteering Festival at Pollock Park representing Aberdeen Grammar recently and came away with a first and team Silver in S2 Boys…. can we get more next year?! Read the P&J report here. Congratulations guys!!
GRAMP Junior Participation awards
Congratulations to our Gramp Juniors on their achievements in the SOA/Gramp Participation and Colour awards. Awards are granted as follows for the period 01 Jan 2017 to 30 Apr 2018: Ailsa Anderson (5, Green) Paul Caffyn (Green) Olivia Coman (10, Orange) Josie Gomersall (Green) Noah Griffin (5, Yellow) Sam Griffin (5, Orange, Light Green) PatrickContinue reading “GRAMP Junior Participation awards”
Gramps at LAMM 2018
Congratulations to all those who high-tailed it to Harris for the last ever Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon (LAMM) this past weekend. Special mention to Sam and Jack Gomersall – FIRST – on the C course. Whoopee! Well done! Great photos on the LAMM site (and links to full results). Other Gramps and associates spotted inContinue reading “Gramps at LAMM 2018”
Scottish Championships 2018
We have more champions in our midst – and some double champions too! Building on last weekend’s successes Ros Evans, Oonagh Grassie and Kevin Reynard all won this weekend and some excellent personal results all round so congrats to all and as with the BOC I’ve listed all results as a measure of how weContinue reading “Scottish Championships 2018”
British Orienteering Championships 18th/19th May 2018
Well done to everyone who came, ran, won or just had fun and helped out over the weekend. Photo links for many of us caught in action (or mid-lick of an icecream) can be found on the SOA website post dedicated to BOC 2018. It was a mighty big ask of Gramp to be lead clubContinue reading “British Orienteering Championships 18th/19th May 2018”