Did you realise Wednesday 8th September 2021 was World Orienteering Day? Helen Wheelright and I celebrated this fact by giving an orienteering talk and "O" exercises at the Stanbridge Earls Retirement Village at Awbridge, Romsey. With the help of Mark Light I produced an "O" map of the grounds. Helen did a Powerpoint presentation and outside we did a grid cone exercise to introduce the importance of orientation, distance and direction. Then a star exercise using the map of the grounds, where the participants visited two or three controls at a time until they had completed the 12 or had done sufficient! Two of the participants didn't make it to the photo.

Things are hotting up in the summer MapRun League! BAOC's Andy Snell is currently topping the league table and with just today and tomorrow left to play, he's also winning at Helen's Kings Worthy event. With only three out of five events to count, it's all still to play for though! Today sees the release of the final event of the league and Rachel Robertson has set a tough one around Shawford Down and Compton. Thursday 9th September will be the social with a 6:30pm meet up at the car park at the bottom of Shawford Down and retiring to the Bridge Inn afterwards.

The Final of the Compass Sport Trophy has been confirmed as taking place in as Tankersley Woods, South Yorkshire on Sunday 17th October.

It is a little further away than Cranham but we hope that you will nonetheless want to take part in the Final  of this competition which will surely be exciting and invigorating!! Entry is free for all SOC members.

According to Google maps, Tankersley is a three and a half hour drive from Southampton so it might be the best option to travel up beforehand and stay over the night before. The  Premier Inn which we have booked into in Sheffield (Sheffield/Barnsley M1Jct36)  is currently offering rooms at £45.00 for two people on the Saturday night. Hopefully we will be able to arrange a SOC meal on the Saturday night, in Sheffield possibly, more on that later.

Some people may wish to think about car sharing and if there is anything I can do to help you with this, please let me know.

If you are keen to take part please can you let me have your details. I need:

1.Your name.

2. Your BO number

3. Your SI/SIAC number and whether SI or SIAC. If you do not have SI or SIAC we can hire  one for you. 

4. Your 2021 age class

Also if you have Juniors/MW21s in your family who are members of SOC it would be great if they could be persuaded to take part this time round.They did us proud last year.

All SOC members, no matter how experienced, are invited to take part in this event. As long as adult members are able to complete a Green course they are welcome to take part. Juniors under 18 will need to be able to complete an Orange course.

The Compass Sport Rules state that you must have been a member of SOC by 30 September 2020 and you should not have competed in this round of the Trophy for another club.

Further news on the orienteering area, Tankersley Woods in due course. I look forward to hearing from you soon. If you have any queries, do mail me on helenamandaaa [at] gmail.com,

Best Wishes, Helen.