The coaching activity saw 14 SOC members attend (including Coaches). Between them, they shared 51 runs on a selection of 7 different courses using a standard map or a map with the tracks and paths removed. So experienced orienteers and the less experienced all had challenges to match their capabilities.

Like the last coaching activity at Bramshaw Wood the emphasis was on working on direction, using map and compass to run on bearings!

The area was very open and runnable so running on a bearing was quite achievable, enabling participants to run straight most of the time.

Even so, feedback indicated that although you could generally run straight, it did not always work as planned. Often you need to combine other navigational techniques as well. Techniques such as 'aiming off', navigating to larger identifiable attack points, gauging distance and picturing and ticking off features as you pass them. T something 

I think we all learnt something and gained good experience trying to follow bearings which I hope will encourage the participants to practice further and add this skill to their navigational armoury.

Kevin

John died at his Ferndown nursing home on March 9th 2025 aged 88.
John will be known to the longer standing members of SOC as a great friend to our club.
He controlled the November Classic on a number of occasions. 
I will particularly miss our long phone conversations, especially in the early days of the OCAD mapping software, and we would always finish with putting the orienteering world to rights!
Details of his funeral have now been circulated and are as follows:

It will be at 1pm on Tuesday 1st April at New Forest Crematorium, Stem Lane, New Milton
BH25 5FH. This will be followed by a gathering and afternoon tea buffet at Burley Manor, Ringwood Rd, Burley, Ringwood BH24 4BS. 
Dress code: we know that John loved orienteering and so if O-club members would like to wear their club kit, you'd be welcome to do so. 
A live-stream will be available if anyone can't make it and wants to watch the service remotely. If you are able to attend or would like a link to the live stream please e-mail eamondoc [at] aol.com (eamondoc[at]aol[dot]com) A link will be confirmed shortly. 
Family flowers only preferred. Should anyone wish to donate to charities that John supported we'll be collecting for RNLI and Parkinson's UK"

The final league tables are attached and the list of prize winners. Congratulations to SOC members Andy Snell 3rd in the open class, and Paul Thwaites 2nd in the age graded class.

Some statistical comments from James Crickmore (WSX).

Attendance Stats

• 667 attendances (including organisers).
• 107 people from 12 different clubs, plus independents, attended at least 2 events.
• 2 people attended all 15 events: Bohdan Rainczuk (SARUM) and Charlotte Thornton (SARUM).
• 18 people attended 10 or more events.

Other Stats

• There were 6 different open event winners, and 8 different age graded event winners.
• 36 runs collected bonus points for completing a course in under 59 minutes.
• 5 people perfected their sprint finish, with a time of exactly 60:00 and no penalty.
• 175 runs (30%) were late back, losing a total of 7588 points (3.8% of points collected).
• Coldharbour caught out the most people with 86% of competitors late back!

SOC successfully put on 4 events in the league and for the second year running hosted the finals night, this time in Lymington.
Many thanks to all the SOC volunteers that helped make all 4 of our events happen