Category: News

We are aware of the changes to Covid restrictions beyond Level 0 that came into effect this morning and Scottish Orienteering guidelines and risk assessment templates will therefore be reviewed. However, due to staff annual leave it may be the week beginning 16th August before we are able to publish our next guidance.

A call over a year ago started what has proved to be a very fruitful partnership in Dundee.

This summer Scottish Orienteering has been working in partnership with Live Life Aberdeenshire to deliver orienteering as part of its multi-activity holiday camps.

We are delighted to be able to extend the deadline for the Score photo competition until the 23rd August 2021. This allows you to send all the wonderful orienteering photos we know you are going to be taking during Masterplan Adventure’s Coast and Islands event and the Scottish 6 days 2021 in Lochaber too.

Now read on for our exciting Judge reveal!

The Scottish Government have now confirmed that Scotland will move to level 0 on Monday 19th July. We have outlined within our guidance document the requirements for coaches, clubs and event organisers to comply with Scottish Government restrictions.

The 2021 Scottish 6 Days has been planned in keeping with level 1 conditions and will mainly run as planned, refer to Scottish 6 Days website for up to date information. Please respect all the guidelines and event rules that are outlined at specific events provided by event organisers. 

Any Scottish members headed to Hungary to compete in the World Masters Championships in August? Please get in touch with us at SOA. We would love to do a profile piece and recognise any athletes participating and respresenting Scotland at a major championship. We also have some updated anti-doping advice to pass on to you…yes, antidoping regulations do apply to you! Please get in touch.

Many thanks to Scott Fraser for taking on the SEDS Manager role and to re-establish a SEDS programme to offer opportunities to Scottish based athletes. Details have been released on the SHI selection policy and there is an expression of interest form embedded for aspiring athletes.

Thank you to everyone who attended our AGM on Friday 25th June and to those who participated through their submission of proxy votes in advance of the meeting.

Summary of outcomes:

• All Junior (£2), Student (£2) and Senior (£10) SOA membership fees will remain the same for 2022

• SOA event levies will remain the same for 2022, £1 per senior and £0.40 per junior for all events where the entry fee for seniors is >£10.

• Ben Hartman re-instated as Finance Director.

The Scottish Inter Club Championships took place as part of the Scottish Championships at Craig a Barns on 13^th June organised by ESOC.  Congratulations to the Scottish Inter Club Champions of 2021, Forth Valley Orienteers and for smaller clubs, Roxburgh Reivers.

As usual we received a number of very worthy nominations for the President’s medal which is awarded for services to Scottish Orienteering and as usual the award was a difficult decision as all the nominations would have been worthy recipients. This year, as President, I have great pleasure in awarding it to Tim O’Donoghue. Tim probably needs little introduction as an active member of the Scottish Orienteering community owing to the number of roles he fulfills as SOLWAY club chairman, Safety Director on the SOA board and tireless supporter of Scottish Orienteering. Up Until recently he, along with his wife Helen, also carried out the role of Coaching Coordinators on a voluntary basis for a number of years greatly assisting the SOA staff team.