A Brilliant Day at Hopetoun House – Celebrating Scottish Success at the British Schools Orienteering Championships

Published: November 20, 2025

On Sunday 16 November, in the stunning grounds of Hopetoun House near Edinburgh, Edinburgh Southern Orienteering Club hosted the British Schools Orienteering Championships for the first time in Scotland since 2011. Around 340 pupils competed, with approximately 220 from Scottish schools, making it a fantastic showcase of pupils from across the country. The weather couldn’t have been better, with blue sky for miles and not a cloud in sight, providing perfect conditions for competitors, spectators and volunteers alike.

A stunning backdrop for the event.

An Event for Everyone

The BSOC welcomed a mixture of newcomers and seasoned orienteers. Pupils navigated through the estate, tackled challenging controls, and experienced the thrill of competitive orienteering in a supportive, fun environment. For most, this was likely their first taste of a national orienteering competition! A huge well done to everyone that competed.

The SOA maze, as always, proved to be extremely popular. Pupils enjoyed using it as an activity to warm up their legs and brains before the main competition, or as a way to burn off excess adrenaline after their race. Thanks to David Robertson and Interlopers Orienteering Club for lending equipment for this.

Outstanding Individual Scottish Performances

Scottish pupils produced many excellent performances across the age groups, with a large number of podium finishes:

  • Year 5 Girls: 1st – Iona (South Queensferry Primary), 2nd – Erinna (Taobh na Pairce Primary), 3rd – Emma (Dunbar Primary)
  • Year 6 Girls: 1st – Annie (Newton Primary), 3rd – Olivia (George Heriot’s)
  • Year 7 Girls: 1st – Rose (Linlithgow Academy), 2nd – Sophie (Dunblane High), 3rd – Sara (South Queensferry High)
  • Year 8 Girls: 1st – Hannah (Dunblane High School)
  • Year 9 Girls: 1st – Cora (Fortrose Academy)
  • Year 10 Girls: 3rd – Anna (James Gillespie’s)
  • Year 11 Girls: 1st – Lucy (George Watsons), 2nd – Emily (Preston Lodge High), 3rd – Brooke (ESMS)
  • Year 12 Girls: 1st – Samantha (Hazlehead Academy), 3rd – Hanna (Linlithgow Academy)
  • Year 13 Girls: 1st – Iona (Millburn Academy), 2nd – Megan (Firrhill High)
  • Year 6 Boys: 2nd – Dougal (George Heriot’s)
  • Year 8 Boys: 2nd – Inis (Dunbar Grammar)
  • Year 9 Boys: 2nd – Lucas (Dunblane High), 3rd – Carl (Breadalbane Academy)
  • Year 10 Boys: 1st – William (Firrhill High), 3rd – Iain (George Heriot’s)
  • Year 11 Boys: 1st – Fraser (Dunblane High), 2nd – Henrik (Charleston Academy),  3rd – Oliver (Mackie Academy)
  • Year 12 Boys: 1st – Douglas (Millburn Academy), 2nd – Alexander (Dunblane High), 3rd – Matthew (Dunblane High)
  • Year 13 Boys: 1st – Finn (Breadalbane Academy), 2nd – Peter (Dunblane High), 3rd – Dillon (George Heriot’s)

A selection of photos from the prizegiving ceremony.

Team Success

Scottish schools also excelled in the team competition

Age-Class Team Podiums

  • Girls Year 5: 1st – Dunbar Primary
  • Girls Year 6: 1st – George Heriot’s Junior School, 2nd – Newton Primary, 3rd – The Compass School
  • Girls Year 8: 3rd – George Heriot’s Senior School
  • Girls Year 9: 1st – Hazlehead Academy, 2nd – George Heriot’s Senior School
  • Girls Year 11: 1st – ESMS
  • Girls Year 12: 1st – ESMS
  • Boys Year 5: 3rd – Dunbar Primary
  • Boys Year 6: 1st – George Heriot’s Junior School, 2nd – Dunblane Primary
  • Boys Year 7: 2nd – George Heriot’s Senior School
  • Boys Year 8: 3rd – Dunblane High
  • Boys Year 9: 1st – Dunblane High
  • Boys Year 10: 1st – ESMS
  • Boys Year 11: 2nd – ESMS
  • Boys Year 12: 2nd – ESMS

Whole-School Team Podiums

  • Primary Schools: 1st – George Heriot’s Junior School, 2nd – Dunbar Primary, 3rd – Dunblane Primary
  • Middle/Prep: 1st – Tynewater Primary, 2nd – The Compass School
  • Small Secondary Schools: 1st – Breadalbane Academy
  • Large Secondary Schools: 1st – Dunblane High School
A very successful Dunblane High with all their bling!

Full results can be seen on the BSOA website.

While the podium places are worth celebrating, every individual’s and school team’s effort contributed to a wonderful competitive experience. Well done to everyone for taking part, supporting each other, and enjoying the challenges of the day.

A Huge Thank You to the Volunteers

This event would not have been possible without the dedication of volunteers. A huge thank you to everyone who helped — from registration, car park and download teams, to marshals, control hangers, and first aid.

Special thanks go to Jayne MacGregor (organiser), Martin Caldwell (planner) and Terry O’Brien (controller) whose months of preparation and coordination ensured the event ran smoothly and safely. Your commitment and hard work allowed pupils to enjoy a high-class orienteering experience in a most iconic Scottish location.

Martin Caldwell (planner)
Jayne MacGregor (organiser)

Looking Ahead

The 2026 British Schools Orienteering Championships will be held in Heaton Park, Manchester on Sunday 15th November, so make sure to get this date in your diaries. It would be great to see Scottish participation in this event continue to be strong, even south of the border.

If you fancy another trip south, there is also the 2026 British Schools Score Championships happening on Saturday 10th October at Shipley Park in Derbyshire (rescheduled from the cancelled COVID event back in 2021!!)