Celebrating Success at the 2025 Scottish Schools Orienteering Festival
On Thursday June 5, Pittencrieff Park in Dunfermline welcomed pupils from all across Scotland, hosting the much-anticipated Scottish Schools Orienteering Festival. This year’s event was a resounding success, bringing together almost 400 enthusiastic pupils to showcase their navigational skills, sportsmanship and teamwork.
A Day of Achievement and Camaraderie
Under some threatening grey skies, competitors from Primary 5 through to Senior 6 demonstrated remarkable determination, enthusiasm and teamwork by using skills they have learned at school to successfully navigate their courses. The festival featured individual and team competitions, with each school’s top three performances contributing to their overall score. The overall winning schools are the ones that have the most pupils who finish within double the winner’s time. The atmosphere was buzzing, with everyone playing football, charging round the maze and cheering on their mates as they navigated their courses around the assembly field.
Gratitude to Teachers, Parents and Volunteers
The success of the festival would not have been possible without the unwavering support of teachers, parents, coaches, and volunteers. Their dedication to encouraging an enjoyment of orienteering and ensuring a safe, fun experience for all participants was evident throughout the day. A heartfelt thank you to each individual who contributed their time and energy to make this event memorable.
Applause for the Organising Team
A special round of applause is due to Kingdom of Fife Orienteers, notably Pauline McAdam as organiser, Ian Doig as planner and Blair Young as controller, whose meticulous coordination ensured a seamless experience for all involved. From course design to registration and timing, every detail was thoughtfully executed by a team of dedicated volunteers. Their efforts have ensured a positive experience for everyone and their commitment to the sport is truly commendable.
Congratulations to all the winners!
Individual winners:
| Year Group | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| P5/6 Girls | S Humphreys/N Norve (Newton PS) | E Trotter (Tynewater PS) | =E Heron + C Vernon (both Taobh na Pairce) |
| P5/6 Boys | F McIntyre (Allan’s PS) | H Gallagher (Newton PS) | S Bleakley (George Heriot’s Jn) |
| P7 Girls | S Edward (Newton PS) | L Robertson (Newton PS) | J Mitchell (Dunbar PS) |
| P7 Boys | F Gallagher (Old Rayne) | I Chepelin (Tynewater PS) | L Carruthers (Newton PS) |
| S1 Girls | E Finch (Perth HS) | L Kitchin (James Gillespie’s) | L Janse (Dunblane HS) |
| S1 Boys | C Selmer Duguid (Bredalbane Acd) | M McManus (Inverness Royal) | M Owen (Dunblane HS) |
| S2 Girls | C Comisso (Fortrose Acd) | J McDonald (Hazlehead Acd) | W Matthews (Hazlehead Acd) |
| S2 Boys | L Baikie (Dunblane HS) | J Brydie (Stewart’s Melville) | J Edward (Dunblane HS) |
| S3 Girls | P Buganova (Dollar Acd) | E Connor (Dunblane HS) | E Fairfull (Preston Lodge HS) |
| S3 Boys | F Cheyne (Dunblane HS) | H Borrowman (Charleston Acd) | E Arnold (Stewart’s Melville) |
| S4 Girls | L Ward (George Watsons) | H Brindley (Linlithgow Acd) | S McDonald (Hazlehead Acd) |
| S4 Boys | D MacDonald (Millburn Acd) | A Hunt (Dunblane HS) | M Inman (Dunblane HS) |
| S5/6 Girls | E Atkinson (Ross HS) | I Scott (Millburn Acd) | H Cload (Millburn Acd) |
| S5/6 Boys | F Selmer Duguid (Bredalbane Acd) | P Owen (Dunblane HS) | E Thompson (Inverness Royal) |
School Team results:
| Year Group | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| P5/6 Boys | George Heriot’s Jn | Newton PS | Tynewater PS |
| P5/6 Girls | Newton PS | Tynewater PS | George Heriot’s Jn |
| P7 Boys | Newton PS | Dunblane PS | Preston Street PS |
| P7 Girls | Newton PS | George Heriot’s Jn | Preston Street PS |
| S1 Boys | Stewart’s Melville | George Heriot’s Sn | Morrison’s Acd |
| S1 Girls | Dunblane HS | James Gillespie’s | Dunbar GS |
| S2 Boys | Dunblane HS | Stewart’s Melville | George Heriot’s Sn |
| S2 Girls | Hazlehead Acd | George Heriot’s Sn | – |
| S3 Boys | Stewart’s Melville | Dunblane HS | – |
| S3 Girls | The Mary Erskine School | – | – |
| S4 Boys | Dunblane HS | Stewart’s Melville | – |
| S4 Girls | – | – | – |
| S5/6 Boys | Inverness Royal | – | – |
| S5/6 Girls | Millburn Acd | George Heriot’s Sn | Inverness Royal |
Overall schools winners were once again Newton PS and Stewart’s Melville College who have both won for at least three years in a row now – congratulations!!
Podium Photos
Looking Ahead: The British Schools Orienteering Championships
The 2025 Scottish Schools Orienteering Festival has once again demonstrated the physical and mental health benefits of orienteering as a sport, but also as tool for learning within the classroom. As we look forward to next year’s event, we encourage schools to continue nurturing a passion for the outdoors and an enjoyment of orienteering.
But firstly, upcoming this November 16th is the British Schools Championships at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh. If you enjoyed the Scottish Schools, we can guarantee this will be another great experience! There are few details currently, but keep an eye on the BSOA website for updates coming in the future.
All results, as well as Routegadget and Winsplits for those interested, are all now on the Scottish Schools Orienteering Association’s website. We look forward to welcoming you all to the British Schools in Edinburgh later this year and then onto next year’s festival!