During lockdown the SOA has been working closely with sportscotland and the Scottish Governing Bodies of the other outdoor sports to create a plan for how our activities can resume once lockdown starts to ease. Following the First Minister’s announcement yesterday we are pleased to be in a position to share Phase 1 of our Route Map for Orienteering reactivation.

Just a matter of weeks until our AGM and we wanted to give all members an opportunity to make their voice heard. We have created an online proxy voting form (see in full article) and a link to sign up to be online with us to vote in person on 14th June at 7pm.

As our way to say thanks to you, please join Roxburgh Reivers and WOC 2024 Event Director Paul McGreal hosting Prof Chris Imray, mountaineer, seven summiteer and surgeon
discussing Everest, oxygen research, adventures, challenges and a strong mindset for
endurance activities.

Discussing expeditions, endurance events, research on oxygen & physiology at high altitude and top tips for developing a strong mindset, join Paul leading us through Chris’s presentation http://www.case-medicine.co.uk/Chris-Imray with Q and A’s to follow. Bound to be an interesting evening. Don’t miss out.

16 June 7:30-9 pm Register here by 12 June https://forms.gle/14NUxZzcoKGmLSFR7 Thanks Denise

Please remember, we need your contributions to help celebrate our members and recognize their commitment to our sport. Deadline 29 May

Following the Scottish Government publication of Scotland’s route map from lockdown , we will now consider how each phase has implications for orienteering in Scotland. Today’s news is obviously very welcome however we would remind all members that until 28th May when we receive further guidance from the Scottish Government the current restrictions in Scotland remain in place.

We are delighted to announce an evening with Grace Molloy taking place on Wednesday 27th May at 7:00 pm 8:00pm.

Initial steps towards lifting some lockdown requirements recently announced in England and Scotland show some divergence in approaches. The Scottish Orienteering Association is aligned with the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland approach.  Hence the only change to date for Scotland is that exercising more than once per day is permitted.

Attention All Juniors!

This year in the absence of the Jamie Stevenson Trophy we are proposing an alternative that keeps the spirit of the event very much alive.

SOA workshop Tues 19th May, 7pm

We are all hopeful that full Lockdown restriction may shortly be eased to give some greater flexibility for people to take part in outdoor recreation, albeit initially on an individual or small group basis. I am sure everyone will be excited at the prospect of getting outdoors to take part in some real orienteering again in some format or other. The sport has lots to offer for this situation as we are naturally on our own for much of the time and social distancing can be integrated without great difficulty. The recent communication from BOF sets out how this might pan out as restrictions are gradually lifted. In preparation for this, it is worth planning for what resources can be made available for everyone to enjoy. On Tues 19th May, at 7pm, the SOA will host a Zoom workshop to discuss how clubs can use MapRunF to help play a part in this. Please sign up for the workshop here.