On the 14/15th March, university orienteers from across the UK travelled to Wales for the annual British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Orienteering Championships. With competition spread across two days – individual races at Merthyr Mawr and relays at Clevedon Court Quarry – Scottish universities delivered an impressive set of results, alongside plenty of memorable moments. Teams from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Heriot Watt and Stirling made the journey down.
Thanks to both AUOC and EUOC for contributing the words for the article below.
Well it’s that time of year again and World Orienteering Week will soon be upon us. Any event between 16th and 24th of May can be registered on the WOW website.
Throughout March, Scottish Orienteering has been excited to host three successful adult beginner “Learn to Orienteer” coaching days in Inverness, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen. These sessions were designed to introduce newcomers to the sport in a friendly, supportive environment, giving them the skills and confidence to go on and attend their first orienteering event.
Each day brought together a diverse group of participants, many trying orienteering for the very first time. From runners and walkers to complete beginners looking for a new outdoor activity, the sessions highlighted just how accessible and inclusive orienteering can be.
March has been a busy month for the Scottish Orienteering development team. Our March has been busy running taster sessions for educators and teachers to increase awareness of orienteering amongst educators.
Growing participation in orienteering depends on how effectively we reach and engage new people. The April online Community Conversation (April Club Conversations sign up) will focus on practical ways through which clubs and SOA can improve marketing and outreach.
What’s SOA up to? Participants from clubs around the country found out by quizzing SOA Chair Jonathan Molloy at the first session in the 2026 Community Conversations series.
There are three weeks to go before Scottish Orienteering hosts the biggest annual orienteering event in the UK and anticipation is building. But there are only three days to go before entries close on Sunday 15th March.
The 2026 Scottish Orienteering Individual and Relay Championships are being hosted by the WEST Area clubs – AYROC, CLYDE, ECKO, FVO, SOLWAY, STAG and TINTO – who are combining to deliver these events.
Janice Nesbit, our Scottish Veteran Team Manager, has after many years decided that it is time to step back from the role of Scottish Veteran Team Manager after the 2026 Veteran Home Internationals. We are very grateful for her work over the years representing Scottish Orienteering.
Janice has kindly agreed to mentor and pass over her vast knowledge and experience in the run up to this year’s event taking place in Derbyshire on 19th/20th September. We are therefore looking for a someone to work with Janice over the next few months and then take over after the 2026 VHIs as Scottish Veteran Team Manager.
