We’re very excited to share the news that the British Schools Orienteering Championships are coming to Scotland this year, hosted by Edinburgh Southern Orienteering Club – and ENTRIES ARE NOW OFFICIALLY OPEN!
The SOA AGM will take place on 22nd September online at 7pm.
Today we have published the AGM booklet in respect of the 2025 SOA AGM. Accounts will be shared on the website ahead of the AGM once the audit is completed.
Club Networking Day taking place between 10am and 4pm on 6th September 2025 at North Inch Community Campus in Perth. Book your spot now!
One of the key strategic aims identified within the Scottish Orienteering Strategy was to the need to provide lifelong pathways for progression within orienteering. Having structured pathways for recreational orienteers, performance athletes and volunteers allows people to identify opportunities to improve their skills or indeed opportunities to develop new skills within the sport. For most of us the feeling of getting better, improving our skills helps to keep us engaged in our sport.
As part of this and as a result of discussions with clubs, we have held what we hope is the first of many Adult Beginner training days and are about to advertise for a new Scottish Elite and Development Squad co-ordinator who we hope will help provide training to Adult Improvers alongside training for existing young adults within the orienteering. This can only ever compliment all the hard work which is being done within clubs to encourage newcomers and retain existing orienteers.
We are however aware that there is a lot of great work going on within the Scottish Orienteering community to foster lifelong learning. In order to allow clubs to have the opportunity to discuss and learn from each other, about how we can, should and are helping to develop our members skills both as orienteers and volunteers we are proposing that this year’s Club Networking Day should focus on Lifelong Progression.
The four main themes for the day will be:-
The aim of the day will be to provide opportunities for members from all of our clubs to come together and learn from each other. There will be refreshments (tea/coffee/ cake/lunch) provided and an orienteering activity at lunchtime to get everyone moving.
This opportunity to come and exchange ideas is not just limited to committee members or post holders. We welcome participation from any club members young and old, veterans or newbies who feel that they have a contribution to make. There will be Staff and Board teams present to support the day but the main purpose of the day is to provide the opportunity for clubs and members to exchange ideas on how we create an environment for lifelong participation and progression.
Please complete Club Networking Day 2025 sign up form by Friday 30th August so that we can order food.
The SOA Board is responsible for the governance of orienteering in Scotland. Much of the work is behind the scenes, navigating challenges, avoiding issues where possible and managing those that might arise – whilst they can certainly make life interesting at times, resolving them can be very satisfying. Examples since I joined the board 7 years ago have included:
Over the years the SOA Development Fund has supported Scottish clubs wishing to undertake projects with the aim of developing the sport. As we look to continue to build on the new Scottish Orienteering Strategy we are therefore focusing the current SOA Development funding on projects which support Lifelong Pathways for improvement which is one of our four strategic aims. These Lifelong Pathways within orienteering relate to progression of orienteering skills as well as personal development opportunities for our volunteers.
We are therefore looking for applications which support this strategic aim of Lifelong Learning and supports the expansion of the sport within the 20 to 40 age group through retention of young adults or introduction of the sport to this group. We are asking clubs to come forward with any proposals which build on these themes.
The June session in the SOA’s monthly online Community Conversations series focused on supporting inclusion and wellbeing. The session was introduced by Ken McDonald, the SOA’s Equality, Welfare and Diversity Director, followed by open discussion around aspects of inclusion that clubs and SOA might now focus on.
Ken set the scene by outlining what we mean by inclusion and what Scottish Orienteering wants to achieve. Key to this is developing an understanding of the barriers different people may face and proactively addressing these to maximise access, increase participation across the board, and drive wider benefits around the sustainability of our sport and positive experiences for everyone. Inclusivity is part of the bedrock of the Sport for Life strategy of sportscotland (our major funder), to support a more active Scotland and public health goals as well as Scottish sporting performance.
Read More…The 6th event of the 2025 Scottish Inter Club Championships saw Inverness Orienteering Club (INVOC) host a regional event in the delights of the Carse of Ardersier on 29th June. This left it open to the northern clubs to gain points to allow them to make a move on those clubs slightly further south.
Read More…By Louise Adams – SOA Lead Development Officer
Scotland’s junior orienteers turned out in force for the annual Jamie Stevenson Trophy, held this year on Sunday 15th June at Hill of Alyth. With stunning views, great weather, and a fantastic buzz at the assembly, the event celebrated both competition and community — and inspired many new memories for the juniors involved.
The Jamie Stevenson Trophy is a much-loved date in the junior calendar — a chance to represent your club, build team spirit, and enjoy a full day out with friends from across the country. This year, Forth Valley Orienteers (FVO) retained the coveted trophy for the 4th year in a row, holding off a strong challenge from INVOC who were just 4 points behind. Moravian completed the podium.
Sunday 15th June saw Scottish juniors for over 10 clubs travel the Hill of Alyth to compete for the Jamie Stevenson Trophy. An event aimed at encouraging participation from juniors of all Scottish Clubs.
It was a day of friendly rivalry with the sun shining after a few days of dreich weather. Face paint was applied and club tshirts were worn proudly.
To start the juniors in time honoured tradition paraded their flags around before a mass warm up which this year saw them all opening the gates, feeding the chickens and giraffes before kicking the badgers out of the farmyard?!?
On our final post of Volunteer Week 2025, it would not be right to finish without saying a huge thank you to those who give up their time to act as Directors of the Scottish Orienteering Association and the Scottish 6 Days. Without their efforts we simply would not be able to function the way we do!
