We are pleased to announce the latest round of funding awards made through the SOA Development Fund. This fund is designed to provide financial support to projects that contribute to the development of the sport and fit within the remit of the SportScotland agreed development objectives for the sport. This time around, we asked clubs to propose 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 wanted projects that focused on development of all athletes on either the performance, recreational or volunteer pathways, or continued to focus on the recruitment and retention of young adults aged 18-40.
Congratulations to the clubs and areas that have received awards: GRAMP, INVOC, North Area regional squad and RR.
Some of you will have seen the Scottish Orienteering Impact Report for 2025 published in December last year which highlighted some of the activities which had taken place under the auspices of Scottish Orienteering via the SOA staff team as well as our clubs and members. As ever in our volunteer dependant sport, none of this would be possible without our amazing orienteering community who give so much of their time.
That said we often hear feedback that some of our members don’t know what the SOA does. Whilst we have been trying to ensure that we talk about what the SOA staff team have been doing (in the Monthly newsletter, via Club Despatches and on social media) we also wanted to provide everyone with the opportunity to come and ask any questions. So why not pop into our first Community Conversation of 2026 on Monday 23rd March with Jonathan Molloy (our SOA Board Chair) ? Sign up via this link
Forth Valley Orienteers provided a weekend of entertainment for our membership combining the Scottish Middle Championships with the CompassSport Cup/Trophy Qualifier. In the first big weekend of forest adventures of the season it was certainly a test for some rusty orienteering skills with plenty of heather, glorious forest and hilly terrain to test participants.
The sunshine did not emerge for the Scottish Middle Championships but the location of the event assembly at Loch Katrine with the Steamboat cafe offering fabulous coffee or food and respite from the intermittent spring dampness and plenty of opportunities to socialise with friends. The download team were also to be found in the ticket booth which provided shelter and even a heater! The event team even managed to secure presentations of the medal and trophies on the Sit Walter Scott steamboat.
Our time in the Trossachs may have headlined as the Scottish qualifier of the CompassSport Cup/ Trophy but just as importantly it was 2026 Scottish Inter Club Championships . The remit of the Scottish Inter Club Championships is to help clubs foster a feeling of club comradery and member contribution towards the success of a club.
We hope that most of you already know that SOA is hosting the JK Festival of orienteering this Easter – and we hope that most of you will be coming along to experience it, and to help us put on a great show!
The dates are Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April, with all days taking us back to high quality orienteering areas that have not been used for a decade or more.
With the busy January and February calendar with British Orienteering Development Conference, it has been decided to focus the SOA Community Conversations between March and December in 2026.
The idea of Community Conversation sessions is to create a space to bring members together to share experiences, successes, challenges and ideas around particular themes. They are open discussions and everyone is very welcome to come along, and contribute thoughts, practice and learning from your experience.
As you all look forward to 2026 and consider what new skills you would like to develop over the year ahead, we have drawn together a list of the current coaching and volunteer training opportunities for the year ahead. To avoid disappointment, get them in your diary now!
The fixtures calendar for 2026 has been finalised and we are very grateful for all those clubs who have volunteered to host the key dates in the Scottish Orienteering calendar in 2026. We want to make sure you avoid disappointment so we have pulled them all together with the other important orienteering dates of the year ahead – get them in your diary now!
Having run the Scottish Inter Club Championship in its revised format for a few years, we listened to your feedback and acknowledge that in a busy calendar it was lost as an event. The remit of the Scottish Inter Club Championship is to help clubs foster a feeling of club comradery and contribution towards the success of a club within its membership. Having listened to your feedback, we have decided that it should take place alongside the CompassSport Cup/ Trophy qualification event in February each year and will act as an encouragement for clubs to get their members to participate even if they consider the CompassSport Final too far to travel or do not believe they have an opportunity to qualify.
Club coaching is a great way to introduce new participants to the sport we love or support existing members to be the best they can. Clubs are always seeking new coaches so if you have time to spare and expertise to share then come on a coaching course and find out how to get involved – it’s easier that you think!
