The World Anti-Doping Agency recently released the 2026 Prohibited List, which comes into effect on 1 January 2026. The Prohibited List is updated every year and outlines the substances and methods that are prohibited in sport. Every athlete and their support (parents or coaches) should familiarise themselves with the changes and what methods and substances are prohibited.
With Christmas fast approaching Three Wise Men* (accompanied by a former SOA Events Manager – Colin Matheson) made an initial site visit to Grandtully, chosen venue for next year’s Scottish Individual and Relay Orienteering Championships. The timing of the visit coincided with a paid pheasant shoot, but fortunately it was determined they would be heading west while we headed south. The area is less green than the last day of Strathearn 2019, and the area around the likely changeover and finish location is delightful.
Read More…The 2025 series of monthly open-to-all online Community Conversations will draw to a close after the final one on 3rd December (December Community Conversation sign up form) and a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who has taken part and contributed so far. Your input and engagement have been invaluable in helping strengthen connections across clubs and with the SOA team. We would love your feedback and suggestions to ensure that the series continues to evolve in 2026 to deliver on what’s of most value to you.
Read More…2025 has provided some exciting opportunities for our juniors at all levels. With Edinburgh Southern Orienteering Club having just hosted the successful 2025 British School Orienteering Championships it seemed like an appropriate time to reflect on the junior year and the opportunities available to our Scottish juniors at all levels in 2026.
The focus can often be on performance as that is easy to measure but when we asked two of our successful juniors to reflect on their year you will see it is not just the competitive elements of our sport which they highlighted.
Read More…A pair of low key Organiser workshops is being run over 2 online sessions, 7.30 – 8.45 on Thursday 22nd January and Thursday 26th February with 
short home/in club tasks to be completed in between.
This informal and accessible course is open to anyone who is just starting out in organising and will cover the basics of putting on a local (level D) event. The trainer will share their knowledge and guide you through the process step by step, with plenty of time for discussion and questions. There will be take-away resources to help you organise your first event successfully.
A must for beginner organisers!
Please fill in the Google Form if interested
As many of you will know the Scottish Inter Club Championship has taken many forms over the years from a one day event run along side the Scottish Individual Championships to the current format. The aim of the event is to help clubs foster a feeling of club comradery and contribution towards the success of a club within their membership. We want to improve its impact in 2026 and are looking for your help/ input to do so.
Read More…Our former chair and keen Mountain Bike Orienteer, Keith Dawson, attended the 2025 World Masters Mountain Bike Orienteering Championship in Mercia where the IOF flag was handed over to him by Ursula Hausermann, the Mountain Trail Bike Orienteering commission chair. He was receiving the flag on behalf of the Scottish Orienteering Association as organiser of the 2026 World Master Mountain Bike Orienteering Championships.
