MORAY 2023 – six days of Scottish Orienteering
Elizabeth Furness writes to update us on planning for next year's Scottish 6 Days, 30 July - 4 Aug 2023…

The title says it all: a wonderful week of orienteering on some of the best terrain in the UK – on our doorstep. As with all orienteering events, this one doesn’t happen without those who enjoy and take part in the sport volunteering their time/enthusiasm/general life or work experience to ensure a successful and memorable event for all. 

Moravian Orienteers take on the central elements of the week’s events whilst each day is organised by one of the larger Scottish clubs, supported by smaller clubs. All the Planners, Controllers and Day Organisers have been identified and all the central roles that do require detailed orienteering experience or expertise have been filled.

So what does that leave YOU to think about volunteering for? Here are a few roles to consider; each one has a role description that will be available to view at the AGM in Findhorn or you can get in touch with Elizabeth via email : coordinator (at) scottish6days.com  Everyone who volunteers is able to compete at the event.

  • Equipment Team Leader – must be able to drive a van (hired) and relish a logistical challenge
  • Equipment Team member -  need 1 or 2 people to assist in checking kit in/out with Day Organisers
  • Social Programme Coordinator –ceilidh (venue and ceilidh band provisionally booked), plus maybe a whisky or gin tasting (or both!), maybe a quiz .  What and where would be up to you. 
  • Traders – three or four food/drink mobile providers needed (Nikki will sort out tenders and contracts) – you would be liaison and meet/greet on site each day.
  • Prizes and mementoes – a coordinator to source eg coasters, string course goodies, course winners’ medals/prizes; coordinate prize giving on final day
  • Bus coordinator – we are considering offering a bus service from main local campsites to the event each day (Nikki will sort out tenders and contracts) 

If you want more general information the website is   https://www.scottish6days.com/

 

Moravians Overseas this summer
Several members of the club are orienteering overseas this summer - maybe their exploits will tempt you to try out the orienteering experience abroad next year?...

Isobel Howard’s overseas adventures continue in Portugal this week at the Junior World Orienteering Champs, held in the hills east of Oporto. She ran really well in the first (Sprint) event, coming a creditable 22nd. Sadly, the rest of the forest events for the week have been cancelled due to the severe risk of forest fires.  The drought is so severe that the Portuguese government has banned access to all forests. https://jwoc2022.pt/ . Isobel then heads off to Romania for a pre-JWOC 2023 visit and then goes to Stockholm with the JROS for the Stockholm 2022 camp.

Eddie Harwood is at the World Masters’ Orienteering Champs on the Adriatic coast of Italy.  It looks even hotter there than in Moray at the moment! After a good qualifying sprint Eddie unfortunately mispunched in the Sprint A final. The events now head off to the forest.   Full results can bee seen at  https://www.wmocitaly.eu/. 

ScotJOS Sweden  
Scarlett, Michael, Kate and Finlay as ScotJOS members have gone out to Sweden this week for some serious training and competition in Swedish forests. Morag is out there with them providing catering support.  We wish them all luck, and look forward to hearing about how they got on orienteering overseas.

Closer to home

The Coasts and Islands this year is in South West Scotland (25-31 July), on the Kintyre peninsula and Arran. This is a new area for orienteering, and Steve Smirthwaite has been helping out by mapping some of the areas.  For further details see https://coastandislands.com/

The Lakes 5 Days event is held every four years.  This year it is in the second week of August, and several Moravians are looking forward to the opportunity for some relaxed orienteering in the Lake District, as well as the opportunity to do some cycling, swimming and maybe some hill walking. Our chairman is really pleased that an urban event (Penrith) has been added to the programme, on the ‘rest’ day!   https://www.lakes5.org.uk/

Kate McLuckie was also selected for JROS Deeside camp and Finlay McLuckie and Sophie Howard are off on the Lagganlia JROS camp.

We wish everyone good luck wherever they are running this summer. And lastly, we look forward to hearing about Margaret’s expedition to the Arctic! Did she get to see a polar bear? 

Reminder: Hopeman Gala Orienteering Activity this Saturday morning, 16 July
You can find the details here: Hopeman Gala Orienteering Activity | Moravian Orienteers.  Come and support the Gala and have a go!