West Midlands Orienteering Association   

It’s back! A chance to explore the Long Mynd in winter and be rewarded by chocolate. Here’s a link to the details on the club website. As always at present, remember to consider Covid restrictions and precautions.

The arrangements for the 2021 competition are outlined on the British Orienteering website, with the 2020 qualifying teams invited to a final that will hopefully be hosted by the East Midlands. However, the Sutton Park embargo remains in place until the situation is clearer.

Unfortunately the event is now in a level 3 tier area. British Orienteering guidance states that “People are advised not to travel into or out of tier 3 areas (very high alert) in order to participate or volunteer in an orienteering activity or event”.  More details are on the Walton Chaser’s website.

Walton Chasers are hoping to put an event on at Shoal Hill on the 13th of December. This is subject to confirmation and Covid19 restrictions at the time; more details on the Walton Chasers website.

The latest edition of the West Midlander magazine can be downloaded here.

Unfortunately Walton Chasers have been unable to secure permission for their scheduled League event on the 11th October.

Although the CompassSport Cup/Trophy Final will not be taking place in Sutton Park next month, the embargo will be extended by one year to the end of October 2021 until such time as the venue of next year’s Final is confirmed. A map of the area covered is here. The Rules of Orienteering define the implications of an embargo and conclude that “competitors should use their common sense and avoid putting themselves into the position where they could be judged to have gained an advantage.”

Sunday September 13th 2020 Wrekin Orienteer’s first race since “The Break”. Fitting in a way that its the Long-O, as you’ll put as much effort into one race as you would for all the summer events (that didn’t happen)! Read the details here before entering here.

Update (15 Sept.): The Long O was fully subscribed with 100 entrants, well above the usual level of entries for this event – clear evidence of how keen orienteers are to get back to their sport! Competitors (and organisers) were rewarded with a glorious day to be out on the Long Mynd – the warm weather meant that dehydration replaced hypothermia as a risk, and made the courses feel even tougher than the steep sided valleys normally would! Winners were Kristof Nowicki (WRE, Long course), Clive Richardson (WRE, Medium), Duncan Bayliss (WRE, Short) and Richard Rogers (WRE, Very Short). A rare clean sweep for the hosts!

This year’s West Midlands Orienteering Association AGM will be held online via Zoom on the 12th October. Details, including instructions on how to join the meeting, will be circulated shortly via your club’s email list.

Harlequins are setting up a number of Virtual Orienteering courses using the free MapRun smartphone app. Full details are here