West Midlands Orienteering Association   

The final event in this year’s league was held yesterday and the results have been added to the league results page.

Unfortunately sickness has struck key attendees, with others unable to attend.

We have decided to postpone the meeting, hopefully to Monday 24th October at the same venue but this is not yet confirmed.

Please spread the word to anyone you know is planning to attend.

Waltron Chasers invite you to this West Midlands League Event. A full range of courses will be available, with something for all levels of experience. Entry on the day is available for white, yellow, orange and light green. Full details can be found in the flyer here: Haywood Warren 23Oct202. Pre-entry for the League courses is via Fabian4, closing date 16th October.



A course for anyone who is interested in qualifying as a Level C controller will take place on Saturday 29 October. It will be based at the Sea Ranger hut in Sutton Park. Full details are here, including contact details to book a place with the organiser, Henry Morgan.

A message from POTOC:

Good morning all,

Can you please circulate amongst your club members:

Unfortunately, due to a lack of entries we have reluctantly made the decision to cancel Sundays Hanley Urban event.
As a small club we would have made a substantial financial loss with so few entries, 25 in total (9 of which were POTOC helpers)
Thank you to those who did enter, you will receive a full refund from Fabian4.

Hopefully we may be able to re-schedule the event sometime in 2023.

Our next event will be at Silverdale Country Park (new area) on Sat 15th October.

Hope to see some of you there,

Jim Cooke POTOC.

Two roles on the WMOA committee will become available this Autumn – Chair and West Midlander Editor. Please at least give some thought to doing one of them! More information on both is below.

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Richard Lewis will be standing down as WMOA Chair at this October’s AGM.  In many ways this is a job that takes as much time as you chose to give it.  The nuts and bolts of the are listed below, but Richard reports on his time in office:

“The ability, skill levels and knowledge of the committee mean that the role is both satisfying and well supported.  They really help to make this position enjoyable and provide lots of camaraderie. During my term I have tried to attend at least one WMOA club monthly meeting just to see what’s happening around the clubs and meet the key people, not essential but interesting. I have also tried to support WMOA events as much as possible by attending; again, this is not essential but is fun!  I am always available to discuss the position of Chair, either face to face, email or phone.”

Richard Lewis

• The opportunity to be involved with developing the sport within WMOA.
• Chair four WMOA committee meetings each year in office.  These are usually held every 3 months and tend to last about 90 minutes.  They are held either by zoom or dependant on agenda content could be face to face at a convenient location.
• Chair the WMOA AGM.  This is held every October and is open to all WMOA club’s members and held under normal circumstances at Great Barr Hotel.
• Help prepare the agenda for these meetings with the WMOA.
• The Vicechair role is there to provide a substitute if the Chair is not available
• Throughout the year respond to any correspondence with the secretary and involve the committee, if necessary, where a response is needed between meeting dates.
• Attend 6 monthly WMOA fixtures meetings (by zoom) if required.
• Respond to BOF requests for WMOA attendees – either by attending the meeting or by asking for a suitable available delegate from the committee.
• English Orienteering Association AGM – either attend (virtually) or seek a suitable delegate.  To give support from WMOA and discuss any key issues. I find the format enjoyable and have enjoyed these meetings but the task could be delegated to other members.

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West Midlander Editor:

Rod Postlethwaite is stepping down as editor of the West Midlander Newsletter after 9 years of sterling service.  Therefore there is a vacancy for someone to take on this role and to bring their own ideas to the task.

It provides regular updates to West Midlands orienteers – traditionally every three months after the quarterly WMOA meetings. The minutes of these are published in it, and other “ready made” content includes results and updates on the leagues and WMOA other events.  Club magazines and newsletters also have reports and articles that can be shared across the region.  And of course you can commission or write your content; Rod reports that he always had a free rein to publish what he thought would be interesting.

Walton Chasers are holding an urban race in Lichfield on the evening on Tuesday 26th July.  Come and run round the cathedral city – experienced orienteers and beginners welcome.  They will be using the MapRun app rather than physical controls, so download to your phone / watch before you come. Please register before Thursday 21st July to reserve your map (pay on the day) – full details here: Lichfield Urban

A message from the Orienteering Foundation:

The Orienteering Foundation is pleased to announce support for another coaching day in the Lakes on Saturday 24th September 2022, in a similar format to previous ones (Nov 2021, Nov 2019 and Nov 2018). We are particularly keen to promote coaching of adult orienteers, who are often under-served, but also welcome groups including juniors. Details of the day are below. Put the date in your diaries, and either sign up as an individual, or think about encouraging your club to attend as a group

For further information please click on the link below:

https://www.orienteeringfoundation.org.uk/coaching-day-24th-september-2022

Both events are part of the 2022 City Race Euro Tour and UK Urban League, brought to you by Octavian Droobers, Harlequins OC, COBOC and with help from Walton Chasers.

18th June in Coventry City Centre

Explore the 2021 City of Culture with a Middle style race in quality urban terrain. Be prepared for an unrelenting technical challenge in a city that combines medieval history through to stunning modern sculptures.

The competition area is mostly inside the historic Ring Road. The area is heavily pedestrianised with shopping and business areas. Almost half is taken up by the Coventry University campus. There are some multi-level sections and together with the complex campus areas this will provide for an appropriate level of technical challenge for all courses including the junior courses.

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19th June in Birmingham City Centre.

This is a brand-new map and a new area to orienteering. The map was drawn by Dave Peel in 2019 with updates by Alison Sloman.  The courses will include some multi-level sections.

Run round a challenging, varied and scenic Urban Orienteering venue as it prepares to host the Commonwealth Games. 18th century canals are now lined with cafes and bars; Victorian era passages open onto 21st Century buildings.

Unfortunately this has had to be cancelled due to lack of interest. We hope to be able to run a course sometime later in the year.