BASOC eNews late June 2023
Credit: Lynne Walker
BASOC relies on volunteers to plan and organise events and training. We need more people to come forward – help and advice is available for everything. See items 2 and 7 in particular for this.
This will be the last BASOC eNews until after Moray 2023 events – the start of August 2023.
1. Come and try Mountain Bike Orienteering!
£3 per adult, juniors free, meet at Nethybridge Primary School for 6.30pm start. Maps provided. SI timing if numbers allow!
Please email Jane to let her know you are coming by midnight Monday 3rd July.
Paths have roots and loose gravel but no drop offs / technical features. All loops are within the wood and do not cross roads etc.
Bring a friend?! MTBO is a great introduction to navigation as the controls are all on paths so why not bring along a friend who maybe likes cycling but has never tried orienteering? Or someone who isn’t keen on the running side of O but you reckon if they had a shot they would enjoy it?
If anyone doesn’t like cycling but wouldn’t want to miss out they are welcome to do it on foot (and you might even beat some of the cyclists!). If you don’t have a suitable bike but would be up for borrowing one let Jane know. Any other questions please email Jane.
2. BASOC event 20th August 2023 at Nethy Bridge.
Get this date in your diary! Entries will open around the start of August.
Timings: Registration from 10:00, starts from 10:30 to 12:00, courses close 14:00.
An organiser is also required for this event – do you think you could have a go, working alongside and experienced organiser? Jo has volunteered to mentor someone in this role, she has a wealth of experience to pass on, would provide valuable support and this is a great learning opportunity. Go on, you know you want to volunteer!! Contact Hilary if you are interested or have any questions.
3. Tuesday=O July and part of August.
There will be controls set out in Nethy School Woods. Provisionally there will be 4 exercises – short courses and a Score course. More details and the maps will soon be available on the Tuesday=O website.
4. Creag Meagaidh permanent courses
These are now on the BASOC website. There are a couple of easy courses; why not break a journey along Loch Laggan and try one?
5. M2023 Day 5 at Culbin
BASOC are doing the car parking on this day. Jo & Ian are in charge of us. Jo has been in touch with all who are entered for M2023 Day 5 as your help is required.
Entries close tomorrow – 30th June so get your entry in if you are intending going! Look under ‘General information’ for Entries.
Even if you are not entered for M2023, why not come along for the day, help with car parking and enter a colour-coded course (White / Yellow / Orange / Light Green / Green) for which there is limited entry on the day – although it costs a lot more than a pre-entry!
6. Up to date calendar
The up to date BASOC Calendar is now on the website.
7. We Need Volunteers
We need people to volunteer to set Tuesday=O courses / exercises for the following dates so that the normal Tuesday evening training session can happen. Course / exercise setters and organisers are required for:
5 Sep, 12 Sep, 19 Sep, 26 Sep
31 Oct, 7 Nov, 14 Nov, 21 Nov
If you would be willing to set up a course / exercise and/or be the admin point of contact on the evening, please let Suzanne know by emailing Secretary or Volunteer Coordinator by the link on the website. Guidance is available! You could make life easy and set up courses / exercises in the same area for the whole of September or the October & November dates. If you would like more information please get in touch with Lynne.
8. Report from the A4 Print Northern Urban League (NUL).
Clare, Alice and Lynne took part in some of the NUL events in June. They were reasonably well supported with about 50 competitors at each event. Two courses – Long and Short – were offered. Points were awarded for each event with three out of four counting. Overall results have still to be published – but do they matter, it was fun!
9. Congratulations!
Congratulations from all in BASOC to Jess Halliday – her daughter Ella Agnes was born in Sweden on 21st May 2023. Mum and Ella are both doing well.
Also congratulations to Alice Kemsley for her performances in the EYOC (European Youth O Champs) in Bulgaria. Alice had the best performances for the GB team in the U18 Women.
10. INVOC iROMP at Abriachan
There is an iROMP available at Abriachan, high above the NW shore of Loch Ness.
11. MOR events coming up.
The next MOR event is on Saturday 19th August at Altyre.