BASOC eNews May 2021
A long eNews this time - and maybe another one to follow later in May! There is something of interest to everyone here.
First of all, BASOC items and things which relate to all of us.
1. BASOC training & events calendar
Tuesday=O training continues – remember to let Hilary Q. know you are coming along.
BASOC events – subject to confirmation
Saturday 5 June - Windy Ridge (An t'Aonach), at the top of the ski road.
At last, we have an event in our calendar! On Saturday 5th June we intend to run a local event on our wonderful open hillside up by the ski slopes - An t’Aonach to give it its Gaelic name, though many know it as Windy Ridge. We’re expecting pre-entry to be required (ie. no entry on the day) - entry will be via SIEntries, and this will be available from mid-May, when we know the current Covid regulations.
Saturday 28 August – Provisional - Dunachtonmore
Saturday 25 September – Provisional - Loch Vaa
2. Club Development
Exciting news from the Committee: we are looking into the possibility of engaging a paid Club Development Officer to increase school involvement with orienteering. The first step will be a short term contract for someone to research and secure funding for the longer term (4-5 year) contract. Alongside that, we are in the early stages of applying to become a SCIO (Scottish Chartered Incorporated Organisation), which offers both charitable status and the security of being a legal entity. More detail to follow, but if you’d like to know more just now please talk to Hilary Q or Jane Cox.
3. BASOC Committee Meeting
Read the minutes of the BASOC committee meeting (via Zoom) on 16th
April 2021.
4. Scottish Orienteering Code of Conduct.
This has been revised – please take a few minutes to read through the one page Code of Conduct.
5. Gender Equality Survey
Kat McGougan is requesting ALL club members to take part in a survey – responses by the end of May please. Here are the brief details, with the full document available to read through.
From Kat:
“I am writing on behalf of Edinburgh University Orienteering Club (EUOC) regarding gender equality in orienteering. This applies to everyone so please read on!
After listening to ‘The Run In’ podcast about gender equality in orienteering, many conversations were sparked in EUOC and we had a live discussion evening surrounding topics which had been raised in the podcast.
Following on from our discussion we have formed a focus group, aiming to raise awareness about these gender inequalities and kick-start change within our sport. Since our initial event, Scottish Orienteering have hosted a panel-discussion around the subject. We have decided to write to other clubs to share what action we believe should be taken and why. If you don’t have the time to read through all of this then please fill in our quick survey we have made.”
https://forms.gle/9yYxrwQZEqJLHVgC9
Now for events which are happening.
6. British Middle Distance Championships - early closing date for entries
This event is taking place on Saturday 5th June 2021 in the southern Lake District.
British Orienteering have announced a closing date of Friday 7th May as entries are exceeding what was expected. Entries are through Fabian4.
7. MOR Events
Moravian have a lot happening from a Local event to Mountain bike events. Their event calendar is on the website. Read on...
Mountain Bike Orienteering
Crook Wood, Nairn. NH890553. Saturday 8th May 2021
Starts 09.30 -10.30. Parking at Househill cafe on the A939 1km south of Nairn.
Sprint 4km (suitable for all). Optimum route 6km.All courses on forest tracks. Helmets mandatory.
Enter through SI entries.
Coffee, cake and lunch available at Househill cafe.
MOR Local event
Altyre, south of Forres, on Saturday 22nd May, on a new map. Pre-entries only, entries opening from early May.
British Mountain Bike Orienteering Champs
The British MTBO are being held over the weekend of 25th
– 27th June 2021 in conjunction with the MOR Mountain Bike O Weekend. Entries are limited to 80 for each event so sign up soon if you want to ride any of them!
Further details and links are on the BMBO website and the Moravian calendar.
Friday 25th June: Anagach, Sprint
Saturday 26th June: Culbin, Middle and Altyre Middle (Altyre is not part of the BMBO Champs)
Sunday 27th June: Darnaway, Long.
8. Possible INVOC Abriachan Level D (Local) event Sun 16th May
INVOC's first "normal" event since lockdown. NB: As the first event post lockdown, they are only taking entries from club members initially – this will be reviewed approximately 1 week before event.
9. Scottish Junior Cup 2021
This is exciting news for Scottish Juniors!
Plans are now in place to host a Scottish Junior Cup league over three different races during the spring and summer of 2021. The league will offer a set of high quality, fun, and competitive races which will be open to all junior orienteers in Scotland with age classes from M/W12 to M/W18. The draft plan is as follows:
Sun May 30th, Auchingarrich, Perthshire
Sun Aug 29th, Tentsmuir North, Fife **NOTE: change of date**
Sun Sep 19th, Anagach, Grantown on Spey
The series will be planned and organised by parents of juniors in the area squads and ScotJOS. The focus of each event will be on the junior races, but where possible there will be accompanying opportunities for adult participation, subject to Covid restrictions on the number of competitors and travel.
Results from each race will count towards an overall league for each age class, with all 3 races to count for final positions. Juniors will compete on their usual “Scottish O League” course with “B/S” class options also available for M/W14, 16 and 18.
This series will provide motivation for our juniors to stick with orienteering, giving them a realistic target which we believe there is a very good likelihood of being able to deliver.
It is likely that results from the 3 races will be used as part of the selection policy for Scottish junior teams and the ScotJOS squad for 2022.
10. Sprint Scotland races, Saturday 29th May 2021
Further information on the Masterplan Adventure website
Finally, some general orienteering news.
11. Lakeland Orienteering Club: Spring sessions
Over the spring (well spring in the Lakes!) & the recent lockdown, LOC held a series of sessions aimed at ‘Improving your orienteering’. These are available to view on their website and many bits of the sessions will be of interest to anyone.
12. World Orienteering Day (WOD)
Contrary to the information published in the last eNews, there are two opportunities this year! Any orienteering activity held between the dates of 19 May to 25 May 2021 and 8 September and 14 September 2021, can be registered as a World Orienteering Day event.
The World Orienteering Day / Week webpage on the British Orienteering website has now been updated. This webpage includes free resources created for schools to download and use.
13. Mapping webinars.
British Orienteering have a Two Part Series of Mapping Webinars now open for booking onto (Tues 20th April & Tues 4th May.
The webinars are aimed at beginner mappers, would be mappers or those just looking to understand a bit more about how our Orienteering maps are made and will introduce some of the concepts and principles of Orienteering Mapping. Packed with experienced presenters, knowledgeable panellists and outlining some of the basics to mapping please find more information and the booking links below.
The first one has been and gone – it was on Tuesday 20th
April but it is available to watch. There is still time to register for the second one if you are interested.
Mapping Webinar – Part 2: An introduction to surveying & creating base maps
Tues 4 May (7.30-8.45pm).
14. British Orienteering ‘Thriving Clubs for a New Generation’
British Orienteering has launched a new strategy “Thriving Clubs for a New Generation’. They have produced a booklet (an easy read!) and would like comments. This is open for commenting until the end of May.