Moors Valley Country Park. Friday 08 May.
This competition started in 1997, this being its 19th year. This post outlines the contributions of many volunteer Orienteering club members and recognises the efforts of P.E co-ordinators and teachers who work hard to make this off-site schools visit a reality. Score events mean competitors have a set amount of controls in the forest to locate within the time frame, therefore the most inclusive. There are also individual point values which allows a tactical approach if runners want it, complex? Its Orienteering there has to be some brain work too. Junior and Middle schools have a 45 minute limit, Seniors with a full hour. Earlier competitions in this series included more senior schools, however the younger under 14’s numbers remain steady at around ten schools of that age group getting into solo and paired navigation challenges. This years 100 youngsters also matches the number of the first year, good to see a steady attendance. Orienteering posts on this blog show my other work with colleagues, a Monday recognition today also of what takes a huge amount of organising by teachers some of whom Ive worked with on previous occasions. You are the best. Any teachers needing advice on getting ‘O’ sport into their schools do get in touch.
Results and analysis:-
Seniors Schools this year- Clayesmore, Sturminster HS. Clayesmores’ Mr Evans brought a defending team and stayed top with some great performances, topped by Toby Huthwaite locating all 25 controls in 48.48 to gain top placing for seniors, focused navigation well done. 9 competitors in all.
Junior/ Middles- St Michaels, Broadstone Midd., Okeford Fitzpaine, Canford Heath JS., Emmanuel and Ferndown, Summerhill all brought groups along.
Parkstone G.S., Dunbury, Sturminster, Avonbourne, Dumpton and Moyles Court individuals also came from these schools.
Proud to say Jack Leach from Broadstone Middle found 15 controls within time 380 Points, taking first place. Broadstone run Orienteering as a regular part of the P.E curriculum, and offer after schools clubs which children enjoy greatly. I have worked with the school for a number of years using Dunyeats Hill as their neighbouring open heath which is a gem, and the Recreation ground which contains one of our Permanent courses (P.O.C) You can download a map for free here and have a go. Next up Fred Harris from St. Michaels came back with same amount of controls but just over time losing 15 points, a good second placing. Third also went to Lauren Burns partnered with Chelsea Fleming who shared the navigation to collect more controls 17 although suffering penalties for returning over time, well done girls and Katrina Cole for bringing the group down to take part.
Combined points meant St. Michaels won overall, Broadstone Middle second and Okeford Fitzpaine Primary third. Overall there were 100 runners in the forest for this event. The full class winners results are here:-
I met some new teaching staff on the day, great to hear about Mr Thorpe of Summerhill recently using another one of our free maps of Upton Country Park for an Orienteering session,map here one thing amazes me that some Poole children have never been to Upton Country Park! These places in Poolemouth conurbation are there to discover. We have a joint summer series of events set up which will be great for some of these kids families, hope to see you there, and do pass on this too.
Last thing today is look out soon for our POCNAV competition- a solo Permanent Orienteering Course Navigation June to October series, short distance runs on our local courses, with one forest fortnight at Moors Valley and leading up to new mapped areas at Boscombe and Queens Park opening this summer. Have a great week.
