Trail O Championships - Irish Team

Hi all

Please see message below from Alan Gartside posted to the IOA website.

"I would like to hear from anyone wishing to be considered for selection to the Irish teams competing at the World and European Championships in TrailO this summer. The European Champs are in Sweden from 3rd-7th August and the World Champs are in Norway from 8th-13th August (alongside the FootO World Champs). A country can enter up to 6 competitors in the Open class in EuTOC and up to 3 in the Open class in WTOC (it can enter similar numbers in the Paralympic classes but I am unaware of any Irish qualifiers). The web sites for both competitions can be reached via the IOF web site. I would be grateful for early responses as the first entry date for the European Champs is fast approaching. Alan Gartside"

Orienteering Training Weekend

Apologies for the late notice on this but for those of you who might be interested there will be a training weekend held this weekend (6th and 7th Feb) in Inch sanddunes for all third level students primarily. The event is not a closed event so anyone who wants to improve their navigation or get in some hours on the dunes can come along. The more the merrier. The event is being organised and run by UCCO and will incorporate the KerryO event on the Sunday.

The event is suitable for all levels of experience and fitness. On Saturday, we will be training on the sandunes at Inch Strand on the Dingle Peninsula in Co. Kerry and on Sunday, KerryO are staging an orienteering event at Knockreer estate in Killarney National Park that we will attend. There are no set training plans but plenty of training options so it is really a chance for people to tell us what they want to work on. Sanddunes are the perfect place to learn from mistakes and to practice for the upcoming champs. Directions: From Cork follow the N22 to Killarney, then take the R561 in the direction of Dingle.

*Plan for Saturday is:*

10.30: - Meet at Inch Strand (drive down the strand a bit to start, you will see us)
11-13: - Practice map techniques
13-14: - Lunch
14-15.30: - More practice
15.30 -16.30: - A course to practice what you've learned

We will be using SI cards for the practice course so if you have one, bring it along but we will be able to provide some also. There is also the option of having an 800m or so route marked out on the dunes if some people fancy a bit of hills training, just let the organisers know beforehand.

There are some people travelling from Cork and Limerick on Saturday morning that have some free spaces so please contact either myself (Sharon) at ulo at orienteering.ie or UCCO at orienteering .ie for other details and to book a place. There are some limited places available in the hostel in Killarney. Cost for the whole weekend is €25 for students, but again please double check with UCC if that is the standard rate. If you can, please let someone know if you intend on coming.

So why not come along and make it a one- or two-day orienteering trip. I will be on-hand all weekend if people want to approach me.

For those wanting to stay closer to home the BOC event on Sunday is in Currabinny Wood as part of the Cork Winter League (Round 6). As always keep an eye out here for other orienteering events that are taking place around the county and country.