The 2010 intervarsity training weekend took place in Inch/Killarney on the weekend of the 6th and 7th of February. The training weekend was attended by students of UCC, GMIT, UL, UCD, DIT and IT Tallaght.The weekend started with a training session in Inch sanddunes on Saturday morning. The first exercise was basically an introduction to orienteering: what is involved in the sport, what a map looks like, features on the map and descriptions. Once the basics had been explained, the large group was divided and each group went off into the dunes to get a feel for the map and to practice recognising the different brown features. Compass bearings were then practiced and once this exercise was over, everyone was given an opportunity to take part in a relay and run a short course in the area that they had been practicing in. After lunch some of the group took to the dunes again and did a slightly longer course, which everyone completed individually. The rest of the group attempted to break into a locked car parked on the strand, while the owner of the car sent a small search party into the dunes to look for the missing keys! A tough exercise given the length of dunes covered by the individual that day, but success was had when the keys were found, but only after the window was broken.
Saturday night was spent in the Knockreer House Hostel in Killarney National Park, a wonderful location to relax in after a day in the dunes. Sunday, the group headed to the KerryO event in Knockreer Estate where the skills from the day before were put to the test. A quick briefing session took place first to help familiarise people with the map, which was in stark contrast to the previous days orienteering.
This event was organised by UCC and thanks and congratulations go out to Gearoid and Kieran in particular for putting on another successful weekend. Thanks also go to Darren, Brian and Sean for putting out controls, control collection and starts and finishes. Also thanks to KerryO for accommodating extra numbers at their event.
