Event Round Up

Post date: Oct 08, 2014 11:56:56 PM

The first event in the Cork League took place in Doneraile Park on September 28th. The event was also the 9th Annual Cliona Callanan Memorial Event and all proceeds on the day went to the Cork Children's Leukaemia Association. There was a fantastic turn out at the event with over 140 competitors in attendance. With four courses to choose from there was something to suit and challenge all levels of orienteering experience.

The event was organised by the Cork Schools Orienteering Association and they had their impressive array of signs (see photo below) on display at the start which clearly explained the various features on the map to anyone new to the sport.

The park itself looked as majestic as ever and the warm September morning was perfect for orienteering. Some competitors may have got an unexpected surprise when they approached one particular control as an owl rested gracefully on the adjacent park bench (see photo below). You don't see that at many O-events!

Full individual results with split times are available here.

Thanks to Denis Power, Jim Callanan and Ted Lucey for planning, organising and controlling this event.

Northern Ireland Orienteering Championships 2014

Castle Saunderson Demesne, Co. Cavan

A small contingent from CorkO travelled north last weekend to participate in the 2014 Northern Ireland Orienteering Championships. The Championships were staged at Castle Saunderson Demesne in Co. Cavan. Castle Saunderson is now an international Scout Centre built on the grounds of the Castle Saunderson Demesne in Co. Cavan. This one-time grand demesne consists of some rough grazing parkland near the old castle and large areas of mainly Sitka Spruce plantation with mixed runnability. Some areas of older deciduous and coniferous trees are badly invaded by rhododendron. Courses on the day were planned to make best use of the runnable areas of woodland and route choice options around the plentiful forest roads and tracks. 

A snapshot of the map is included below. An interesting point to note on this map is that it is possible to run off the map an enter a different county! As the map includes parts of the county bounds between Cavan and Fermanagh.

Congratulations to Darren Burke (CorkO) who won the M21L class on the day. Darren had a great run and a very comfortable winning margin with just over four minutes to spare over his nearest contender.

Thanks to all at Fermanagh Orienteers (FermO) for organising a great event. Full results from the event are available here.

Note: You can find more photos from both these events on our Gallery page.