Recent News and Information

We've allocated start times in 20-minute blocks from 1100-1300 eg 1100 means you start between 1100-1120, 1121 = 1121-1140 etc. To keep some semblance of order, please try to arrive at the start at the start of your allocated block Runners will be allowed to start at approximately one-minute intervals. Runners on different courses may start together, and juniors may start as pairs, but remember you're competing against each other - you can't both win the same medal!

Start times for pre-entered competitors have been allocated in accordance with your stated preference for early/late starts. Those who didn't state a preference have been evenly spread so as to allow plenty space throughout the start period for us to not have to worry about allocating start times to entries on the day.

If you miss your start block, don't worry as you'll be allowed to start at the next available slot.

We've ordered the following numbers of maps to allow for plenty entry on the day, especially for people wishing to enter the junior classes who aren't used to the pre-entry system. You can gauge the amount of spare entries by referring to the latest start list on www.fabian4.co.uk

An e-mail with final details will go out to all pre-entered competitors on Thursday evening, but apart from having no water station on the brown course, everything is as per the current event info.

White/U11              60

Yellow/U13             70

Orange/U15            30

Long Orange/U17    25

Light Green             35

Green                     45

Blue                       40

Brown                     25

Well that was good wasn't it? Two terrific courses planned by Jen, with assistance from Johnny (who gave up his run so he could help out) and mentoring by Mike. The attendance of 87 competing and more standing around was the 2nd highest yet for a Saturday event (we'll tempt you in to those woods one day!). Kinloss continue to dominate the Primary Schools League but it's a great sign for the league's future to see several other schools fielding full teams. The schools League tables, and the updated Saturday League standings and on the website (see Juniors section and Leagues section).

It was really rewarding to see so many new faces, especially from Forres Scouts who did an orienteering coaching session on Friday night led by Andrew Barr. Nathan Evans had obviously been paying attention judging by the speed he went round the short course.

It was lovely to see the McWilliams back at an O event after their year in Oz. Welcome back Debbie, Lauryn, Lewis and Steve!

Margaret must be forgiven for not getting the results up in her usual rapid fashion. She was one of the last to leave, and went straight from the event to the Culbin Singers rehearsal prior to the evening perfromance where Roo and Douglas will also be vibrating their tonsils.Anyone who heard them perform at the club social last January will know that the audience are in for a real treat.

No doubt we'll see many of you at Culbin on Wednesday for the forest run (remember there's a free mini--O challenge as well - helpers welcome). If you're entering the main race please pre-enter by Monday. And no doubt we'll see even more of you next Sunday for the big event of the year. Entries would be appreciated by Sunday night so we can have a stab at how many maps to order. Entries will remain open until Wednesday night, but there will also be entry of the day while maps last.

Any juniors with friend who might like to try orienteering please get them to come. The courses are easier than at normal events, with Under 11s running White Standard (today's short course was Yellow - the next stage up). Under 13s run yellow, Under 15s Orange, Under 17s Long Orange and there's a junior elite for the aces using the light green. Entries are starting to come in thick and fast. There are some good prizes so it should be a great day!

Mike R

BRITISH (Long Distance) CHAMPS RESULTS

Saturday's individual race in the Lake District produced some very notable Moravian results. Particular congratulations to Eddie, Liz, Nick, Kathryn and Andrew for terrific performances:

Eddie 2nd/61 M60L
Liz B 3rd/21 W45S (Short course)
Nick B 6th/20 M50S (Short Course)
Paul F 7th/20 M55S (Short Coure)
Kathryn 8th/27 W14A
Andrew 13th/46 M16A
Margaret 33rd/41 W60L
Elizabeth F 35th/45 W55L
Roo 55th/61 M45L

Great to see everyone getting a clear round on some pretty complex terrain. Full results at...
http://www.boc2012.org.uk/index.html

Some photos are now on our Picasa site, with thanks to Nick Barr.

Thanks to Paul & Elizabeth for a great event today. The Long Course was the toughest of the season so far and big Mr Equator-like congratulations to the juniors who managed to get it 100% - especially Duncan and Cameron who are still pretty new to this game and did a terrific time.

The Schools League tables and the Saturday League standings have been updated. The Saturday League positions are colour coded depending whether you're senior or junior, male or female. Remember that points are calculated separately for each category. Great to see 3 primaries fielding a full team - Bishopmill, Kinloss & Applegrove. If your school hasn't managed to raise a full team ask your mates to come along next time. Even if you come last you score valuable points!

We were able to welcome some new members today - Hannah & Siobhan Kingham and Timmy Miller - and we've heard there are a few more joining soon. We've incorporated the results of new members and expected members in to the league - provided you're an official member you get included.

Last of all, the Junior Participation Table is now updated. With so many new folk joining, we might have missed out the odd event for some of you, so please check the table and let Mike know so it can be updated. SOA badges are awarded after you've done 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 events.

REMEMBER TO GET YOUR ENTRIES IN FOR CULBIN 20TH MAY - INCORPORATING THE MORAY & HIGHLAND JUNIOR CHAMPS - SEE THE ENTRY ON OUR FIXTURES LIST AND ENTER ON LINE SOON!

Don't forget this great event. Please give it your support.

You can't miss the posters - they're up everywhere. As well as the main attraction (orienteering of course) you can see a demo of the amazing urban gymnastics sport of Parkour - possibly with our own Johnstone Macpherson-Stewart playing a starring role. Moray Road Runners are doing an interval session to get you in shape and Jog Scotland are doing a more gentle intro to running and encoraging their members to do our orienteering course. There's also tasters for bowls, tennis, skateboarding, football, cricket as well as various side shows and other stuff that I can't even remember.

I've been out updating the map of cooper park and will get cracking with planning some courses tomorrow. An easy one for the taster session and something a bit more substantial for all you orienteering die-hards.

Please wear your club tops to help advertise Moravain Orienteers, and I'd really, really, really, really appreciate some help with registration as weather permitting it's likely to be mobbed! 

Oh, and by the way, if you haven't done so already, please join our Facebook page.

Mike R

The British Orienteering membership fees have been agreed at last weekend's AGM. There's a major change to the membership structure. Gone are the 2 levels (national and local - and good riddance to them too). Gone is the family membership. Instead there's a simple senior and junior fee. Hurray! The Scottish Orienteering fees will be decided at the SOA AGM in June, and we'll decide our club fee (which is currently a big fat zero) at out AGM, also in June.

The levy rate is changing too. The effect of this is that we'll be paying levy on all our Saturday events (we don't at present because there's a 'tax threshhold of 65 adults equivalents before levy becomes due (a junior counts as one third of an adult).

Here's the spellbinding announcement from BOF. You can delve further by going to the BOF web site........ or maybe not.

From 1st January 2013 British Orienteering will have a single tier of membership with two categories:

• Senior – any member aged 21 or older on 31st December of the membership year
• Junior – any member aged 20 or younger on 31st December of the membership year

Membership fees will be nominal and capped at a level such that the budgeted amount of money to be raised from membership fees will not exceed 25% of the budgeted total income to be raised from membership and levy fees.

AND

That from 1st January 2013, a single rate of levy will be applied to all participants at all events except those covered by a British Orienteering Partnership Agreement. The principle that three juniors (M/W20 and younger) will count as one senior for levy purposes remains, but full-time students will no longer be treated as juniors for levy purposes unless they are juniors.

From 1st January 2013 until amended fees will be as follows:

Senior member – £5.00

Junior member – £2.00

Levy per senior equivalent participant – £1.00

So there you have it.

The list is starting to fill up for our trip to the Jamie Stevenson Trophy on 17th June at Perth. I already have 16 juniors plus 9 parents signed up so our coach is half full already. The decision on whether we'll get a grant to subsidise the bus will be made in April, but the day out will hopefully cost you no more than £5.

If you'd like to come (and that applies to anyone intending to join the club who hasn't already) please give me a call on 01309 641413 or e-mail to mrodgers506@hotmail.co.uk. Remember that virtually all of our junior members can take part. As long as you can successfully complete the short course at one of our Saturday events without any help (or a Yellow course at any of the larger events) we want you in our team!

Once the coach is full, I'm still happy to add more team members but you'll have to make your own way there.

Don't forget I'm still taking names for our junior relay teams to compete in the Scottish Championships at Braemar on 3rd June (the individual races are on the 2nd). I've only got 5 names so far. With the event being relatively nearby I hope we can get lots more for what will be a fabulous and exciting event. Remember that everyone can take part - you don't have to be an expert to enter!

Mike R

Thanks to everyone who came along and had a go at our orienteering taster on Saturday. We're pleased at the level of interest and by how much everyone seemed to enjoy it. The results are now up (see 'results' section); thanks to Margaret our web master getting straight on to it after her weekend in Oban for the Scottish League race.

Please come along to Aberlour next Saturday for the next in our regular Saturday Series. Remember that the event includes the Moray Schools League where juniors (primary and secondary) can score points for their school by taking part. The best 4 from each school count and you can run on either of the two courses. If you know someone who's looking for something a bit different for their Sport Relief Mile, bring them along - the short course at just over a mile is just the job!

And best of all there will be refreshments afterwards sold by the school's own orienteering club!