3ROC Orienteering News – 8th January 2020

And they’re off! The start of last weekend’s night-O at the Phoenix Park

Our first event of 2020 was the Night-O in the Phoenix Park last Saturday: thanks to the planner, Aidan McCullough, organiser John McC, and the helpers Nora, Clíona, Emma, and control collectors Kevin and Eoin D. We had about 60 out, with an exciting mass-start at 7 pm, and the courses were gaffled (or forked) to eliminate following. The moon put in an appearance, and so did the deer, and we got everyone back safe and sound. Josh O’Sullivan Hourihan romped home to win the 6.8 km Long course, with Ruairi Short second. There was a tight finish between the Fingal pair of Brian Farren and Seán Kearns on the short course, with Brian edging Seán out in the final sprint where they finished from opposite directions. The results are on the IOA website but we had some issues with Routegadget so the runners’ routes may not be available – we suspect that Routegadget was confused by the gaffling, as were some of the runners!

There’s a short video of the start on the 3ROC Facebook page – click here.

This weekend there’s more night-O, with Fingal’s event at the Ward River Park in Swords on Saturday evening (see details here) and a Leinster League event (combined with a WatO Munster League event) at Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny on Sunday. This is in the Castlecomer Discovery Park where there are lots of things to do as well as orienteering, and a cafe, and some very interesting navigation on a disused gravel pit. See the event details here. On the 17th-19th the big training weekend at Glendalough will be on but that required pre-booking and you’re too late!

Part of the course for the night-o sprint at St Patrick’s College

However, you can try some more Night-O in the next 3ROC event, a night-sprint-O at St Patrick’s College in Drumcondra on Saturday 25th January, and some normal orienteering at Donadea, Co. Kildare on Sunday 26th. More details of these later. The basic (printable) version of the IOA Fixtures list is here. We are reliably informed that the Dublin by Night event listed for Saturday 1st February will be at Crone Woods, Glencree, and not at All Hallows College in Dublin, but check closer to the event if you’re planning on going along.

Thanks to all of you who have renewed your membership online (just click here) and welcome to our members joining us for the first time in 2020.

Remember to check out the 3ROC Facebook page for additional information in between the weekly web page updates!

See you in the forest!