3ROC News August 2020

What a year, eh? At least we’re starting to get orienteering again, both in forests and parks, with clubs running urban events using new technology like the MapRun app. Unfortunately many international events have been cancelled or postponed so this year’s summer trip for juniors and families organised by Toni O’Donovan to the OO Cup in south eastern France has been abandoned. Other major events which bit the dust include the first sprint World Championships in Denmark, the Junior World Champs in Turkey, the Irish Championships and the London City race. Some good news (perhaps) is that a new event for under 21’s, the European Junior Championships, has been added to the European Youth Championships in Portugal in October.

Back home, entries for the Leinster Champs on 27th September are open, and our first League event at Carrick Mountain on 20th September is taking shape.

More immediately, our three Tuesday evening events in the Phoenix Park and about to start.

Pre-entry only for events

The first, at the Papal Cross, is on August 11th, with starts from 6.30 to 7.30 pm. Due to Covid-19 the three events in the series are pre-entry only: there will be no entry on the day. Entries for each event will open on the Wednesday before the event and close at 6 pm the day before the event (Monday), and entries will be taken via the link on the IOA fixtures page here.

You will need to complete a Covid declaration as part of the pre-entry, and you will be asked to confirm it again within 48 hours of the event, otherwise you should not attend. This also applies to helpers and to anyone coming but not taking part. This is all very new but we’ll have to get used to it.

There will be three courses at each event, of about 2.5, 4 and 6 km. We’ll be using SportIdent timing.

The second event will be at the Magazine Fort on Tuesday 18th and the last at the Furry Glen/Knockmaroon on Tuesday 25th (start times for the last event 6 pm to 7 pm, course closes 8 pm). There have been parking restrictions in the Phoenix Park over the summer so please watch for orienteering signs to direct you to parking, particularly for the final event, as it may not be where we used before.

Obviously we are also looking for volunteers to help at these events, so don’t be shy – get in touch and come and help.

There’s more orienteering on, including an Ajax Come and Try It event at Marlay Park on Sunday 9th August (Pre entry only) and some interesting MapRun events in the south-east including one in Lismore on August 16th and in Wexford town on August 22nd.

That’s all for now – see you in the forest!