This week’s orienteering – December 2-8

After a quiet few weekends in Leinster it’s full steam ahead this weekend with three events, two in Dublin on Saturday and one in Kilkenny on Sunday.

The fun kicks off with the DCU Sprint event to raise money for the Irish Junior Team. Two courses (2.2. and 2.9 km) in Albert College Park and the neighbouring DCU campus in Glasnevin on Saturday, followed by the first “Dublin by Night” event that evening at Carrickgolligan, near Kilternan.

The Sprint event courses will have runners starting and finshing in the park with most of the courses among the twists and turns of the university buildings. Start times are from 11 to 1 pm and the car park and registration are on Hampstead Avenue,  opposite the ESSO filling station on Ballymun Road. Some more details are here.  You can register in advance here.

Two courses will also feature in the night-O which in previous years has taken in the huge crags of the Scalp, the spectacular night-time views over the city and Bray, and the iconic Ballycorus lead mines chimney. Start times are 6 to 7 pm. See the here  for details.

Kilkenny Castle is the venue for Sunday’s competition, as part of the South East short course series. A new permanent O-course will be launched on tghe day, using Pat Healy’s new map. Details here.

3ROC fitness training continues on Monday and Thursday at Belfield at 6.30 pm.

Our own forthcoming events are the annual St Stephen’s Day score event on Three Rock (December 26th; probable start times 10.00 to 12.00 midday only), and a night event in the Phoenix Park on Saturday January 4th (not yet on the fixtures list). This was to have been a warm-up for the DBN league but this Saturday’s GEN event slipped in before it.

See the World of O  “Course of the Year” below, an evening event at Monsanto in Portugal: