Successful September events at WIT

On September 17th, Wato organised a training event for schools at the WIT sports campus at Carriganore. This was the first time the pitch area was used. Thank you to all the helpers: Sally, Norman, Elizabeth, Laura, Brid, Liisa and TY students from Newtown.
Almost 400 took part from Fenor NS, Christchurch NS, Newtown JS, St John of Gods, Ursuline, Colaiste cois Suire and Newtown.
Thanks to Norman for the pix.

The South east league event on 20th September was well attended by cubs and scouts with over 100 entrants. Ella Murphy and Sarah Heery from St Pauls scouts were the first home on the short course. Thomas Callery edged out Jonathan Pim and Jerry Sullivan on the long course. Liisa Honkasaari came home ahead of Bridget Coffey and Kyle Sullivan on the medium course.

Doneraile event

Please support our neighbours in Cork O and Jim Callnan in particular with the annual memorial event at Doneraile park.

Our next Wato event is at Carriganore WIT campus on 20th September with start times between 11 and 1. 

If you are involved with schools, there is a schools training event at the sports campus on 17th September. Check out the IOSG blog

Summer series

Pat and Eoin starting at Woodstock

The summer series ended up in Kennedy park at the end of heritage week. Whilst not originally planned, it proved successful with good numbers making it worthwhile. Thank you to all those who helped at each of the events. It cannot happen without you.

Is the medium really that long?

...those young upstarts,JC

A number of our juniors joined with those from BOC and others for training with Josh O'Sullivan Hourihan on the Tramore dunes.

Is that all of the map?

running corridors

group photo in Tramore

well what route did you take?

well deserved lunch with J and A

Heritage week event at Kennedy Park

Waterford Orienteers will host their annual event at Kennedy Park, Co. Wexford as part of Heritage week this Sunday 30th August.
Thanks to the OPW for once again allowing us to use their splendid grounds.

The regular event starts between 11 and 1. Controls will be taken in at 2.30
Long course 6.2km, 23 controls
Medium course 4.1km, 18 controls
Short course 2.4km, 10 controls.

There are lots of events happening at the park this Sunday including a craft fair, dancing display, a barbecue (starts at 1.30, you pay for what you eat), a talk on industrial heritage at 3 and a vintage car rally (which starts in New Ross at 12.30 but ends up in the top field for viewing in the early afternoon). The cafe will also be open.
I suggest that you come as early as possible to get a parking space.


Nigel has posted that there is a €5 voucher for the car ferry in this week's Waterford Mail if you are taking the Passage to Ballyhack route to avoid New Ross

The AGM of the Irish schools will take place from 2.30 to 3.30. This is an open meeting and anybody is welcome to attend. If you cannot attend but have suggestions please email the development officer development@orienteering.ie before the meeting. Thank you to those who have already made suggestions.

Summer events

Club members from Wato have been competing abroad in Scotland, Romania, Finland and Norway.
Well done to all concerned. No pictures yet?

Closer to home, the first of  a series of introductory events have taken place at Kilkenny Castle. This event was organised in conjunction with Linda from AIB in aid of MS Ireland. A big turn out raised over 500€ for the worthy cause.




As part of the Woodstock Summer Fridays, we are hosting a club event with short, medium and Long (relatively) courses. Starts between 5 and 7. All are welcome.

On the 30th August we head to Kennedy Arboretum, Co. Wexford as part of Heritage week with the normal start times from 11 until 1.

Tramore league event

The final event of the season before the summer break took place at Tramore last Sunday. A huge thanks to John Casey (planner), Andrew Pim, Liisa Honkasaari and Laura Cox for all their hard work in ensuring the event went ahead. Full results are posted on the IOA website.

Wato club had 2 relay teams at the Irish Championships in Lisburn over the bank holiday weekend.

 Best club results in the sprint were Jeni Pim (W40) winner and Andrew Cox (2nd Irish home in M55, 11 secs behind the winner)

Tramore event

The final SE league and mid season Munster league 6 orienteering event takes place at Tramore sand dunes on Sunday 17th May. 
Start times between 11 and 1 at  S 594 010
 
Course lengths
Brown course: 6.8 km, 20 controls
Blue course: 5.8 km, 17 controls
Green course: 4.4 km, 16 controls
Light green course: 3.6 km, 14 controls
Red/Orange course: 3.0 km, 12 controls
Yellow course: 1.7 km, 8 controls

Tickancor event cancelled

Dear friends,
the event due to be held at Tickancor on March 15th has been cancelled. The prime reason is that there has been extensive felling and vegetation change which requires additional mapping over the Easter break. It was felt that it was better to make those changes before using the map again. BOC are holding an event at Glenbower, the wood behind the Thatch pub in Killeagh next Sunday so if you are looking for a run, I can advise this event.
Advance warning that the Munster league event down for Coumshingaun on April 12th will now be in the Kilsheelan/Tickancor area with a revised map. Coumshingaun is not available as we plan to run one of the days of the Irish Championships in May 2016 on a new map of this area.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
There is a cub scout event at Woodstock on 21st March. If any club members want a run, there will be a medium length course available between 1.30 and 3 when the cubs are finished. I will post more details shortly.

North Wexford event

Waterford club members are asked to support the Fingal event on Sunday February 22nd run by FINGAL orienteers. This will be great practice for anyone planning to go to the Scottish 6 days during the summer.

This Event is part of both the Leinster League and SE league. It will be in Cahore in County Wexford, not Castlemorris as originally planned.
Courses are suitable for all levels of experience and fitness. All are welcome.
Course Details are as follows

Course	Length	Controls
Brown	10.8K	30
Blue	8.4K	25
Green	5.5K	16
Red	5.3K	13
Light Green	3.5K	11
Orange	3.5K	12
Yellow	2.0K	9

Starts from 11.00 until 13.00, courses close at 15.00
Directions - take the M/N 11 north towards Gorey. Take exit 23, then follow the R742 towards Courtown. Coming into Courtown take a right turn signposted for Riverchapel. Follow the R742 through Ballygarret, then take a left turn sigposted for Old Bawn about 1 Kilometer past Ballygarret.
Cahore South Beach is open sand dunes, the location of the 2013 Leinster Championships

Colligan woods results

Emma making Gran proud

Full results for the league event held at Colligan wood last Sunday are posted on the IOA website and the Wato blog.
The jury met to consider the misplacement of one control but agreed not to change the results. Any volunteers to remap the offending area of the map where Coillte have recently been felling alongside?
Andrew Pim held off the challenge of Agris Kraminis from CorkO on the Blue course. Jim Callnan got the better of Liisa Honkasaari on a competitive green course. Ciara Silby took the light green courses. Ben Schneiders pipped Kyle Sullivan and Emma Pim on the red  course which featured 18 W/M 12 to M/W 14s. Zane Kramina won the yellow course.

Last call for anyone interested in the exciting weekend of orienteering next weekend.
Saturday 7th February at 11.30: relay on the Curragh ( an easy trip up the motorway) on great runnable terrain. Run for your college (alumni) or as an ad hoc team. Any individuals who wish to take part should contact me and I will make up teams on the day of the event. Different length legs for different standards. Full details on the DUO blog duo40thanniversary.blogspot.ie

Sunday 8th February: Leinster league event at Djouce mountain with full range of colour coded courses. Usual starts between 11 and 1.

Anyone involved in schools, please note the following dates for any schools in the Southeast. Check out the schools blog for full details. Entries are due asap.
Primary Championships at Kennedy park on 12th February
Secondary championships at Kennedy Park on 26th February.

Sue Pim R.I.P

Our thoughts are with the family of Sue Pim, long time member of the Waterford Orienteering club who passed away after illness earlier today. Her memorial service will take place on February 21st.

Change of date

Please note that due to a clash with the annual Colligan run this Sunday, the SE league orienteering event  will now take place on 1st February at Colligan woods.

SE league event at Colligan Woods

The next round of the SE league takes place at Colligan woods, Dungarvan, County Waterford on Sunday 18th January. Starts between the usual times 11 and 1. Anyone bringing a group should indicate in advance to ensure enough maps.Shorter courses will use the western side of Greenane whilst the longer courses will also use the Ballyconnery side.

SE short course league final standings.

After 5 short course events, the league placings are now calculated here
Conal Whelan pipped John Casey on the long course by just 1 point. Robert Pim edged out uncle Andrew, Agris Kramnis and Tom Callery by small margins. Brid Casey was the best female finisher.
Medium results are awaiting correction as Liisa has two variations on her name spelling.
Aislinn Callery won the short course ahead of Finlay McHardy and the Casey duo of Liam and Eimear.

First urban sprint race in Ireland?

Waterford Viking Quarter was the venue for a close fought urban race. The Beach Tower on the old Norman walls was the start, the course took in both Cathedrals, Reginald's Tower, the Adephi Qauy, the People's park, the Bishop's Palace and finished in John Robert's Square.
A huge thanks to everyone who made this event possible@ the City Council; St Patrick's Gateway centre (who allowed us use their hall for registration and download, and supplied stewards for the road crossings);  Wato club members (especially Andrew Pim chief logistics organiser on the day and Elizabeth Storey on registration); and DUO members (who looked after download and all computer matters on both days, and supplied loads of pix). Click here to see more pictures.
The long course was won by Conor Short (DUO) who pipped 4 runners from UCD. Robert Pim was the best Wato runner, just 5 minutes behind the winner. Ciaran Kearns from Fingal won the Medium course from Niamh Corbett (UCDO) and Eadoin McKavanagh (GEN). There was local interest in the short course with Jana Cox and Laoise Doyle both in the top 4 places.

Unique event at the Castlecomer quarries

October 26th was a unique event in the IOA calendar as Wato hosted the first ever combined Munster and Leinster league event. 185 competitors navigated the intricate contours of the Castlecomer brick quarry by kind permission of Errol Delaney.
On the brown course, Aonghus O'Clerigh from Ajax continued to show the youngsters who is boss with a fine win. He was followed home by Cillin Corbett (UCD) and Angus Tyner (Setanta). Gints Plaudis from Wato was a credible 4th.

John Casey (Wato) won the blue course with Richard Latimer (BOC) 2nd and Roisin Long (UCD) 3rd.
Niamh Corbett (UCD) won Green course from Aoife McCavanagh (GEN) and Regina Kelly (DUO).
There was another Wato winner as Brid Casey beat off the challenge of Aaron Prohaska from Austria and Tim Ryan (DUO) on the light green course.
The red course was dominated by Queens University with Denise O'Connor the best Wato runner in 5th place.
The orange course was won easily by Vaiva Redmond from Kilkenny. Full results on the IOA website here.
A huge thanks to all Wato members for their help on the day. Special thanks to Norman Storey who organised the parking and the signs. Thanks also to Pat Healy who controlled the event, mapped the area and took these photos. More pictures here.

Cub scouts invade Cariganore

The 4th round of the SE short course league took place at the WIT sports campus at Carriganore, Waterford. Almost 250 participated in a day of variable weather. The morning was beautifully sunny but from 12.30 until 2 there were torrential wintry downpours. It was so heavy that some abandoned half way round their course. I don't blame them.
A huge thanks to Norman and Elizabeth, Nigel, Jeni and Jordan, and Angela who all helped order the chaos of so many scouts, cubs and beavers in a short space of time.
The results are posted on the IOA website here.
Andrew Pim pipped his nephew Robert on the long course. Jordan Pim won the medium course ahead of Paloma Balado from Newtown, Denise O'Connor from St Pauls and Molly O'Shea from Newtown. Aislinn Callery had 15 seconds to spare over Zane Kramina (CorkO) on the short course.

Nigel and Norman giving instruction at the start

Before the storm

Apres le Deluge

Pressure at the start

Carriganore event

Waterford Orienteering club will host the next round of the SE short course orienteering series at Carriganore, WIT in Waterford City on Sunday 9th November. Grid reference S 559 116.
Start times from 11 to 1. Please let me know well in advance if you are bringing a group.
There will be extra maps on the day but participants are encouraged to register online. Here is the link to Google Docs
There is no pre payment and there is no worry if you cannot make it on the day. It just helps with planning numbers of maps.



Huge numbers participated at the Deise Days weekend.
Over 185 competed at Castlecomer Discovery Park with the newly mapped quarry section proving a big hit. Thank you to: Norman Storey who organised the parking with the able assistance of Linda; to Elizabeth and Angela for manning registration; Laura who looked after download; Pat Healy Controller; POC, Nigel and Andrew P on starts.

The Waterford Viking 1100 urban sprint race attracted 130 enthusiastic runners and walkers. Thanks to all those who manned the mandatory crossings including Jerry, Hugh and Alan; to Andrew as chief organiser on the day; Angela, Liisa, Jeni and Liz on the start; Laura and Jana on the computer; Elizabeth on registration. Apologies to anyone I forgot.
A fuller report of the weekend and pictures will be found on the blog shortly.
Huge thanks to John and Ian for organising the nightO at Tramore on saturday and to Jeni, Jeni's mum and dad and Nigel for all their catering efforts over the full weekend for the Junior squad and hangers on.
Thanks to Daniel, Julien, Pat H for their camerawork and to Laura for putting them all together. Click here for the link.