Lessons from the Squad

Andrew highlights how he used some great O skills to locate a tricky control during the NI Score Championships at Florencecourt. I hope to get more juniors to contribute to the blog this way so stand by to be asked.

Control 68 was in a re-entrant and worth 20 points

How I Did It

I was coming from control 67. I ran along the track to the T Junction (keeping my map set). I then turned left and ran to the open ground area with some buildings.  At the back of the buildings I followed a wall up to where the stream bends away. I looked up and as I knew from the map it was in a reentrant I could see the two hills either side of the reentrant. I ran into the reentrant and saw the control - simples!!

Prizes Galore

The Winners - or some of them anyway

The NI Prize Giving for 2012 was held today (Sat 23 Feb) after the Score Championships at Forencecourt. Well done to all those LVO Juniors who won - results had been posted previously. Not everyone could make it on the day but a few folks did get their trophies at the ceremony.

Could You Stand the Pace

The Cairn Wood Crew - Up For It

A Step Too Far

Junior training this Sat was tough. Not only did we have to read the map and go the right way we had to count as well.  Today was all about knowing how far you had to go by using the map scale to work out the distance and then working out how far you had actually gone by counting your paces.  We started off by learning about the map scales. Did you know that:

For a 1:5000 scale map 1 cm on the map equals 50m on the ground.

For a 1:7500 scale map 1 cm on the map equals 75m on the ground.

For a 1:10000 scale map 1 cm on the map equals 100m on the ground.

We then had to spend time working out how many paces we took to cover 100m on the flat and up and down hill.

Counting and running - a tricky business

Much easier if you keep your eyes closed!!

Concentrating so much her left hand fell off

After finding out our pacing we set off on an star exercise. Alan had place out a number of kites. Juniors had to say how far away they thought the kite was and then count the paces to it. Check out the map (note we changed no. 2 on the day).

The Challenge - 1:5000 scale

Giving it a go

No chance of not being seen at least

I'm not sure she believes his answer to the distance question

Forest twins

Map run to finish

To round it all off we went on a short map run to practice keeping the map set on the move through some technical terrain of paths, ditches, thickets, clearings and forest run.

Running so fast his hair nearly flew off

Keeping map contact - reading the map on the move

Orientating the map
New article on the 'Technical' Page - check it out here!

Great Day Out at Hillsborough

Map Setting Lesson 1 - Alan's Team wonder where they are?

If You Go Down To The Woods Today.....

10 brave members of the junior squad took part in the training at Hillsborough Forest Park on Sat 9 Feb. The focus of the day was keeping the map set while on the move so we head in the right direction all the time. We practiced this using the features on the ground and relating those to the map. We also got some useful compass skills practice in. Of course it all started with a circuit training session on a hill!! To spice it up athletes had to complete a game of matching the features on a card to the map symbols while sprinting up and down the hill. Then we spilt into two groups (Alan's and Alison's) before taking off into the woods. Best of all the rain stayed away.

The next event will be at Cairn Wood on the Sat 16 Feb. Check out the training page for details. I'm looking forward to seeing you all there.

Circuit Training - Deep Joy

Getting reading for the hill

Coming down hill is easier after all

Out in front

Crossing the finish 

Map Setting with the Orange Level

Is it just me or is everyone simply following the dog!!

As the powers of the magic hat started to work it all became clear

Who knows best son or dad?

Training again next Saturday!

Training in Hillsborough Forest Park on Saturday 9th February. Focus will be on map setting and  compass work. Meet at 1230 in the main carpark. Afterwards there will be a score training event(starts 1400). Make sure to email by 6pm on 6th Feb to confirm you are coming so we can print maps (LVOJunO@gmail.com).
Allan Bogle is also running a skills training day on Saturday in Hillsborough for more advanced juniors. This is focusing on the bronze skills set outlined here and starts at 1200.