I hope you are enjoying the longer days and planning on getting out and about in the improving weather, hopefully to do some orienteering too.
There has been lots happening already this Spring so here is a wee update:
AGM and Club Awards – Thank you to all who attended this years club AGM. You can read the full minutes of the meeting here but I would just like to thank every member for your support, especially those who contribute so much through putting on activities and events and the committee for directing things. Annually we award some volunteer prizes to recognise people’s contribution – here are the winners 🏆:
Novice Organiser – Jane Wilson
Experienced Organiser – Graeme Francis, Gordon Stephens and Stephen Gilmore each had 3 votes. Everyone’s a winner!
Novice Planner – George Savell
Experienced Planner – Philip Baxter
Steve McGibbon Trophy – this is presented to the person who adds and contributes so much to the running of the club. In LVO we are spoilt with people who offer so much with their time, energy, enthusiasm and good humour.
This year there were two very worthy joint winners this year, Bill Simpson and Philip Baxter.
👏 Congratulations to all our winners and thank you to everyone who was nominated – all nominations can be seen in the minutes.
🌼Spring Cups – We have completed two out of the three Spring Cup events so far. The first one at Slieve Garron which was rearranged due to the snow – thank you for the extra hard work event officials put in to sort things out. On Saturday past we enjoyed getting back to Castle Ward. Another really fun event and thanks again to all involved in putting it all together. The final Spring Cup is in Hillsborough on 15 April, entries are open – remember best 2 out of 3 results count.
🏞JK 2023 – Before our final Spring Cup race, 32 LVO members are heading over to the Lake District to compete in 4 days of competition. The JK is the largest orienteering competition in the UK with over 2500 competitors, so it is something really exciting to be involved in. Best wishes to all our travelling members👍. Like all orienteering events there are courses for all ages and abilities, so if you haven’t been to it before, pencil it in for next year.
☘Emerald Isle O Festival – talking of big events, we are helping host one ourselves this May. The Emerald Isle O Festival kicks off with the Irish Champs in Co Wicklow for 4 days competition starting on Friday 28 April. 30 members are signed up to run – the entry deadline is Tue 11 April, so still time to join us! Click here for more info.
🏆The festival closes with the British Sprint and Middle Distance Champs on Sat 6-Sun 7 May. This is an amazing chance for us to experience a top competition on our doorstep, don’t miss out being part of this as a participant and a volunteer helper, entries also close next Tuesday. If I haven’t already been in touch with regard to helping out with this, just a heads up, I will be, as we will need to club together to support such an exciting weekend.
🏡In between these two championship are a number of other NIOA events to enjoy, including the UK Urban Race Carrickfergus on a new map. There are over 114 entered already, including some British elites who are over for the Champs, so really excited about this.
For all the info on all these events visit the Emerald Isle O festival page.
So a busy and exciting Spring programme for us all, and something to put a spring in our step!🤸♀️
Look forward to seeing you out and about soon.
Ric