Author: M O'Sullivan

Next year, Lagan Valley Orienteers hits a major milestone – the big 5-0! And if ever a club deserved to celebrate properly, it’s ours. Thanks to some impressive detective work by Harold White, we now have the documentary proof: the very first official organised meeting of LVO took place in Alan’s house on 17 February 1977, with Bill Simpson elected as secretary. From a living room meeting to five decades of forest adventures — not a bad trajectory! So, how do you mark half a century of maps, mud and mispunches? 🌲 O-Ringen, Anyone? One ambitious suggestion is a club trip Read More …

📍 Castleward, Strangford 📅 Saturday 7 March ⏰ 11am–1pm starts Will your course take you inside the unique 18th-century mansion, celebrated for its striking blend of architectural styles? Or perhaps you’ll punch a control in the beautiful sunken garden, restored from the 1864 painting by Mary Ward? Maybe your decisive route choice will sweep you through the historic farmyard, known worldwide as the backdrop for Winterfell in Game of Thrones? 👉Enter here or via the QR Code: https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?elid=Y&event_id=17445 Full details here: https://lvo.org.uk/allfixtures/lvo-spring-cup-26/ Don’t miss it — secure your entry now and be part of the Spring Cup!

Huge congratulations to all our amazing members at Lagan Valley Orienteers who picked up shields, cups, pens, cream eggs (the real prize 🥚😉) and plenty of applause at today’s NI Orienteering Association prize-giving! Awards were presented to the champions of the NI Long Distance Championship, NI Colour Series, NI Urban Series and NI Score Championships — a fantastic achievement across the board. We’re incredibly proud of every single one of you. Hard work, muddy shoes, smart navigation… and now some well-earned silverware! 🏆👏

Not sure how to spend your summer months? Worried you’ll be deprived of your orienteering fix? Fear not. Join the 18 LVO members already signed up for the OOCup 5-day orienteering festival in Co. Kerry, 26–30 July 2026 — as this iconic European event makes its Irish debut 🇮🇪 Normally held across mainland Europe, this renowned international festival is coming to Ireland for the very first time — bringing world-class competition to some of the finest terrain our island has to offer. Expect technical forests, intricate contour detail, fast open sections, and five days of proper championship-quality racing. This is genuinely a once-in-a-generation opportunity to compete Read More …

We’re kicking off the NI Colour Series in style — and we can’t wait to see you there! 📍 Location: Hope Castle, Castleblayney 🗓 Date: Sunday 1 March ⏰ Starts: 11:00am – 2:00pm 🔗 Full details: https://www.orienteering.ie/fixtures/castleblaney-2/ This one has had quite the journey! The original plan was to head to Glenariff, but storm damage made the forest unusable. We then looked forward to Cave Hill / Belfast Castle, however access and safety issues couldn’t be resolved in time. Huge thanks to Billy, Lyle and Wilbert for all their valiant efforts to make it happen. So we are incredibly grateful Read More …

What a brilliant moment at today’s AGM as we celebrated our Event Officials of the Year 2025 – voted for by you, our members! There’s nothing quite like making orienteers happy… and these legends made orienteers the happiest this year. Each winner receives £20 credit to their SI Entries account — so they can get out there and orienteer even more (on us ). Club/NIOA Event Officials of the Year IOC Relays, Magilligan Graeme Francis & Michael Burton – Planners Murray Cowan – Organiser Raymond Finlay – Controller Experienced WEE Officials of the Year Mount Stewart WEE Extra Dan Earnshaw Read More …

The NIOA Juniors had an absolute cracker of a training weekend in Fermanagh! 🧭💪 Saturday kicked off with 4 hours of top-class training on Crossmurrin — honing attack points, bearings & distance, map memory, and taking on some seriously tough terrain and sneaky contours. Huge thanks to FERMO for lending us their map and to Steph for planning brilliant exercises. After a hearty dinner at Cladagh Glen Scout Centre (massive thanks to Angie for the pasta 🍝 and Kasia for the birthday cake surprise 🎂), the fun continued! Teresa and Raymond (FERMO) kept everyone entertained with Belgian mazes and night O around Gortahole Outdoor Centre 🌙✨ Sunday saw us back on Crossmurrin to join FERMO’s Frostbite event — challenging courses planned by Robbie, and even a bit Read More …

Looking for an outdoor adventure the whole family will love? Come along to Running Wild for a morning of orienteering fun in the forest! ✔ Run around the woods✔ Learn how to read a map✔ Make new friends✔ Enjoy plenty of fresh air and great fun outdoors 💷 Only £3 per child (FREE for club members)📅 Sunday 22 February⏰ 9.30 am – 11.00 am📍 Tollymore Forest Register today, via the link or the QR Code: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/YLBESgV4Du Perfect for families of all abilities — just bring your enthusiasm and sense of adventure! #RunningWild #FamilyFun #Orienteering #OutdoorAdventure #TollymoreForest #GetOutside

Registration CLOSES Tuesday 10 February at midnight! Come along to LVO’s Club Meet on Saturday 14 February at Gosford Forest from 10am to 2pm and learn all the tricks and tactics to becoming a Score Champion… the orienteering kind, of course! 😉 Stephen Gilmore will help you think through how to tackle a Score Event, just in time for the NI Score Championships on Saturday 21 February. Talk about perfect timing! ⏱️🔥 And why stop there? ❤️ Stick around for the LVO AGM afterwards at 1pm and spread the love with your fellow orienteers. 👉 Full details here: https://lvo.org.uk/allfixtures/club-meet-feb-26/ 👉 Read More …

If not, come along to LVO’s Club Meet on Saturday 14 February at Gosford Forest from 10am to 2pm and learn all the tricks and tactics to becoming a Score Champion… the orienteering kind, of course! 😉 🏁 Score Event secrets revealed 🧠 Smart tactics & time management ⭐ Expert coaching from Stephen Gilmore Stephen will help you think through how to tackle a Score Event, just in time for the NI Score Championships on Saturday 21 February. Talk about perfect timing! ⏱️🔥 And why stop there? ❤️ Stick around for the LVO AGM afterwards at 1pm and spread the Read More …