Join our Junior Squad

If a junior wants to take orienteering a step further, they can join our Junior Squad. For this, they need to be a member of LVO and be able to orienteer at Light Green standard (Technical Difficulty 4). Orienteers who regularly compete usually achieve this around the age of 13 or 14, but older and younger juniors are always welcome to join.

We try to get together regularly for coaching, to share travel etc. Coaching is always relaxed and varies depending on the needs of the squad at the time, but members are encouraged to attend as frequently as they can. Race experience is vital to develop the skills of orienteering so, at this stage, it is also important to take part in regional events (see below). For juniors who are ambitious to improve quickly we may be able to offer 1:1 mentoring with an experienced member of the club.

Understanding Orienteering Ages

In orienteering, competitors are grouped into age classes, based on the year you were born and your gender. This means that you are competing against other juniors of a similar age and ability. As a junior, you change age class every two years – so people talk about being in the 1st or 2nd year of their age class.

Examples of age classes are ‘W16’ (girls who are under 16 on the 1st January that year) or ‘M14’ (boys who are under 14 on the 1st January) where M = Men, W = Women.

Northern Ireland Events

The first time many juniors compete is at a summer Wednesday Evening Event (WEE) or a LVO club event (Spring Cup, Autumn Trophy or Club Score Championships). Check out our fixtures for all our events.

The next step up from club events are the Northern Ireland Orienteering (NIO) competitions:

  • the NI Colour Series (the NIOA’s league of seven runs throughout Northern Ireland which runs March to November).
  • the NI Sprint, Middle and Long distance championships. 
  • the NI Score Championships.
  • the NI Night Championships (for M/W16 and older).

Events outside Northern Ireland

At some stage, you may start to compete in events outside Northern Ireland. For example Leinster League events, the Irish Orienteering Championships or the big UK events – the annual Jan Kjellstrom (JK) held during four days over the Easter weekend or the biennial Scottish Six Day – held over a week in late July or early August. In the years when the Scottish Six Day isn’t being held, there is a week long summer competition which alternates between Wales (Creoso) and the Lake District (The Lakes Five Days).

These competitions are an opportunity for junior athletes to gain experience, which may lead to selection for the first representative level of orienteering – the Junior Inter Regional Championships (JIRCs).

Representing Northern Ireland

The JIRCs (Junior Inter Regional Championships)

The JIRCs are a competition between the UK’s junior regional orienteering squads. Northern Ireland Orienteering Association (NIOA) is one region. There are twelve altogether.

NIOA sends a team of 24 (4 in each of these six age categories: M14, W14, M16, W16, M18 and W18) to this annual competition. It is a great opportunity for the athletes to get to know each other better and make friends in other parts of the UK.

If you wish to compete in the JIRCS and be selected as part of the travelling squad, regular participation at local and regional events are required.

Junior Regional Orienteering Squads (JROS) Training Camps

The JROS organisation was created to pool the resources of junior orienteering squads across the UK. It is JROS who run the JIRCs (see above) and a series of JROS training camps.

The JROS training camps are one of the most rewarding opportunities for junior athletes. They are mostly week-long summer coaching camps organised by age group from 14 through to 18. At these camps a real sense of orienteering community is formed. Athletes are with others of their age group. New friendships are formed. Names you only knew from results lists turn into real people. Following the JROS camps, the athletes find that major competitions like the JK or Scottish Six Day are a completely different experience – the chance to reunite with their friends. Further details and selection criteria can be found on the JROS website.

The annual JROS Hawkshead weekend takes place in the Lake District at the end of November every year and is for M/W16s. There are no selection criteria other than being around TD4 standard or above. While places are limited, we usually have spaces for any juniors wanting to go.

Representing Ireland

The Irish Junior Squad

The Irish Junior Squad an inclusive group of young orienteers (aged 13-20, with some younger aspirants) from each of the four provinces of Ireland. They train and work hard together to hopefully be selected to represent Ireland on the international stage. They are assisted in this by a team of volunteer coaches, managers, selectors and supporters from Orienteering Ireland and the Northern Irish Orienteering Association that help them improve their skills, get fitter and stronger, and reach their full potential individually and as a team.

The Junior Home Internationals (JHIs)

This Junior Home Internationals is an annual competition between teams representing England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. At the invitation of the organisers the Northern Ireland team is extended to include all of Ireland.

To be selected for the JHI Team you need to achieve a standard in certain races and some other criteria. The races and standard may vary from year to year. The selection criteria is published in advance of the selection races. The selection races are typically as many as possible of: a time trial in Dublin’s Phoenix Park in March (mandatory), the Leinster Championships, the JK middle and long distance (Easter), the Irish Championships (over the May Bank Holiday) and one other colour series event in Ireland.

In practice the JHI Team is often managed by an Orienteering Ireland member. Selection criteria are published on the Orienteering Ireland website.

The European Youth Orienteering Championships (EYOC)

The European Youth Orienteering Championships (EYOC) is held annually toward the end of June/start of July. It is a competition between the youth teams of the international orienteering federations. You need to hold a passport of the federation you run for. To run for the British Orienteering Federation requires a British passport. To run for the Irish Orienteering Federation requires an Irish passport. As a resident of Northern Ireland you may have one or both of these. In practice NI athletes generally run for Ireland as they tend to have built up a relationship with the Irish Squad and there is not as deep a pool of athletes to compete against for places.

The EYOC team generally consists of 8 athletes (4 second year M/W16s and 4 M/W18s).

Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC)

The Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC) is the pinnacle of junior orienteering. The competition generally takes place in July in a European country, though has been held in Australia.

The Irish team consists of up to four athletes per age category. The athletes are second year M/W18s and M/W20s. In exceptional cases first year M/W18s may be selected. Selection criteria are published on the Orienteering Ireland website.

Junior European Cup (JEC)

The Junior European Cup (JEC) is for M/W18 and M/W20 athletes. All nations can enter up to six athletes per category.

Parents and Guardians

As a member of the LVO Junior squad you/your parent(s) should get regular updates (by Whatsapp and email) about upcoming events and activities. For the JIRCs, JHIs, EYOC, JWOC, JEC, the Irish Junior Squad training camps and the JROS training camps the support of parents is an absolute necessity. This isn’t passive support from the sidelines. It means parents are needed ‘on the ground’ taking active roles at these events.

Managers and Coaches

If you are the parent of a junior athlete then you will be needed to take your turn as team manager, coach or organiser. You may be a good orienteer and this will help but it is not necessary in order to be manager or organiser. These are pastoral roles, ensuring the athletes’ well being and getting them to events.

It is good to get involved as early as possible. For example it is good to gain the experience of managing a team at JIRCs or JHIs before moving on to EYOC or JWOC.

Fundraising and Food!

If you really, really don’t see yourself as a coach, manager or organiser don’t despair! The juniors need fundraisers. Training weekends need volunteers to organise a team to provide food. In terms of fundraising there is, for example, a long and successful tradition of junior cake sales at events – everyone’s a winner there!

…And that’s it

Nearly. Community is at the heart of orienteering.For example families involved in the Irish Junior Squad usually spend time together on holiday. In 2024 they visited France for a week of training, relaxation and competition at the OOCup.

Contacts