Last chance to enter NI Score Champs in Donard Forest

Last chance to enter! Entries for the NI Score Orienteering Championships close this Monday 10 February at midnight! Join us in Donard Forest on Saturday 15 February (1-2pm) and see how many controls you can visit in one hour (or 45 minutes for juniors!). Don’t miss out – Enter now: https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?elid=Y&event_id=15142 Full event details can be found here: https://lvo.org.uk/allfixtures/ni-score-champs-25/ NIOA Prize-giving and AGM will follow the Score event at 4pm in Kilmeggan Centre, Castlewellan.

Kids Run Wild on Meelmore Mountain on Sunday 23 February

Running Wild is taking on the mountains! Join us on Sunday 23 February, 11am-12.30pm for an epic orienteering session on the slopes of Meelmore! Get ready to dash through mud, leap off rocks, and bounce through marshes—it’s going to be wild! Don’t forget spare clothes, kids… because getting mucky is guaranteed! Who’s in? Full details can be found here or via the QR Code: https://lvo.org.uk/allfixtures/running-wild-feb-25/ And sign-up directly here: https://forms.office.com/r/Mb2pmEgqPB

The Reality of Our Forests After Storm Éowyn

It’s hard to comprehend the damage that Storm Éowyn has wrecked on Northern Irish forests until you see them for yourselves. To get a sense of what we are dealing with, Stephen Reid has produced an incredibly sad but unfortunately truthful video from Tardree Forest. As we are slowly allowed back into our woodlands, we are coming to terms with the fact that we will not be able to orienteer in some areas for the foreseeable future. We are currently undertaking an audit of our forest maps so that we have a full picture, but stories like 10,000 trees down Read More …

Your Club Needs You!

A week after Storm Éowyn it is apparent that some of our forested areas have been hit hard, but others have been pretty much unscathed. As a club we need an audit to work out how this will affect our fixture list, so we need “boots on the ground” to check over all our mapped woodlands. This is quite an extensive task so it’s necessary to mobilise the club. No special skills are required, other than basic experience of orienteering! So what is involved? Listed here are the various maps that need to be checked, so please look at the Read More …

Donard Forest is still standing, so the NI Score Championships are on!

It is with great happiness and relief that we can announce entries for the NI Score Orienteering Championships are now open. Taking place in Donard Forest on Saturday 15 February 1pm-2pm, see how many controls you can visit within an hour (or 45mins for juniors)! Full details can be found here: https://lvo.org.uk/allfixtures/ni-score-champs-25/ Enter directly here: https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?elid=Y&event_id=15142 NIOA Prize-giving and AGM will follow the Score event at 4pm in Kilmeggan Centre, Castlewellan. It is with equal sadness that we’ve had to cancel the NI Night Championships. Storm Éowyn decimated Castlewellan Forest. We thank the event officials (Mark, Jo, Carol and Greg) Read More …

Sign up for Club Meet at Stranmillis College, Sat 8 Feb

After checking Stranmillis College for storm damage, we’re happy to say that our Club Meet on Saturday 8 February will definitely take place. Come along to practice sprint orienteering, control descriptions, parts of the 2011 JK course and a fun relay to end with. Full details can be found here: https://lvo.org.uk/allfixtures/club-meet-feb-25/ Or sign-up straightaway here: https://forms.office.com/r/UGXZmq6mxw

First Aid Courses

Are you interested in learning a life saving skill? As well as supporting your club members with providing first aid support, you will be equipped to save a life at home. Choose between a 1-day REC 1 course or the 2-day REC 2 course. Overnight indoor and outdoor camping facilities available for those staying for the 2 days and do not want to travel. For more information and to register get in touch with Ric Gamble: rdo@niorienteeing.org.uk or 07717297676

Postponed Entry Opening for NI Score and Night Championships

It was our intention to open this week entries for the NI Score Championships in Donard Forest and NI Night Championships in Castlewellan Forest Park (scheduled for Saturday 15 February). After the passing of Storm Éowyn, we are now unsure whether or not these forests are still runnable or even standing. We’ve been unable to access Castlewellan and event officials are planning to check Donard this coming weekend. Once we carry out checks and event officials report back whether the planned courses can be run, we can then make the decision whether or the events can take place on Saturday Read More …

The Aftermath of Storms Éowyn and Herminia

Firstly I hope that everyone is safe and sound after the weekend of storms. I know that there is a massive clear-up on a personal level, with garden trees down, glasshouses broken, tiles dislodged. I know also that many of you have been without power, broadband and mobile signal. I hope that everything is soon restored, cleaned up and put back in place, so that we can get on with our daily lives again. There are many reports of devastation to the forests that we orienteer in. I’ve heard that Castlewellan and Kilbroney are still closed, with trees down across Read More …

Club Score @ Cairn Wood postponed

Due to the severe weather, Cairn Wood has been closed by the council and unfortunately we have to postpone tomorrow (Saturday’s) Club Score Champs. We will look to arrange another date (potentially Saturday 22 March, TBC) and carry over the entries that are currently in the system. Alternatively, if you want to cancel your entry for a refund please contact us at entries @ lvo.org.uk