Junior News
Peter Palmer Junior Team Relay Success
Our two Southdowns Junior Teams ran to podium positions at the recent Peter Palmer Junior Team Relay which took place on Ashdown Forest. The seven person PP team took 2nd place and the five person daybreak team took 3rd place. Our junior teams ranged from age 10 to 18 and included seven newcomers to this event.
SO win medals at British Sprint relay and British Sprint Champs
In a great weekend of racing around Bristol's two University sites, SO claimed medals in both the Sprint Relay Champs and the Sprint Champs. At the relay champs the super vet team of Neil, Julia and Alan claimed Bronze medal position in a nail biting finish, with just 5 seconds between 2nd and 4th position! In another close finish James, Emma and Ed claimed the Bronze medal in the Ad-Hoc competition, with fourth place just 6 seconds behind.
Emma and Roger crowned British Night Champions
The rain held off and the stars were out for a fantastic night of racing at the British Night Championships at Egypt Woods, near Burnham Beeches in Bucks. Navigating alone through forests at night demands endurance and composure. With visibility reduced to a narrow beam of headtorch, a moment's hesitation, or over confidence can lead to costly errors.
Emma Chapman and Roger Maher held their nerve to claim top spot in the W16 and M85 races respectively. Roger is a seasoned Champion and has won many different disciplines. For Emma, who has medalled five times at British Champs competitions this was a special achievement, as it was her first time on the top spot in an individual competition.
Emma and Jane claim Silver at the British Sprint Champs 2025
Congratulations to Emma W14 and Jane W65 who held their nerve on two really challenging Sprint Orienteering courses to claim Silver at the British Sprint Champs.
The event was staged around the complex architecture, aerial walkways and stairs of University of East Anglia in Norwich. Many competitors struggled to figure out which level their control was on, but got a bit more into the map after the heats! Take a look at Routegadget here and see if you can work it out!
James Curtis to represent Great Britain at World TrailO Championship 2025
Our very own James Curtis has been selected for the British Orienteering Trail-O squad and will be competing for Great Britain at the World Champs which are being held jointly in Hungary and Slovakia at the end of August.
Trail-O is a sub discipline of Orienteering that can be done by anyone, even people who are on crutches or in a wheelchair. James took up this discipline when he was on crutches for a long period of time last year. Look out for his article in the next Southdowner. Good luck James. Further info here.
Emily and Emma selected for Lagganlia Tour
Junior Regional Orienteering Squads (JROS) was set up to further develop junior orienteering talent.
Each year juniors who are in one of the 12 Regional Squads have the opportunity to be selected for one of the training camps that JROS run. This year Emily Waters and Emma Chapman have been successful in being selected for the week long M/W14 Lagganlia camp which takes place near to Aviemore in Scotland at the end of July.