News
Entries that have been categorised as News
Bellwood Orienteering courses - 27th July to 9th August 2020
Start and Finish at shelter in Bellwood (GR NO 542 986) , parking at Bellwood carpark, on Aboyne side (GR: NO 538 987, Post Code: AB34 5GH)
Maps now available - click on the link for your colour course below.
Temp. course 1. Yellow/Orange standard; 3.4 km, 40m climb
Temp. course 2. Green/Blue standard; 5.3 km, 70m climb
The Yellow/Orange course follows paths and line features. Some paths are narrow and not suitable for buggies. Please do not run through the bike park. This is marked 'out of bounds'.
The Green/Blue course is technically and physically challenging due to rough ground and vegetation.
Planners: Jonas and Yann Newey
Don't forget to put the map in a plastic wallet or use waterproof paper.
There will be no control kites or timing equipment but the control locations, including start and finish will be marked by clear red and white tape.
Participants must ensure social distancing is maintained at all times, in line with current Government guidance. This is an individual activity so participants take part at their own risk. It is not covered by any orienteering insurance policy.
Don't forget to record your GPS route on Strava.com
Potarch Orienteering courses - 13th to 26th July 2020
Start and Finish on Potarch Green (GR: NO 607972, Post Code: AB31 4BE)
Maps now available - click on the link for your colour course below.
Temp. course 1. Yellow/Orange standard; 3.4 km, 90m climb
Temp. course 2. Green/Blue standard; 5.6 km, 135m climb
The Yellow/Orange course follows paths and line features. Not suitable for buggies as the ground is rough in places.
The Green/Blue course is technically and physically challenging due to rough ground and vegetation.
Planner: Nick Hale
Maps will be available for download from this page on Sunday 12th July. Don't forget to put the map in a plastic wallet or use waterproof paper.
There will be no control kites or timing equipment but the control locations, including start and finish will be marked by clear red and white tape.
Participants must ensure social distancing is maintained at all times, in line with current Government guidance. This is an individual activity so participants take part at their own risk. It is not covered by any orienteering insurance policy.
Don't forget to record your GPS route on Strava.com
Further courses in a new area will be available Monday 27th July.
Please support the Potarch Inn by the Green. They are open for pre-ordered takeaway food on Fridays and for coffee and snacks from 11am to 3pm Saturdays and Sundays.
Deeside Temporary Orienteering Courses - from 13th July
Starting with Potarch from Monday 13th July, there will be a new Deeside forest map every two weeks with Temporary Courses to run as you wish; socially distanced in your own time.
There will be no control kites or timing equipment but the control locations, including start and finish will be marked by clear red and white tape.
This is the first tentative step back into the forest. The SOA is working very hard with SportScotland on our behalf to define the criteria to be met for our second step which will be the resumption of Local Events. It comes at the time of the year when we don’t traditionally have events due to the holidays and the high ground vegetation, so it may be September before this happens. In the meantime, enjoy our temporary courses.
Talking of high vegetation, now is the season when ticks are most active in our forests, always with the threat of Lyme Disease. If you are out running, at Potarch for example, always take care to have full leg cover (no gaps!) and check for ticks when you finish.
Separate articles will be published for each temporary course, with more detail and a link for download of course maps.
Junior Easter Lockdown Newsletter
Attention all juniors! Are you missing your regular fix of orienteering? Did you know that there are lots of orienteering activities you can try out at home?
River Dee Radio Orienteering Podcasts
Whilst we are all in lockdown, an ideal time to listen to a collection of recent broadcasts from River Dee radio featuring MAROC orienteering:
March 2020: That Friday Feeling talks to Sarah Dunn, MAROC coaching coordinator and Regional Development Officer
March 2020: Night Orienteering Special - Paul visits Burn o' Vat with MAROC coach John Musgrave
September 2019: Orienteering at Glen Feardar
December 2019: Local Sports Personality Jon Musgrave
Jon Duncan Junior Deeside Cup - Standings after 3 events
Here are the JD2C standings after the event at Birsemore on 8th March.
As I'm sure everyone is aware, this will be the last update for some time. The next counting event will be advised when orienteering resumes following all relevant guidelines from BOF and UK government.
Coronavirus and Orienteering
We are all aware of the ongoing coronavirus situation. I am reproducing here the recent communication from British Orienteering - we have been requested to cancel all events for the next 12 weeks and the events at Tillyfourie, Redburn and Sluie have now been removed from the events list.
Full statement below.
Maroc - Aberdeenshire Sports Club of the Year, 2019
At the Aberdeenshire Sports Awards on Fri 13th March, Mar Orienteering Club was awarded Sports Club of the Year for the 2nd year in a row!
MapRun workshop - CANCELLED
Banchory, 25th Mar 6:00-8:30pm
A workshop will be held in Banchory on 25th March on how to use and set up courses with the MapRun app. The workshop will be held in the GP room of the old sports centre adjacent to the Academy, from 6:00-8:30pm.
Thursday after-school orienteering in Aboyne, spring 2020
After-school orienteering will restart in Aboyne next week, Thu 27th Feb, with a block of 5 weekly sessions leading up to the Easter holidays.