STUOC Speyside Weekend
Last year we awarded a grant to Stirling University Orienteering Club to cover coaching resources to continue development within the club (see grant award). Here we bring you a report from a successful training weekend they had in Speyside, building on that award.
Since STUOC’s reformation in 2022, the club has been keen to travel north for a technical training weekend to enhance the skills of all members and introduce newcomers to the club. This year the Orienteering Foundation helped us make this happen by supporting us to cover the cost of bringing in a level 3 coach. This meant that all members were able to benefit from well planned training exercises and gain confidence in the forest. It also meant that our more experienced members could train themselves, rather than having to shadow the novices.
Cath put together some fantastic technical exercises. On day 1 we trained at North Granish with line courses, corridors, windows, and compass work as well as a middle simulation. On day 2 we headed to Loch Vaa where there were courses with changes in direction, attack points and compass work. There were also opportunities for group exercises, including trains and a relay simulation. The exercises were inclusive meaning both novice and elite orienteers learned, practiced, and benefitted from participating.
The social atmosphere at the training weekend was fantastic. Since the Orienteering Foundation helped to cover our coaching costs, we were able keep it cheap for members who contributed to hiring Kincraig Village Hall for the night where we had dinner and caught up with the World Cup Final TV footage.
Thank you to the Orienteering Foundation for supporting our training weekend. Also, thanks to BASOC who allowed us to use their fantastic areas!
You can also read more about STUOC in British Orienteering's recent Spotlight on our University Orienteering Clubs blog post.