Lagganlia 2016 Report

I was very happy when I realised I had been selected for this year’s Lagganlia tour which is an orienteering training camp in Scotland for M/W14 and some 16’s.

The train journey was long and tiring but a lot of us were on the same train from Edinburgh and I began to make friends and everyone started to get to know one another. After arriving into Aviemore station we were taken in the minibuses to Lagganlia and then we were taken to our room, I was sharing a room with Evie Conway. After tea, we did team building exercises with Brenda Bear, Brian Bear and Reverse Bunny, this helped us all begin to get to know each other better.

Day 1

On Sunday Morning we were taken to Uath Lochans to practise and learn different skills. Firstly, some of the coaches showed us how to do a proper orienteering warm up and then after that we did 100m pacing on track and terrain. Following on from that, we then were placed into our coaching groups, I was with Ollie, Jasmine, Jeneba and Oliver. Jasmine and I then practised bearings together and we switched compasses so that I had her thumb compass and she had my base plate compass. This exercise helped us to be more accurate during bearings on different style legs. Jasmine and I then practised aiming off, we both did half of the course being followed by Ella, and this was so Ella could then give us feedback and advice on how to improve. We then finished up with the star relay so we could put in all the practise we had learnt. We then headed to Insriach to do the checkerboard, this was to help us practise not getting distracted and staying completely focused when other athletes were around.

Day 2

The next morning, we were driven to Loch Vaa and after we had a small briefing from our coaches, we set off on the map walk. This helped us to always stay in contact with our map and we also practised map memory and relocation. After that, we moved on to an area called North Granish, this was where we used the sketch maps that we had drawn on the previous night to practise simplification and to not always read the fine details of the map. We then put the simplification skills in to practise by doing a relay to finish off the day.

Day 3

Today we went to Roseisle, we practised further Simplification to make us fast in deciding our route choices. We also did other exercises such as Control Pick and Long Legs to further understand how little changes in our performance helped us dramatically in a race. Once we had done our exercises, we the put all of the techniques in to an Odds and Evens relay, my team was Finlay, Harry and I. We did very well as we had used our tactics and put in to practise everything that we had learnt.

After a long and tiring day training, we had some fun….

Day 4

Day 5

Today was the day where all the training had hit us, people began to fall ill and we all felt tired. Even though this was happening, spirits were high and we were looking forward to the day. When we arrived at the area, we got in to pairs and Nev and our coaches told us a couple of controls that we had to go to. We then had to use Map Memory and Talk-O to help each other understand what we were thinking during a route choice. We then moved on to Anagach, this was the area we did the Peg Relay. Things didn’t go to plan for me as problems occurred from the start, therefore I had to retire. It was still a fabulous area with good runnability and good map features making the technical side of the course interesting.

Day 6

Today was the final full day of training at Lagganlia, everyone wanted a last day to remember. We did the Classic Race, which was at the South end of Insriach. The area was great and it was perfect to put in everything that we had learnt from start to finish from the week. After the Classic, we headed back to Lagganlia to do the balloon relay. We had to keep the balloon blown up and we weren’t allowed to pop it otherwise we would have to quickly blow another one up. It was a lot of fun to do. To end off Lagganlia 2016, we had the award ceremony and Lagganlia Olympics. It was a lot of fun despite the midges.

I had such a great time at Lagganlia and I would recommend it to anyone who is given the opportunity to go. I have made so many great friends through Lagganlia and it has been a great learning experience for me. I would just like to say thank you to every person behind organising the tour and everyone who made it so memorable. I would also like to thank The Jack Bloor Fund and EPOC for the financial assistance they gave me to support me to attend this tour.

Thanks,

Laura Harrison

Photo Credit: Wendy Carlyle

Lagganlia 2016

My time at Lagganlia was great. I learned more about what I needed to improve, such as relocating. The tips I was given were great and I later tried them out when I got lost on a training course. This would help me in a major event because I could relocate quickly so I won’t be thrashing around for a long time. The other thing Lagganlia helped me with was pacing. Before I didn’t know how to pace and I needed to know fast, so when we were in coaching groups I asked how to do it and my coach showed me how to pace. To my amazement it worked really well. (There was also a big talk about pacing too, so that helped me also). Over the week all of the junior athletes were treated really well and the food was great. The coaches were really helpful especially the junior coaches! Through the week we had a range of training exercises to do such as: sprints, relays, long courses, middle distance, some fun relays and the classic race at the end.

One of the courses that we all did was very interesting, it involved all of the athletes holding a map that was a very small size, the equivalent to a coaster. We had to run a course that was printed on those maps! It was 1.5km long, it was very enjoyable and different. On a different day, there was another training course which I hadn’t seen before. All the athletes had to draw their own version of a course which was printed out on a normal OS map. We couldn’t trace them so we just had to copy them from sight onto a blank piece of paper, these were called sketch maps, it worked well too because everyone’s map got them around the course quite easily with not many mess ups. Everything was organised in a professional way and they helped me improve my orienteering overall. The great thing is I got to see my friends too.

JWOC 2016

The Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC) has always represented the major goal in my Junior Orienteering Program. 2016 was my final year in the Junior ranks and whilst I have raced for Great Britain at several European Youth Championships and twice at the Junior European Cup, I was determined to go out on a high at JWOC in Switzerland. Throughout the Winter of 2015 and spring of 2016 I put an extra focus on my training, nutrition and performance lifestyle. I’m currently studying at Sheffield University and the great training group and tailor made strength and conditioning program made this a lot easier. Unfortunately, I was hampered by a knee injury for much of the season limiting the volume of training I was able to do. Thankfully I was able to reach a good fitness level in the weeks leading up to our Great Britain team selection races. After some solid performances I waited anxiously for news on the selections. I was delighted when I found out I’d been selected alongside 11 others (6 boys and 6 girls in total) for JWOC. Winning the British Middle Distance Championships in M20 Elite Just three weeks before JWOC was a final confidence booster and confirmed I was in good form.

The team met at Manchester Airport on the 6^th of July to begin our trip to Switzerland. We flew to Bergamo airport in Italy. On arrival we stopped for food and to do a large shop – seemingly buying every banana in the supermarket. We then drove across the border and through the beautiful Engadin Valley to reach our accommodation and the event centre in the village of Scuol. We were staying in a Youth Hostel alongside many others teams. We spent the next few days training and getting accustomed to how it felt running at altitude; especially important for those of us running the long distance race held at between 2200m and 2000m above sea level. Each member of the team was running two out of the three individual races (Sprint, Middle or Long) as well as the relay race.

The first race of the week was the Sprint – this was the race that I wasn’t doing. Frustrating as it was to sit this one out it was great fun supporting the rest of the team who were racing. A particular mention must go to Megan Carter-Davies who had a great race to finish in 7^th place, equaling Great Britain’s best ever female sprint result at JWOC. Dane Blomquist though disappointed with his race, deserves a mention as the best British male finisher in 41^st. That evening we debriefed as a team and congratulated our sprinters, before discussing the Long Race. The long race was fairly remote and we would have to take public transport; a train and bus to reach the pre-start area.

I woke early on Monday in order to catch my train – I often struggle to eat before big races but the vast array of Swiss Muesli, yoghurts, cheeses, meats and breads available at the Youth Hostel made things easier! I was glad to share my train and bus journey with Jenny Rickets a fellow British Team member; we chatted about our University’s – Edinburgh and Sheffield and the great rivalry between them. This served to take my mind off the race keeping me relaxed. Almost as soon as my race started I realized it was going to be a long tough day. The terrain was rough and steep with many rocks and lots of vegetation.  I managed to keep my navigation clean and battled around the course. Upon finishing I was drained – the heat and altitude had taken its toll on my body. I was disappointed with my performance but knew this wasn’t the time for moping. The sooner I could take on board fluids and food the better my recovery would be; this had to be the priority if I wanted to give myself at chance of performing in the middle distance race to come on Wednesday.

Tuesday was a rest day and all the team took the opportunity to have a long lie in before cramming in as much food as possible. After breakfast we had a team meeting. We had all found the long race really tough – our best result came from Will Rigg who placed 31^st. It was now important to put this behind us and focus on our next goal the middle distance race. We also met up with the Swedish team at their hotel and played various games such as ping pong and table football!

The middle distance race consisted of a qualification race on Wednesday and a final on Thursday. I was really excited for this race – and had high hopes of making the final. The Qualification races divide the competitors into three heats A, B and C. The top 20 runners in each heat progress to the Final. I ran hard but more importantly avoided mistakes in the first technical loop of my course and was in 6^th place before a long leg to number 8. Unfortunately, I missed my control by about 10 meters and it took me around 1:45 to relocate. I battled hard hereafter, nailing the rest of my course as heavy rain began to fall on the steep rocky slopes. When I finished I faced the agonizing wait to see if I would make the top twenty. In the end I was gutted to miss out on a top 20 position by just 1 minute – frustratingly my time behind the leader would also have been good enough for qualification in heat B. I found this hard to take as my race was so much fun and I’d nailed 90 percent of the course but just one mistake had cost me. However, that’s the way orienteering is and why we keep coming back, searching for that illusive perfect race!

On Thursday those of us who didn’t make the final travelled to the arena to spectate. We had a great chance of some top results with Fiona Bunn finishing 2^nd in her heat with Megan 3^rd in hers. We also had three guys, Dane, Daniel and Sasha in the men’s Final. First through the arena was the Dane after whom the rest of the team gradually filtered through. We cheered everyone through and it was awesome watching Megan take 4^th place in the middle distance. Sasha also produced a solid race to finish in 16^th on the highly competitive and hard fought men’s’ course.

Friday was the Final day of racing, the relay. All of our four teams were strong and capable of a top result. On first leg for me was Will Rigg, he made some mistakes early on then ran well to bring us in in 24^th position. I ran a strong clean race to bring us up to 21^st place with Harrison on last leg again running well to bring us up to 16^th. The relay was arguably my best performance of the week and a real positive to end on. The other men’s team were 9^th place (12^th including 2^nd teams). The women’s first team were a fabulous 5^th and the 2^nd team were 16^th. Finishing with 4 teams inside the top 20 was great way to finish the week. Whilst I wasn’t satisfied with my individual performances JWOC has only fueled my hunger and desire to make it to the top. The team had a lot of fun and meeting Junior orienteers from across the world was a real highlight.  I can take away many positives from my races at JWOC, particularly the majority of my middle distance race in which I kept pace with the very best Juniors in the World. Transitioning into the senior ranks next year will be a huge challenge but one that I approach with a lot of great memories and valuable experience gained at the Junior Level.

I’d like to thank; Airienteers, The Jack Bloor Fund, The John Taylor Foundation, Yorkshire and Humberside Orienteering Association and the Leeds Sports Federation whose generous donations made this trip possible.

EYOC 2016 – Jaroslaw, Poland

The European Youth Orienteering Championships is the highest level of competition that I can compete in at my age. Selection for EYOC had been my main goal for the past 2 years after being the reserve in 2014.

On 29^th June I joined the rest of the team at Stanstead aiport to fly to Rzeszow, Poland, then it was just an hours drive to Jaroslaw, the town the events were based around. We arrived at the youth hostel only to find there had been some confusion with our rooms, so after moving some furniture we managed to cram 5 beds into one room. No one had the best nights sleep since it was very hot, the beds weren’t the comfiest and we were only given one pillow between us five girls.

The first day we spent walking around the town centre of Jaroslaw which was also the sprint area. This area had never been mapped before so to help us with preparation our British Orienteering Talent Squad technical coach, Mark Nixon, had done his best in preparing a rough map using Google street view and satellite images which turned out to be quite accurate. Having this in mind we checked out all the unknown areas of the map including a walled castle area. In the afternoon we went to the model area, which was adjacent to the long area. This allowed us to see what the undergrowth was like and to get an idea of the mapping style.

The first competition was the long distance. I was feeing very excited to get out into the terrain but perhaps a little too excited and not focussed enough. My race did not go to plan at all. I made a very costly mistake early on in the race, which wasted a lot of time. After this I knew I had already blown my chance at a respectable position but I tried to pick myself up and complete the rest of the course as well as I could. Unfortunately I had begun to panic and rush which lead me to make a similar mistake early on on the long leg which wasted even more time. After this I was very frustrated with myself and had lost a lot of motivation to keep pushing but kept going and completed the course.

The next day was the relay day. I was eager to have a better race to redeem myself after the previous day however I wasn’t feeling too confident. Our first leg Emma Wilson (Clyde) didn’t have a very good run so I was setting of towards the back of the field with no runners around me. This was not the best situation to get experience of relay conditions, however it meant I was under no pressure so could focus on my navigation. I set off very slow and tried to put into practice what I had learnt from my mistakes in the long. This included ignoring paths and focussing on contours instead. I also paid a lot more attention to my compass. By doing this I may not have had the fastest run but it was so much cleaner than the day before so I was much happier with my performance. Despite feeling quite slow I was 10^th fastest on my leg.

The final day was the sprint race around Jaroslaw. Although Sprint is not my favourite discipline I felt most confident for it since I had done most preparation for it. I started steady and hesitated slightly on the way to number 1 but kept a cool head. From there I managed to plan ahead for each leg so I always knew where I was going and could run as fast as I could between controls.I would have liked to have been a little faster through the last loop of controls however I knew I wasn’t as fit as I could’ve been compared to my competitors due to the past 9 months of injury and lack of speed training. They had sneakily added in some temporary uncrossable barriers, which I managed not to get caught out by. My biggest time loss was 18s on #12. I spent a lot of the previous leg trying to decide which route to take. At the time they appeared very similar so I just chose one and ran. Looking back the other route was definitely faster than the one I chose. Other than that, I was pleased with how my race went. I was very relieved to get a top 20 result (17^th) after the way the weekend started.

Racing at EYOC was an invaluable experience. I have learnt the importance of picking yourself up after a bad race in order to give yourself the best possible chance of doing well in the following races. This experience has given me a lot of motivation to do well in my next international competition for Great Britain at the Junior European Cup this October. I’m looking forward to a summer of training camps in Wales and Stromstad, Sweden to work on my technique and begin preparation for JEC.

I would like to thank the Jack Bloor Fund for your generous contribution towards the funding of this trip as without it I would not be able to benefit from these fantastic experiences.

After months of training and three sets of selection races in the spring I was fortunate enough to be selected to represent Great Britain at the Junior World Orienteering Championships to be held in the Swiss Alps.  I was selected to race the middle and long distance forest races as well as the anchor leg for GBR2 in the women’s relay.

We headed out as a team half a week before the competition started to train in relevant terrain and acclimatise to the altitude. After an inspiring opening ceremony and watching my team mates in a very hilly and technical sprint it was my turn to race in the long distance on Monday. I was one of the athletes randomly chosen to wear a GPS tracking device which added to the excitement of running a large scale international event. It was a tough course where a combination of altitude, high temperatures and steep hills made it a physical as well as technical challenge. Unfortunately, a technical error at the end of the long leg (over 1km) lost me time but I was happy to finish my first JWOC race in 88^th and as 2^nd British woman.

I have always enjoyed relay racing and a spectacular arena with incredible Alpine views made me even more excited for the challenge ahead. The first two runners in my team had great races and sent me out into the forest in a strong position. I had a steady run, focussing on avoiding technical mistakes. We finished in 16^th position and were the 5^th second team managing to beat many nations’ top teams.

JWOC 2016 was an amazing experience for me and although my races had flaws I have learnt so much from them. I am excited and motivated for another year’s training and racing as I enter my last season as a junior. My focus is already on next year’s JWOC in Finland and I intend to put all of the knowledge I gained over the past week to good use.

I am incredibly grateful to the Jack Bloor Fund  for helping me fund my racing in Switzerland.