What is Orienteering?
Orienteering is a running-based sport which combines physical and mental activity. The main aim is to complete a course (using a map and compass) in the fastest time possible, by navigating and running between checkpoints (known as 'Controls') from Start to Finish. Orienteering can take place in a vast variety of terrain, ranging from Mountainous Forests and Moorland to Urban settings such as city centres and suburbs. There are four main disciplines in Orienteering: Sprint, Middle and Long and Relay. Each discipline requires a high standard of physical and technical ability to compete in them at a top level; many World Class Senior athletes compete for their country at other running disciplines such as Cross Country, Track and Fell Running.
What is the Junior World Orienteering Championships?
JWOC is the biggest and most prestigious Junior (Under the age of 20) Orienteering Competition in the World. Future Senior World Champions are often seen at this top Junior International stage. It is held annually and includes all four traditional disciplines- a Junior World Champion is crowned for each.
Why do we need support?
The formation of GB teams and the support of squad members is conducted by the National Governing Body for Orienteering in the UK: The British Orienteering Federation. However, the funding from Sport England and the National Lottery (two primary sources of funding for National Sporting Bodies) that is given to British Orienteering pales in comparison to many Olympic and 'Larger' Sports (such as Football), so whilst the Federation is able to provide a supportive network of coaching staff (alongside a year-long GB Squad Programme), little money is left over to put into subsidising the Transport/Accomodation/Entry Costs of attending a Junior World Championship.
In short...
Attending JWOC 2016 comes at a cost of £1200 per athlete- all donations given would be split evenly to subsidise this for all selected athletes attending JWOC 2016.
Why should you donate?
We are hard working and driven induviduals all wanting to achieve to the highest standard in Orienteering at this level. The pursuit to get in racing condition in preperation for JWOC selection requires us to give up the vast majority of our 'free' time; whether that's travelling around the country competing and gaining experience, analysing our performances and looking at how we can improve, or simply getting out the door every night (in all conditions) and pushing hard to push our physical fitness to the maximum in time for the big race. Orienteering does not bring financial rewards; we compete and train because we want to constantly improve in the sport- this brings the greatest reward. The investment in travel and training camps to achieve this throughout the year comes at a cost too and often makes it difficult for us athletes to self-finance big competitions such as JWOC; we would wish no-one to be prevented from representing their country due to financial difficulty, especially in a situation where many of us are fuding the costs of living at University.
Who are the GB athletes attending the Junior World Championships?
Fiona Bunn
Club: Thames Valley OC
Achievements:
- Debutant at Junior World Orienteering Championships 2015, aged just 16.
- British Long Distance Champion 2015 and 2016
- 1st at World Schools Orienteering Championships (Long) 2013
Megan Carter Davies
Club/International Club: Mid Wales OC/ Rajamaen Rykmentti (Finland)
Achievements:
- 17th at Junior World Orienteering Championships (Sprint) 2015
- British Long Distance Champion 2015
- 2nd at JK International Festival of Orienteering 2015
- JK Sprint Champion
Julie Emmerson
Club/ International Club: Octavian Droobers OC/ Tampereen Pyrinto (Finland)
Achievements:
- 11th at Junior World Orienteering Championships (Middle) 2014
- 7th (Long) and 12th (Sprint) at European Youth Orienteering Championships 2012
- British Long Distance Champion 2016
- JK International Orienteering Champion 2013 and 2015
Sarah Jones
Club: Edinburgh University OC/ Lakeland OC
Achievements:
- 2nd at World Schools Orienteering Championships (Long) 2013
- British Middle Distance Champion 2015
- Northern Champion 2016
- British Sprint Champion (W20) 2015
Jenny Ricketts
Club: Edinburgh University OC/ Mar OC
Achievements:
- Senior Home International Champion (W20)
- 1st at JK International Orienteering Festival (Middle) 2016
- 14th at the European Youth Orienteering Championships 2013
Alice Rigby
Club(s): Cleveland OC/ Sheffield University OC
Achievements:
- 2nd at JK International Orienteering Festival 2016
- 2nd at British Championships (Long) 2015 and 2016
- Northern Champion 2014
Dane Blomquist
Club(s)/ International Club: South Yorkshire OC/ Sheffield University OC/ Lillomarka (Norway)
Achievements:
- 23rd at Junior World Orienteering Championships (Sprint) 2015
- 1st at World Schools Orienteering Championships (Middle) 2013
- British Long Distance Champion 2016
Alexander Chepelin
Club(s)/International Club: Grampian OC/ Edinburgh University OC/ Turun Metsankavijat (Finland)
Achievements:
- 1st in U20 British Rankings
- 17th at Junior World Orienteering Championships (Middle) 2014
- 2nd at the Junior European Cup (Long) 2015
- 1st at the British University Championships (Long and Relay) 2016
Harrison McCartney
Club: Octavian Droobers OC
- 1st in U18 British Rankings 2016
- 1st at JK International Orienteering Festival 2015
- 10th at Junior European Cup (Sprint) 2015
Will Rigg
Club(s)/International Club: Lakeland OC/ Edinburgh University OC/ OK Ravinen (Sweden)
- 2nd at JK International Orienteering Festival 2015
- 2nd at British Long Distance Championships 2016
Daniel Stansfield
Club: Forth Valley Orienteers/ Edinburgh University OC
- 1st at JK International Orienteering Festival 2016
- 6th at European Youth Orienteering Championships (Relay) 2013
Joe Woodley
Club(s)/International Club: Airenteers/ Sheffield University OC/ Lillomarka (Norway)
Achievements:
- 4th at World Schools Orienteering Championships Long Distance 2013
- British Night Champion 2016
- 3rd at JK International Orienteering Festival 2016
- 5th at Gothenburg Meeting 2014