Gothenburg 2018

The ‘Gothenburg’ training camp is designed as a ‘self-help’ tour. Athletes attending will be expected to plan their own training. They will also be expected to be generally well organised, capable of preparing their own meals and self sufficient whilst being supervised by an experienced coach.
The camp ran from Saturday 18th August to Monday 27th August 2018
Report now available

Generic information about Gothenburg

Introduction and background

The ‘Gothenburg’ tour is unique in that its purpose is to teach those about to leave the ranks of junior orienteers, ie M/W20’s, how to plan and undertake their own training within a Scandinavian environment.

Such a tour was conceived specifically as a ‘self-help’ tour led by a Senior Coach experienced in training in Scandinavian terrain and familiar with a specific location or orienteering club.

This style of tour was initially suggested and led by Mark Saunders in 2012.
Because of his knowledge and experience of orienteering in the Gothenburg area the camp that year was based in that city.

The location of future camps will therefore be decided by the Coach who is leading the tour, their experience and contacts.

Accommodation

Accommodation is dependent upon the location but is likely to be in an Orienteering Club hut.
It is therefore likely that sleeping will be on a floor but that showers and toilets will be close by.
All food will be bought and prepared by the attendees and therefore athletes will be expected to assist with chores during the camp.

It is anticipated that every effort will be made to make use of public transport throughout the course of the camp.

Attendees

The camp is aimed at M/W20’s, and if room permits some M/W18’s.
It is likely that the camp will take place in August and recognising that the athletes may wish to return home at various times, for example for ‘A’ level results, attendance at the camp will be flexible allowing athletes to join and leave the camp at various times other than the planned start and finish.

Team Manager Report

Managed by Mark Saunders.

Attended by

Lucy Tonge	Bethany Kippin	Ellie Bales
Jura McMillan	Alistair Pedley	Noah Howlett
Tom Wood	Tim Harrison	Lachlan Chavasse
Ryan Elliott	Harry McMurtrie	Harrison McCartney
Joe Wright	Felix Wilson
Sasha Chepelin	Megan Carter-Davies

Selections

No significant issues with selection. We were able to take along all those who applied. This included three athletes who had been previously, which was great as their familiarity with the ethos of the camp, the areas, and things like the local transport system and shops enabled them to take a leading role on the tour. I was able to invite Harrison McCartney – 2nd yr 20 who has previously run for GB at JWOC, but who due to injuries at a critical times missed out on selection for anything in the talent programme.

We were also joined by Sasha Chepelin and Megan Carter-Davies who trained alongside everybody else and acted as mentors to the younger athletes as well as playing their part in planning training, hanging controls etc. So all told we had a really good mix of experienced and less experienced athletes with everybody supporting each other.

No major tiredness issues apparent during the camp with the athletes having tried to do too much this summer.

Travel

All athletes made their own arrangements to get to Sweden. In Sweden I had a hire car, and travel was a mix of buses, supplemented by the car – for example to provide a shuttle between nearest bus stop and training or competition centre. The car also helped with shopping expeditions to cater for all of us. Paying for buses is a bit complicated with no season ticket available which suits our needs – it is either a 3 day tourist card or month plus season ticket. Instead we used the charge cards recycled from 2016, topped up as necessary – like Oyster cards. Again rather than reclaim the deposit, we have kept the cards ready for next year.

Accommodation

We again stayed in the Savedalens AIK club hut on the outskirts of Gothenburg, this is ideal for our needs. There is plenty of forest right on the door step plus a nice lake for swimming etc. The club were again very friendly and didn’t seem put out by the mess all of us “camping” in their hut inevitably made – “it is normal….”. We were charged a bit more for the hut this year, but it still very good value – cheaper than comparable club huts I have used in the past in Sweden.

Catering

This was done by the athletes themselves which worked well without any dramas. In general the food was very good.

Training

There is plenty of fantastic training in the forests around Savedalens club hut – 3 we were able to run to/from the actual hut. Others were just a short bus trip away. This year we were again able to train in the area used for 2017 Tio Mila.

Harrison had planned a couple of days worth of training before we arrived which I had printed. Other training was planned by the athletes in the evenings. The athletes took it in turns to hang controls which helped keep things purposeful.

I have started to get to know the SAIK club coaches in particular Maria Magnusson (recent former Swedish team member and World Cup medallist) who was very helpful and supportive. We were able to join SAIK and other Gothenburg based elite orienteers in three separate training sessions.

Competition

Some of our group arrived early on the first weekend – staying in a local youth hostel – and were able to take part in some of the races of SAIK’s “Partille trippeln” three day event. Most arrived at the end of the middle race on the Sunday, and we were able to provide some pay back for the clubs hospitality by collecting all the controls for them. A small gesture which I think was appreciated by the club, and in any case of course good training for us.

The second weekend we took part in the Gothenburg District long championships a short bus journey away. Outstanding performer was Joe Wright who won the M18 race against some decent competition.

Illness/injury

One athlete sprained his ankle mid way through the camp and had to take it quite easy for a few days. Another athlete had a cough/cold and very little voice left by the end of the week.

Financial Summary

COSTS
Accommodation	£614.91
cars, fuel, parking	£451.62
Buses / trams	£274.09
Food	£662.26
Training maps and competition entry	£207.78

	£2,308.35

INCOME
Grant from JROS	£980.00
Contributions received	£1,326.26

	£2,306.26

Which meant that most of the youngsters paid just under £90 on top of their flight costs. This was cheaper than last year, mainly due to a reduction in number of races participated in, but also impacted by a 10% improvement in exchange rate

Feedback

We received some nice notes of thanks about what “great tour“ it was. From my point of view it was a fun tour to manage. There was a relaxed but purposeful atmosphere to the whole camp which made it an enjoyable experience for everyone. See also attached some reports produced by the athletes which give a good flavour of the camp.

Next year

I am available again to manage the tour as is Alice – likely dates – 18th – 25th August.

Mark Saunders Nov 2018

Selections

Alistair Pedley
Tom Wood
Joe Wright
Felix Wilson
Ryan Elliot
Harry MacMurtrie
Lachlan Chavasse
Tim Harrison
Noah Howlett
Harrison McCartney
Ellie Bales
Jura McMillan
Bethany Kippin
Lucy Tonge

Selection Policy

Date

The camp will run from 18th August to 27th August 2018

Eligibility

The Camp is predominantly for M/W20s born in 1999 and top M/W18s born in 2000.

Numbers

The camp will be for of the order of 18 athletes the final number being determined by the Team Manager and the Chairman of JROS.

Athletes who have previously attended the Gothenburg camp are eligible to attend again on the proviso that they will be expected to significantly help with the planning of the training and logistics prior to the camp.

If British Orienteering hold a pre-JWOC camp in August it is not expected that any athletes who are selected for that will also be selected to attend this camp.

Application for selection for this tour must in the first instance be made to the Team Manager, Mark Saunders, at

Criteria

Athletes wishing to be selected will be ordered based on the average of the best three ranking scores that they achieved under the British Orienteering ranking scheme at the following races.

British Night Champs	2018 (24th February)
Midland Champs	2018 (18th March)
JK Day 2	2018 (31st March)
JK Day 3	2018 (1st April)
Northern Champs	2018 (22nd April)
British Long Distance Champs	2018 (19th May)
Scottish Champs	2018 (26th May)

The tour selectors

The tour athletes will be selected by Mark Saunders (BOK) and the selections will be reviewed by the Chairman of Junior Regional Orienteering Squads (JROS).

Illness or Injury

Cases of illness or injury which may have affected an athlete’s ability to compete in one or more of the above selection races may be taken account of. Views of the relevant Regional Squad Coordinator will be sought in such cases.