JROS

Junior Regional
Orienteering
Squads

Junior Regional
Orienteering Squads

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Generic information about Lagganlia

Location

The Lagganlia training camp is based at the Lagganlia OEC www.lagganlia.com. The centre is close to Feshie Bridge and Kincraig and is located within easy reach of some of the best orienteering terrain in the UK.
The region around the river Spey contains such great areas as Inshriach, Loch Vaa, Anagach and many others. In fact the centre is on the Inshriach map and has its own orienteering map which is used for training.

Accommodation

Accommodation is in small en suite rooms in a number of separate cabins. The tour chef prepares all the meals on site and specific dietary needs are catered for.
There is a washing machine and plenty of room for outdoor games.
Athletes will be expected to assist with minor chores during the camp.

Background

Lagganlia has been used for this tour since 1995 and during that time over 400 juniors have attended the camp. This has included many World Class athletes including most members of the current GB Performance and Talent squads.
The camp is held around the last week of July – in those years when the Scottish 6-days is being held it is the week before and transport is arranged to the event centre at the end of the week.

Terrain

As indicated above there are many top class orienteering areas close by. In addition Lagganlia is only an hour’s drive from the Moray coast and its sand dune areas of Roseisle, Lossie and Culbin.
Recently there have been a number of areas which have restrictions due to the presence of capercaillie but there still remains sufficient areas to satisfy the camps needs.

Attendees

The camp is aimed at M/W14’s who have been nominated by their Region, up to a total of 24. On the occasions when 24 athletes do not qualify remaining places may be allocated to M/W15’s who have not already attended the camp.
In support of the camp there is a Tour Manager (TM) who has responsibility for such things as travel, accommodation, food etc.
The TM is supported by a chef and a Lead Coach. The Lead Coach has a team of up to 14 coaches which means that this camp has a high coach: athlete ratio.

Team Manager’s Report

Lagganlia Staff

Chris Mackenzie (CLOK) Jnr Coach/FT    
Hazel Gibbs (SYO) Chef 
Helen Ockenden (SROC) Forest Team
Iain Embrey (OD) Senior Coach 
Ian Maxwell (RR) Coach
Julie Emmerson (OD) Jnr Coach/FT
Jonny Hooton (EBOR) Senior Coach/Video
Karen Clark (EBOR) Senior Coach
Katie Wright (LOC) Forest TeamSafeguarding
Richard Leckey-Thompson (LOC) Senior Coach   
Marie Gibbs (AIRE) Chef
Matthew Vokes (WCOC) Jnr Coach/FT     
Michael Adams (SYO) Forest Team     
Nev Myers (EBOR) Lead Coach
Nick Jarvis (SO) Jnr Coach/FT     
Phillip Vokes (DEE) Jnr Coach/FT     
Rob Kelly (AIRE) Senior Coach
Roger Thetford (TVOC) Senior Coach  
Tony Carlyle (AIRE) Tour Manager, Safeguarding
Wendy Carlyle (AIRE) Pastoral, Safeguarding
Zoe Harding (SROC)Jnr Coach/FT     

Once again the mix of coaches/helpers proved very successful and I offer thanks to all concerned on the juniors’ behalf for all the work that was done to ensure a successful week.  The experience of the senior coaches and enthusiasm of the younger ones ensured that logistics went smoothly and exercises were ready when athletes arrived at the areas.

Part of the work at Lagganlia is to develop coaching experience for all.  This year the Camp followed the level 2 coaching course held at Lagganlia the previous week. Six of the attending coaches joined us for the Lagganlia camp to put into practice some of their learning from the course and build up coaching experience in the presence of other coaches.

Michael Adams was unable to attend the course but joined the team again to build on his experience from last year.  Katie Wright and Helen Ockenden also joined the forest team for the first time this year and would be welcome again.  Both showed an excellent aptitude for coaching and should be encouraged to attend more tours in the future.  

Lagganlia Athletes

Alistair Chapman (MAROC)
Andrew Elwood (LVO)
Angus Harrington (HH)
Anike Schwarze-Chintapatla (EBOR)
Catherine Bloom (LOC)
Chloe Cracknell (SOS)
David Bunn (TVOC)
Dominic Dakin (SYO)
Eilidh Campbell (MAROC)
Eilidh Shearer (ECKO)
Ethan Tebbutt (LEI)
George van Dam (HALO)
Luke Graham (MAROC)
Matthew Clarke (SUFFOC)
Meg Somers (DEVON)
Quinlan Silk (SWOC)
Rachel Collins (LVO) 
Rachel Potter (BOK)
Sarah Duckworth (DVO)
Sarah Pedley (EPOC)
Stanley Heap (SO)
Thomas Aspin (CLOK)
Thomas Howell (SN)    
William Thomas (MWOC)

The athletes had a wider level of ability/experience but the level of staffing enabled all to have relevant input from the coaching team.  There were some creditable results at the following Scottish 6 Days, particularly in M14 where there was a very strong contingent from Scandinavia, Switzerland and Austria.  A week at Lagganlia did much to improve confidence and many of the junior’s results showed a significant step up in performance.  
The boys were not as mature this year and the girls more mature than usual which caused some friction, but they quickly found a happy compromise.  
All athletes came well prepared in terms of appropriate clothing and attitude towards training.  There were no discipline problems and the athletes kept good time. Briefings, evening sessions and departures for the forest all kept to schedule.  

Travel and Transport

Organisation of transport arrangements to and from Lagganlia was left up to parents. Athletes were met at Aviemore station and transferred to Lagganlia by minibus.  It was requested that as many athletes as possible arrived on the 17.28 train at Aviemore to enable better use of the time on Saturday evening.  This worked reasonably well but a couple of athletes had delayed arrivals returning from O Ringen.
Going home was very easy this year.  All except one athlete was going on to WOC and the 6 Days so they were dropped off at the event centre before the minibuses were returned on Saturday morning.  

Once again two 17 seat minibuses were hired from Focus Vehicle Rental in Inverness and were used for transport to and from the areas.  We had 5 designated drivers for the week who were covered to drive any of the buses.  This gave flexibility for the organisation of forest sessions and ensured that there were at least 2 adults in each bus for every journey.  The forest team used one car each session.  At least one other car was used each day to ensure a spare vehicle for use in case of an emergency.

Accommodation and Catering

We had three lodges allocated:
Sgorans (16 beds); Social and meeting/presentation area, girls and coaches dormitory.
Hillend (18 beds); Cooking and eating, boys and coaches dormitory.
Anderson (11 beds); Cooking, coaches work and social area, coach dormitory.

Marie and Hazel continued with the high standard of catering that they produced last year. The quality of meals produced was excellent and empty plates spoke for themselves. It isn’t easy to ensure that the athletes and coaches are well fed and able to make the most of the days out in the forest so Marie and Hazel have our gratitude for their hard work in keeping us well fed and watered. Not having to worry about the catering side made my job easier so special thanks to Marie and Hazel on my part.
Next year it was proposed that we do away with the barbeque on the Wednesday evening.  It is popular with some of the athletes but many would prefer a normal meal. Marie was happy with the suggestion and it would make organisation simpler.

Maps

Maps were sponsored and printed on waterproof paper by BML Printers Ltd.  No courier problems this year.
One map per athlete and coach were provided for all the planned exercises so that all had a copy for their files.  
All control maps were printed for logistics and use by the forest teams.

Programme and Logistics

Saturday – Evening        
Welcome                
Brief introductions    
Community building activities        
Meals & Food            
Rotas    
Coaching groups

Sunday, AM; Uath Lochan.  Compass work and pacing.  Warm up routines. Star relay.

Sunday, PM; Inshriach, chequerboard area.  Fine orienteering, control descriptions and visualisation in the circle.  Distraction.

Monday, AM; Loch Vaa.  Simplification, relating map to ground, visualisation.  Map walk and map memory.

Monday, PM;  North Granish. 3 person relay.

Tuesday, all day. Roseisle. Contour Day.  Simplification, contours as attack points and catching features.  Longer legs.  Warm up routines.  Odds and evens relay.

Wednesday – Sprint racing
Sprint Qualifier Moor of Alvie
Sprint Final  Badaguish

Wednesday – PM/evening; The Rings (Badaguish), Swimming (Loch Morlich), Shops (Aviemore), Bar-B-Que (Lagganlia).

Thursday AM; Grantown.  Athlete centred coaching.  Two planned loops, coaches decide on skill/technique focus for athletes in their group.  Encourage Talk O.

Thursday PM; Anagach, Peg relay and terrain loops. Lagganlia. Mazes

Friday, AM; Inshriach Tour champs classic race

Friday, PM: Lagganlia Fun relays.

Friday – Evening; Dinner, prize giving, entertainment, packing and cleaning rooms.

Saturday – Disperse 

Comments

The Lead Coach (Nev Myers) put the programme together and passed on responsibility to the coaches for planning and delivering forest and classroom sessions.  
During the week the coaches worked with groups of athletes as shown below.

Roger Thetford
Matt Vokes
Katie Wright
Lecky Thompson
Helen Ockenden
Ian Maxwell
Rob Kelly
Iain Embrey
Julie Emmerson
Phillip Vokes
Karen Clark
Chris Mackenzie
Nick Jarvis
Jonny Hooton
Zoe Harding
Michael Adams
Ethan Tebbut
Eilidh Campbell
Will Thomas
Catherine Bloom
Stanley Heap
Dominic Dakin
Sarah Pedley
Eilidh Shearer
Angus Harrington
Thomas Howell
George Van Dam
Quinlan Silk
Alistair Chapman
David Bunn
Anika Schwartze
Sarah Duckworth
Matt Clarke
Andrew Elwood
Rachel Collins
Rachel Potter
Luke Graham
Thomas Aspin
Chloe Cracknell
Meg Somers

All coaches/helpers were asked to complete log entries for the athletes they worked with.  These contained lots of information and most focused on particular skills and coaching points; and related to how the athletes applied them during exercises.  Asking all members of the team to complete log entries gave value to their efforts and enabled the younger and less experienced members of the team to develop their own observational and performance analysis skills.  Under the guidance of the senior coaches all coaches were responsible for putting together draft reports for athletes in their groups.  These were then passed on to Nev Myers as lead coach to ensure consistency across all reports.  All athletes left with three areas to work on in the coming months.

Athletes were expected to work with their group coaches but were also encouraged to talk to and work with the other coaches so that they could access the wide experience available from within the coaching team. 

The daily coach debrief sessions on the day’s activities provided much useful discussion and encouraged all to contribute as well as providing a useful opportunity for coach development.  Nev Myers took notes on the feedback for use when putting together next year’s programme.

Logistics for control hanging were worked out each day in the coaches’ briefing and worked well.  Having five named drivers for the minibuses gave flexibility and allowed drivers the opportunity to hang controls. 

This year we continued with the First Aid clinic.  After training each day anyone with an injury, or who had first aid administered during the day, had to report to Karen and Wendy to ensure all details were recorded and appropriate follow up taken.  Next morning all who had attended the evening clinic had to see Karen and Wendy between 8-15 and 8-30 for any treatment, e.g. blister covering, and to get the OK for training that day.  Group coaches were informed of any concerns. 

This worked very well in maintaining athlete participation and keeping track of injuries and ensuring that athletes didn’t make their injuries worse.

Coaching group time was factored into each day. Usually this was between 5-00 and

6-00pm, but was kept flexible for days when travel delayed the return time to Lagganlia. This allowed structured time for debrief of the day’s activities, including race analysis. Coaches not only got to know their athletes, but were able to review, build on the day’s activities and set action points for the next day. Being part of the structure for the day it was readily accepted by the athletes. Listening in to the group sessions there was a lot of two-way interaction between the coaches and athletes and often sessions went on longer than planned in response to athlete participation.

APPENDIX 1

Athlete Midweek Comments

“Challenging, fun and very helpful, learnt a lot.”

“Having a great time, it’s quite hard but great fun.”

“Having fun.  Too many midges.  Great people.  Love you all.”

“Hey ya, I’m glad and tired.”

“Good practice, technical.  Great fun.”

“Had no ticks yet, it’s amazing.”

“We get cake every day! “ 

“Really useful exercises and advice with lots of fun stuff.”

“Too many midges but it’s really good.  See you soon xx”

“Enjoying it, it is very tiring, legs are aching lots.”

“New techniques, new people, good terrain, nice food, quite tiring.”

“Oi nah mum, am still not dead yet“

“Great fun here but tiring.”

“Hey it’s really fun, love you, nice people xox”

“Fun, challenging, contours, great advice, new techniques, saw a deer”

“Everything is fine, food great and drying room is hot.”

“Hi, it’s fun, tiring, funny, great, exciting!”

“Non stop but fun.”

“Legs hurt, arms hurt, brain hurts, feet hurt, I hurt”

“Saw highland cow, food is amazing but too many midges”

“Lots of ticks, legs hurt, having a great time”

“Hi, so good here, my entire body is dead ”

“It is tiring but fun.”

“Great few days, amazing technical training”

Participant Report

By Chloe Cracknell

I was so happy to get selected for this year’s Lagganlia training camp.  The train journey was very long but I had a great time getting to know some of the boys. When we arrived at Aviemore it was a true Scottish day as it was raining!  After arriving at Lagganlia and finding out that I was sharing a room with Rachel Collins the girls got to know each other while watching a bit of CBeebies!  After dinner we all got to know each other playing fun games with Brenda and Brian Bear.  After everyone being a bit quiet to begin with we ended the day with a mega pillow fight.

Day 1

On Sunday morning we went to Uath Lochans.  One of the coaches started by showing us a proper orienteering warm-up, then after this we did 100m pacing on track and terrain.  We got into our training groups and were set different exercises by our coaches.  I was in a group with Meg, Luke and Thomas.  First of all I worked on bearings walking round with Tony Carlyle.  We took it slowly and I learnt that I tend to go a little to the right but now that I have learnt this I know what to do to correct it.  After this I went round on my own practising aiming off which I felt quite confident about.  After lunch we did a relay and I was in a team with Anika and Dom – which was really fun!  We were able to put into practice what we had learnt in the morning.

Inshriach mapWe then went to Inshriach, near Lagganlia where we did a checkerboard.  There were coaches out on the course trying to distract us.  This exercise was meant to help us keep our concentration and contact with our map at all times.

Day 2

We started the day by walking through a map looking at contour details and relocation.  We were then set different courses to practice.

In the afternoon we went to North Granish where we were put into teams for a relay.  I was in a team with Eilidh and Catherine.  My first run went well but unfortunately I had a bit of a problem with one of the controls on my second run – it gave me some good practice at relocation though!

When we got back to Lagganlia we did four mazes where we were working on control flow. I came 2nd in one of them and was very happy.

Day 3

We spent the day working on the sand dunes at Roseisle, which was really fun.  I had only run on sand dunes once so this was an excellent experience for me.  We were working on catching features and attack points which I felt comfortable with but in a terrain I wasn’t used to.  We also worked on simplification where my coach, Zoe, gave me my map to look at and I picked out three features on the way to my next control.  She then took the map away from me and I had to find the control.  It got easier with practice.  In the afternoon there was a relay but unfortunately I didn’t do this as I was told to rest my foot.

After a tiring day we had some fun on the beach …

 

Day 4 

Today we went to the Moor of Alvie for a middle distance race.  We had a silent start, which was useful, as it was good competition practice.  The course had a butterfly loop in it and it was great to practice what we had learnt during the week so far.  Apart from a problem with one control, I was really happy with my run.  We then went to Badaguish where we had a course with a double-sided map.  This was a sprint-style race where we worked on quick thinking and good control flow.  Again I was happy with my run although looking at my map afterwards there were a couple of route choices which could have been better.

As a bit of fun we went on the rings and I was absolutely rubbish but I did enjoy myself. 

Afterwards we went to a Loch where we all had a great time swimming.

Day 5

Meg and I were partnered up at Grantown-on-Spey to do Talk-O.  We took it in turns leading each other to the next control by describing the features on the map so we could work out where we had to go.  After that it was time for the peg relay.

Day 6

Today was the classic race which took place at Lagganlia.  I had a bit of trouble with control 2 but I soon learnt from my mistake and using some of the new techniques I had learnt during the week navigated the rest of the course well which I was pleased about because it was a green standard course.  It was really helpful speaking to the others and comparing route choices afterwards.

 

As a bit of fun we did a relay which had a bit of a twist as you had to carry a balloon round with you. 

On the last night we had our awards evening and I was awarded the ‘Yellow Submarine Award’ this was because I was so terrible at the rings.  This was followed by Lagganlia’s Got Talent where the girls were definitely the best! 

I really enjoyed my week at Lagganlia and am extremely grateful to all the coaches for everything I learnt.  I made lots of new friends, learnt lots of new skills and was then able to start putting them into practice at the Scottish 6 Days the following week!

Comments from David Bunn

Overall, the camp was an incredible experience, really enjoyable and rewarding – proved by the fact that Lagganlia athletes outperformed other Brits massively at the Scottish 6 Days. It was great to get to know everyone and a really good platform to go on and achieve greater things and attend GB camps at a higher level in the future. So thanks to SCOA for the donation and I would recommend this camp to any young orienteers with a love for the sport and a bit of determination!

And from Andrew Elwood

The week I had training at Lagganlia was the best orienteering training I have ever had and provided plenty of fitness and terrain running as well. The skill I found helped me the most was using contours as attack points and catching features. This was a technique I put to very good use over the Scottish Six Days of orienteering the following week.

Selections

Catherine Bloom, LOC
Eilidh Campbell, MAROC
Rachel Collins, LVO
Chloe Cracknell, SOS
Sarah Duckworth, DVO
Sarah Pedley, EPOC
Rachel Potter, BOK
Anike Schwarze-Chinapatla, EBOR
Eilidh Shearer, ECKO
Meg Somers, DEVON

Thomas Aspin, CLOK
David Bunn, TVOC
Alistair Chapman, MAROC
Matthew Clarke, SUFFOC
Dominic Dakin, SYO
Andrew Elwood, LVO
Luke Graham, MAROC
Angus Harrington, HH
Stanley Heap, SO
Thomas Howell, SN
George van Dam, HALO
Quinlan Silk, SWOC
Ethan Tebbutt, LEI
William Thomas, MWOC

Selection Policy

Selection policy for attendance at the Lagganlia Training camp (2015)

Date

The camp will run from Saturday 25th July- Saturday 1st August 2015

Eligibility

The Camp is principally for M/W14’s born in 2001, but may include M/W15’s born in 2000 (see below)

Numbers

The camp will be for a targeted number of 24 juniors.

Nominations

Each of the 12 British Orienteering Regional Associations may nominate up to 2 eligible M/W14 athletes, as defined above, who have achieved the standard set out below. In addition reserves may be nominated (M/W14 or M/W15) who have achieved the standard. In the selection process M/W14s will take precedence over all M/W15s.

In addition a Region may nominate other athletes, as reserves, who they feel are worthy of selection but who have failed to satisfy the qualifying standard. Such nominations must be supported by a statement from the Regional Coordinator.

Each Region is encouraged to nominate a junior who they believe would benefit from attendance on the tour.

All nominations should be listed in a ranked order by the Region, with number 1 being their top choice.

Nominations must be received by the Chair of JROS Selectors by 12th May 2015.

Criteria

Juniors wishing to be selected will have achieved the standards set out below in at least one of the following races;

Scottish Championships  2014 (24th May) 
Southern Championships  2014 (26th January) or 2015 (8th Feb)
Northern Champs 2014 (4th May) 
Midland Champs 2014 (26th October) or 2015 (15th Feb)
JK Day 2  2014 (19th April) or 2015 (4th April)
JK Day 3  2014 (20th April) or 2015 (5th April)
British Long Distance Champs      2014 (31st May) or  2015 (18th April
British Middle Distance Champs  2014 (7th Sept) or 2015 (10th May)
Northern Ireland Champs  2014 (4th October) or 2015 (2nd May)
Scottish O League 2015 (12th April)

Qualifying standard

M/W14’s Juniors being nominated will have achieved championship standard in at least one of the above races.

Nominated M/W15’s will have achieved a championship standard at M/W16 or at M/W14 in at least one of the above races.

Selection process

The priority for selection will be (for more detail see below);

  • 2 athletes per Region with qualifying standard
  • Additional qualifying athletes
  • Athletes nominated by Regions with no qualifying athletes
  • Additional nominations

All nominated athletes (without qualifying criteria) must be agreed by the selectors whose decisions will be final.

The two M/W14 athletes from each Region with qualifying standard will be selected first.

They will then be followed by any M/W14’s with qualifying standard not yet selected.

If there are still spaces the selectors may select M/W14 athletes nominated by a Region who has no athletes who have achieved the qualifying standard.

If there are further spaces the selectors will then select from the M/W15’s, with qualifying standard.

If there are still spaces the selectors may select from the remaining nominated athletes who have not achieved the qualifying standard.

At all times selections continue up to the maximum number of athletes on tour or until the selectors deem there are sufficient athletes selected of an acceptable standard.

If there are two or more athletes with equal results and fewer places available, the selectors may seek further information from the Regional squad, with positions attained at British Championships and JK being the differentiator.

The tour selectors

Susan Marsden (SEOA) Sue Roome (NWOA) Pauline Olivant (EMOA)

Selections will be announced via e-mail by JROS Secretary or Chair. The Regional Coordinators will be informed of all athletes attending a few days before the athletes are informed.

Any disagreement with selections should be addressed to the Chair, not the selectors.

Calculation of Championship time

For details of the calculation of championship standard times refer to;

http://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/images/uploaded/downloads/events_competitionrule2014_n_badgescheme.pdf