Lagganlia 2021

Generic information about Lagganlia

Camp Report

Without our volunteers, the camp would not have been possible. My thanks go to:

Coaches: Richard Lecky-Thompson (Lead Coach); Roger Thetford; Tony Carlyle; Ian Maxwell; Katherine Bett; Nick Jarvis; Pippa Dakin; Jonny Hooton; Michael Adams; Scarlet Heap; Lizzie Horsler; Max Mobus; Euan Tryner.

Cooks: Pip McKerrow and Sue Bett

First Aid and pastoral: Wendy Carlyle.

It became increasingly clear in May and June that we would not be able to hold a normal residential Lagganlia camp on the planned dates in July. As a result, a Zoom meeting with the athletes and parents was arranged for 19th June to discuss various options. These included having a virtual camp as in 2020, going ahead with a camp on the proposed dates but parents would be responsible for accommodation and daily transport, or having a weekend in the autumn or a week at English half-term. The overwhelming preference from the parents and athletes was for a full week on 23rd to 30th October. This was still far from certain to be possible but became our new goal.

Sadly, Lagganlia was already booked for these dates. Badaguish could squeeze us in if we were prepared to put 12 participants in pods for one night before moving them into a lodge. That appeared to be the only option, so we went for it. All participants agreed to pay by early September even though we still couldn’t be sure we could go ahead, nor what refunds would be possible if we couldn’t.

All was still not straightforward:

- One of the 24 athletes, although at school in England, had a different half term and did not feel able to join us. Luckily, the Scottish athletes, who were also not on half-term, did feel able to join us.

- Our usual minibus hire company could only let us have one minibus and required full payment up-front. We found a second minibus from a company in Perth.

- None of our junior coaches who are at university were free for that week in October. We filled the gap mostly with coaches still of school age or on a gap year. In the event, this worked extremely well.

- One of our intended cooks could not manage the new week. The camp manager’s wife, Pip, offered to step in to that breach.

- No trains were planned to run from Newcastle to Edinburgh on 23rd October due to engineering works so travel to the camp was not as easy as it might have been. (In the event trains north from Edinburgh were cancelled for most of the afternoon making matters even worse.)

- Tesco were operating a limit of 135 items per delivery which may be fine for a normal household but is a real problem if you are trying to cook for 40.

Clearly the biggest issue special to this camp was Covid. In the event, we were able to comply with the regulations that remained in Scotland. We also adopted the following:

- All participants were asked to conduct two Lateral Flow tests in the 48 hours before arriving at Badaguish. All of these were negative. (In fact two of the athletes had had covid two to four weeks before the camp. In these circumstances neither a PCR nor a lateral flow test are possible but both were clear of symptoms for a sufficient period before arriving to be sure that they were not infectious.)

- Masks were required to be worn on the minibuses.

- Antibac was made available in all lodges and the minibuses and at dinner time everyone was required to antibac their hands.

- Contingency plans for isolating participants and getting a PCR test at the nearest centre were in place but not required.

Overall, having the camp at Badaguish rather than Lagganlia worked very well. The hall is much better for cooking, eating, and teaching. The lodges are spacious and comfortable. The location is equally good. The only problem is that the accommodation cost £7700 rather than £5500.

As mentioned above there were significant rail problems on the Saturday afternoon but all athletes and coaches eventually arrived for a late evening meal.

The weather was kind to us apart from washing out our Friday afternoon plans. If we had to do a camp in October again, we could not be sure to be so lucky.

We had about six, mainly ankle, injuries during the week. Two of these were as a result of playing football in the evening. This was clearly not a good plan but it’s very hard to stop members of the group having fun.

Detailed finances are not yet available but we expect to be broadly on-budget which was to break even after a £70 per athlete subsidy.

Don McKerrow

Camp Manager

Lead Coach's Report

The camp was held between 23rd and 30th October 2021 at the Badaguish Outdoor Centre. 23 athletes and 15 coaches attended, supported by 2 cooks (Pip McKerrow and Sue Bett) and Wendy Carlyle. Nev Myers was joint lead coach during the planning phase.

The overall aims were to concentrate on:

Compass

Contour interpretation

Running with the map

The exercises for each day were all planned by different coaches. This gave a range of exercise and planning styles. It was also useful for coach development.

There were no skill specific days, with coaches being allowed to use a range of exercises to judge what was required for each athlete. This approach worked well overall.

The Camp Champs area was announced early and used during a presentation; blank maps were handed out early; the area was pointed out from the minibuses and there was detailed geeking. This approach was well received by coaches and athletes.

Each day was organised using a checklist to try to ensure that everything needed was done and had someone responsible. Except for pegs (see later) this was useful. Michael Adams set up a rota for control hangers early in the week and this helped speed up evening meetings.

The weather was benign for late October, except for the Friday afternoon.

Coaches

Richard Lecky-Thompson (Lead Coach); Don McKerrow (Camp Manager and Coach); Roger Thetford; Tony Carlyle; Ian Maxwell; Katherine Bett; Nick Jarvis; Pippa Dakin; Jonny Hooton; Michael Adams; Scarlet Heap; Lizzie Horsler; Max Mobus; Euan Tryner

Athletes

Austin Howe, SAX; Ben Perry, DEVON; Lotte Sykes, SYO; Dan Heppell, WCOC; Ellie Darlow, RR; Freya Tryner, SYO; Grace French, WIM; Harry Bratcher-Howard, WIM; Hebe Darwin, WAOC; Isaac Hunter, WCOC; James Bryant, SYO; Jamie Connor, FVO; Kate McLuckie, MOR; Laurence Ward, INT; Lyra Medlock, WSX; Myrtle Ashworth, WCOC; Taylor Gooding, SOS; Tommy Rollins, SN; Yokub Hampshire-Wright, NN; Ciara Keen, SYO; Ruth Gooch, Maroc; Ranolph Whitehead, Maroc; Yann Newey, Maroc.

Coaching Groups

The 23 athletes were split into 6 coaching groups. Most had 1 senior and 1 junior coach. Two had, effectively, 2 senior coaches and a junior. These had Don and Lecky as the second senior, allowing them to leave if required. This arrangement worked well.

This was necessary when Katherine fell ill. Her group merged with Pippa and Lecky’s group with Lecky taking over the lead for group D. Katherine and Max agreed to still complete camp reports.

Permissions

Permissions were requested by Nev Myers from BASOC and Moravian. The confirmation of permissions came rather late and this had an effect on the planning process. The delays were in part due to Covid issues.

Maps

Due in part to Covid restrictions, we decided to give athletes 2 A4 maps each day printed with all the exercises and an all controls map. This did limit planning to A6 for each exercise, but this didn’t seem to be an issue. Other maps were printed separately for sprint and camp champs races and end of day races. No maps were shared. This was seen to be an effective way of managing maps, although it created challenges (sometimes poorly managed) for the teams in the odds-and-evens relay.

Actions

1. Continue with this approach in subsequent years

Maps were printed by BML at a discount. The delay in getting permissions; Lecky being away and some confusion as to how to put all the maps onto one page, lead to some tight timescales with printing.

Actions

2. Get permissions agreed earlier

3. Finish planning earlier

There is an online package useful for combining pdfs onto one page for printing. This is:

https://online2pdf.com/multiple-pages-per-sheet

Day 1 – Moor of Alvie

Planner – Pippa Dakin

The day started with a brief talk about compasses by Tony, using the video by Hector Haines. This was well received. The athletes all seemed to know the basics of using a compass, but they did not all know how to sight an object to run to.

There was a map walk in one section of the map and a measured 100m to calibrate pacing on a track and in the forest, with athletes asked to plan routes on an unrelated map while pacing. . Then a range of exercises North of the railway. Finished off with a short star relay the other side of the railway in a relatively easy running section.

All worked well.

There was one control description that was incorrect and a thought that the star relay needed large kites for clarity.

At the end of the day there was a contours presentation by Lecky, based on the online presentations from 2020. One section used North Granish as a simplification example and the athletes were told that this was the venue for the Camp Champs.

Actions

4. Check control descriptions more thoroughly, preferably using an experienced controller

5. Use large kites for competitions

Day 2 – Loch Vaa

Planner – Richard Lecky-Thompson

Prior to leaving the athletes had time to draw a sketch map for an exercise at Loch Vaa.

The first exercise was a 500m time trial on track and terrain. The track was slightly uphill and the terrain slightly downhill. The terrain was easier that the Inshriach time trial and this was seen as positive. One athlete lost the sole of her shoe on the terrain run. There was debate about whether 500m was long enough and significant for working out the ratio. The general feeling was that this was OK. Post-camp suggestion: provided the running lines are not too narrow, make both the track and terrain runs out-and-back, with a control to be punched at the far end. This would nullify the effect of elevation changes, reassure athletes who were worried about getting lost on the terrain run and allow a shorter stretch of terrain to be used, thus speeding up the taping of this section. The risk of collisions could be mitigated by instructing athletes to pass one another on (e.g.) the right.

At this point we discovered that the cane tops for the SI boxes were the wrong size. Ian then attempted, successfully, to borrow the right kinds of canes from BASOC. Many thanks go to them for making the rest of the week easier for the control hangers.

There were 5 exercises and a sketch map planned in a new area (to Lagganlia) to the North of Loch Vaa. The area cannot be used in the summer because of capercaillie issues. It was split into 4 quarters of heavy going rough open, easier rough open, easier forest and denser forest, which offered some useful variety.

The sketch map was mainly in the heavy going area. Many made mistakes crossing a track, perhaps due to difficulties in orientation as they crossed. The suggestion afterwards was that the athletes be given the course with the circles and red lines and nothing else.

The rest of the exercises used the other areas and were quite successful.

We were supposed to have Alistair Thomas giving a talk on his experiences, but he was ill. Katherine stepped up and organised several speakers to talk about options in orienteering that are available if the athletes didn’t want to follow the elite pathway.

Actions

6. Consider doing the time trial at a different venue

7. Make sure the cane tops and SI kit are the same size

8. For the sketch map, give out a blank map with just the circles and lines on it

9. Try to use an area for the sketch map that is less physical

Day 3 – Roseisle

Planner – Roger Thetford

The areas used were to the East end, parking near Burghead.

There were 4 exercises planned by Roger in the white area and an extra one, planned by Lecky (simply to fill a space on the paper maps). These were well planned and well received.

There were a couple of injured athletes who did some Radio ‘O’.

The afternoon session moved to the green area with a line course and a peg (tape) race. Both worked very well. The peg race was shorter than in previous years, with no deliberate distractions.

There was an issue in that the pegs were not brought to the area. We improvised using two colours of electrical (shoe) tape.

Actions

10. Add pegs to the daily list of requirements

Day 4 – Sprints

Planner – Ian Maxwell

These were the most complex exercises of the week.

Knockout Sprint: Planned to give athletes experience of gaffles, butterfly loops, quarantine areas and head to head racing under pressure.

The qualifiers had one butterfly loop, with two map versions. They used a standard start with quarantine.

The semi-finals were mass start with the athlete’s choice.

The finals were a simple mass start. It was evident that navigation errors played a significant part in the results, as well as pure running speed. The W14 race had almost all runners back in a bunch and third place was decided by a trip in the final run in.

Consensus that it was worth the effort over a normal heats/final sprint.

Quarantine, start etc within building at Badaguish worked well and would have been very beneficial had the weather been as forecast.

Using Glenmore Lodge involved a lot of paperwork (not all Covid related)

The medals were presented by Kirstin Maxwell, who had travelled up from Edinburgh to help. Later she gave a short talk to athletes about her experiences of elite orienteering, with an emphasis on how much fun it can be.

Although it took some organising the night before, the sprints went off really well.

Results were produced, but the mass start nature caused some issues with timings. Results may not have been distributed as well as we should have.

There was an issue at Badaguish with the area around the caretaker’s house, but that was smoothed out by Don. We need to make that area out of bounds – or ensure that we really are allowed to use it.

Actions

11. Mark the area around the caretaker’s house out of bounds or confirm that we can definitely use it

12. Make sure results are produced, published for the athletes and distributed to all coaches

Day 5 – Culbin

Planner – Katherine Bett

There were 6 well planned and varied exercises in the part of Culbin chosen by Katherine. It was very unfortunate that she was unwell and couldn’t travel. The area used was a 2 km walk to the start/finish.

There was a small area that was not very accurately mapped, around controls 124, 125 and 126. This made putting out a couple of controls quite tricky, but the athletes seemed to cope pretty well. We also did not have the most up to date map as there was a map correction that we had pointed out last time, not corrected on our version. We need to point out the inaccuracies to the mapper if we use this area again.

It was unfortunate that Scarlet sprained her ankle badly and needed helping back to the transport.

The evening session covered race preparation (Pippa and Tony) for the camp champs followed by some time geeking in coaching groups. This was very well received.

13. Point out areas that need remapping to the local club

14. Request the new, updated map

15. Ask local resident John Hollingdale to check control sites for Culbin (and Roseisle perhaps?)

16. Find someone willing to check control sites for other areas

17. Is there access into Culbin that shortens the walk in (and out with an injured athlete)?

Day 6 – Camp Champs North Granish

Planner – Tony Carlisle

The camp champs were held at North Granish, for the second time. The courses started near the open areas towards the North and had a run through there. When controls were being hung an extra track and two earthbanks were found in the South. The athletes were told about these. They didn’t seem to have any issues. The courses were challenging, but fair. Most athletes completed them successfully.

18. Report the need for map updates

Day 6 – Sprint relays

Planner – Ian Maxwell

These were cancelled due to atrocious weather. This was a shame, especially as all the maps were altered by hand due to issues with the caretaker’s property.

Injuries

There were a number of injuries during the week. One boy fell during a sprint and cut his hand; another junior coach cut his leg on a piece of metal; there were at least two sprained ankles in the forest; and a foot injury from football. Most of these were rather usual for orienteering camps.

There was one girl who developed a very uncomfortable and unusual shin condition that stopped her running.

Two people were suffering from knee problems, probably due to growing. These were harder to manage. One was unable to complete several days and did not complete the camp champs. We should have spent more time assessing the medical forms prior to the camp to try to identify these issues and to have a better understanding of their day to day management.

Actions

19. Try to identify long term issues that will affect training prior to the camp and discuss with athlete/parents or guardians about management during the camp

Selections

Isaac Hunter WCOC
Laurence Ward INT
Tommy Rollins SN
Ben Perry DEVON
Harry Bratcher-Howard WIM
James Bryant SYO
Jamie Connor FVO
Taylor Gooding SOS
Hebe Darwin WAOC
Yolanda Hampshire-Wright NN
Myrtle Ashworth WCOC
Ellie Darlow RR
Kate McLuckie MOR
Lyra Medlock WSX
Grace French WIM
Freya Tryner SYO
Charlotte Sykes SYO
Dan Heppell WCOC
Ben Glover LEI
Austin Howe SAX
Ruth Gooch Maroc
Ranolph Whitehead Maroc
Yann Newey Maroc
Ciara Keen SYO

Selection Policy

Eligibility

The Camp is principally for M/W14s born in 2007, but may include M/W15s born in 2006 (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 camp.

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 31st May 2021.

Any modifications to the order should be sent to the Chair of Selectors no later than June 7th.

Qualifying standard

The camp is held in a TD5 area so juniors nominated should be competent at TD4.

Selection process

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

2 athletes per Region with a championship standard at M/W14

Additional qualifying athletes

Athletes nominated by Regions with no qualifying athletes.

All nominated athletes 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/W14s 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/W15s, who have not previously attended, 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 camp or until the selectors deem there are sufficient athletes selected of an acceptable standard.

The Selectors therefore ask Squad Coordinators that their nominations for attendance at Lagganlia 2021 include athletes who in their opinion would have been able to satisfy the overall criteria.

In doing so could Squad Coordinators highlight the races where their athletes past results should be taken into consideration as an indication of their form and their ability to satisfy the selection criteria for Lagganlia 2021.

Nomination papers may be sent any time, preferably as soon as possible, to the Secretary of JROS, Steve Kimberley () and by 31st May 2021 at the latest.

Download a proforma for nominations here.

Please contact Steve if you would prefer a different format.

The camp selectors are

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;

https://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/images/uploaded/downloads/Competition%20Rule%20N%202014badgescheme.pdf