We had a nice pre Christmas MaprunF on Sunday, Dec 20th, in Bayside. Thanks Eileen and Ciaran for organising, and for organising other MaprunF courses in Lusk, Rush, Portmarnock, Tyrrelstown, and Castleknock while there were no regular events to attend.
Unfortunately our League event due to take place in Donard - Fauna on Nov 1st has had to be cancelled. Even if the current lockdown is lifeted there would not be enough time to check out the courses. It may happen in March, fingers crossed.
In the meantime many MaprunF courses are available in North Dublin which you can run in your own time. Check out the available courses on our MaprunF Page
We now also have MarRunF courses in Navan. Click here for the maps and instructions.
Thanks to all who came to our event in Skerries. Using the MapRunF App on the phone appeared to work well for most people. Depending on what phone people had there were some issues needing to be sorted, such as making sure location was enabled and power save wasn't on. Online entry also worked out well, most people have got used to it in the current climate. We had a fair number of new people giving it a try, and some who hadn't orientered in a long time.
Skerries Summer Event
This will be a pre entry event only, no money will be taken on the day of the event. The event will observe social distancing. There will no registration tent. Contact will be at a minimum with supervision and support at the start and finish. Printed maps will be provided. There will be flags at the control sites and timing will be by a GPS app, MapRunF, on your phone. Controls descriptions will be on the map only.
Click here to enter Online via Fabian4.
Click here to open a pdf of the control descriptions and print.
Important: To take part in this event each competitor will require the MapRunF app running on their smart phone, download from the App store or Google play.
Check out this MapRunF video for more information.Parking and Start will be located at Skerries Mills, Skerries, Co. Dublin.
Skerries Mills is well sign posted by Fingal County Council Brown Heritage Signs. There are bus and train services to Skerries to within a short distance of the start.
Start times: 6:00 to 8:00pm
Courses close: 9:00pm
Organisers: Ciaran and Eileen Young
Planner: Eileen Young
Courses:
Short ~2km
Medium ~ 4km
Long ~ 6km
(These are estimated straight-line distances; the medium and long, in particular, are likely to be longer on the ground)
Entry fees via Fabian4.
Children/Students/OAP/Unwaged €4
Adults €7
Family €15 (2 adults + kids)
No entries on the day, all pre entry - to maintain social distancing and minimize contact. Toilets and drinking water will not be provided.
Participants will be sent a Health Questionnaire which must be answered before attending the event. We request that participants familiarise themselves with Return to Orienteering Participant Code of Conduct
Looking forward to seeing everyone!
Virtual MapRunF courses in Malahide Castle are now also available.
Click here for the maps and instructions for the 3 courses, Short, Medium, and Long
The Newbridge House 'Virtual' orienteering courses are now available on MaprunF
See details here
Newbridge House Lockdown courses.We are all missing orienteering in the current lockdown. However tentative virtual orienteering courses are starting. Eileen has put up virtual courses of Lusk using the maprunner App. Follow this link for virtual courses in Newbridge House. Newbridge House Lockdown courses.
We wish to thank the Sports Capital Program (November 2018) for providing grant assistance to enable us to purchase equipment including SportIdent stations, stakes and e-cards, tablet, defibrilator, and handheld GPS for mapping.
Thanks to all who came to our event today at the National Sports Campus. We hope you all enjoyed it. We had a lovely bright morning and not too cold or windy given the recent bad weather. The ground was very wet and muddy in places. Everyone was very complimentary on the map and the courses. Thanks to Chris for planning and Val for Controlling and organizing, and to all the rest of the club helpers.
Fingal Orienteers would like to welcome you to the National Sports Campus Sunday 23rd February for our Come-and-Try-It orienteering event. This is a new map which has never been used for orienteering. This event is a mix of university campus-style buildings, playing pitches, and green, forested areas. Although there is some vehicular traffic on some of the roads , it should be slow moving . This is an ideal place to learn orienteering.
There will be coaches available at the start to give an introduction to beginners.
Start times : 1100-1300, courses close 1500.
Short : 2.0 km
Medium : 4.3 km
Long : 8.6 km
Climb is negligible on all courses
SI will be used for timing and rental SI cards will be available on the day.
Please note that this is NOT a sprint event, the long and medium make use of the National Cross Country running track areas and forest so dress as for normal orienteering , the short course can be ran in runners.
Map : 1:5000 A3 updated by Val Jones and Eileen Young 2020 from the original by Laurence Quinn and used by kind permission of the IOA. The event takes place entirely in the NSC and does NOT cross into the Tolka Valley Fingal map
The map is to the ISSOM standard, so for example, uncrossable walls are solid black lines without the double black dots. The difference between Open and Rough open is mainly that Open is mowed grass and rough open isn't but at this time of year there's not much difference in runnability in most sections. However some areas are mapped as cultivated land. These are muddy and slower going. With recent rain there may be some flooded areas not mapped as ponds
The event is located at the National Sports Campus, Blanchardstown , Dublin , which is close to the M50 and N3/M3
This can be found HERE
https://www.google.com/maps/search/national+sports+campus/@53.3964113,-6.3670749,16z/data=!3m1!4b1
The Start and Finish are located at Abbotstown House in the centre of the NSC, and NOT the National Aquatic centre,
which is at the main entrance. This is not simple to get to, so here are detailed directions from the main gate
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1JAORIXjd77WraUBYT_wgSWh6PEoH4neV&ll=53.394877276825696%2C-6.363902148501552&z=16.
O-Signage will be available from the main National Sports Campus gate.
If Driving or cycling you will need to pass two barriers. One is at the first roundabout and should lift automatically - no need for payment. The second should be always up at the first right turn. When coming back (carefully ) change lanes as the barrier at the right turn will not lift. However the barrier at the roundabout will lift ( again no payment required at any barrier ). There is ample car parking.
If using public transport then there are several bus options 220, 238, 38, 38a from the City Centre and Blanchardstown shopping centre and then walk through to Abbotstown House which should take about 15 mins from the main gate. Bus 17a which travels from Howth Junction to Blanchardstown via Finglas, Ballymun, Santry, and Coolock passes the campus gate.
Showers afterwards are available to orienteers, in the Multisport changing rooms, inquire at download for details.
There is a café located in the National Aquatic Centre for refreshments afterwards.
If you are bringing a large group please inform us beforehand so we can print more maps !
Organiser : Val Jones
Planner : Chris Slattery
Controller : Val Jones
Our major event next year will be the 2020 Leinster Championships. We are returning to Carnawaddy, venue of our first championship event in 2005. The map is updated from lidar data and extended to the south. The event is on Sunday April 5th. Tommy is planning with Shane Lynch as controller. Alex Bogomoletz and Bernie Sharkey are joint organisers. Hopefully we won't get caught with weather like 2005.
Thanks to all who can to out Night Event in River Valley in Swords. Thanks to Jean for planning, Tommy for controlling, and Ian for organizing. The weather was a bit wet and the ground in the park was very mucky and slippy. Most people enjoyed it, the park was more challenging in the night
Click here for results
Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to all Fingal club members and supporters.
We will have 2 events in the new year.
The first is a night event being planned by Jean in Ward River Valley in Swords, on Saturday evening, December 11th. The event will start at 6.00 PM. The usual Night event format is for a Long and a Short course.
Thanks to all who came to our league event in Donard-Fauna. We had about 150 participants, including a few groups from
the local area giving orienteering a go. Eileen Young and Anton Hallor were on hand to give newcomers some
introduction to the sport. The weather was good and most people were very complimentary on the courses and the map.
The senior orienteers appreciated the Short Green course. Thanks to all club members who helped out, Planner Val Jones,
controller Dave Richardson, Organiser Sarah Ni Ruairc, Tommy Burke, Bernie Sharkey, Alex Bogomoletz,
Gabrielle King, Anyta Richardson, Ciaran Young, Ian Murphy,
Nicola Elovsson, Per Olav Elovsson, Christine Jones, Jean O'Neill, Kathryn Walley, Sean and Ciaran Kearns.
We went to the Tulfarris Hotel afterwards for a very nice pre Christmas dinner.
The next Fingal event on Nov 24th is Leinster League 12 in Donard-Fauna wood, Co. Wicklow.
The wood is about 3 kilometers south of Donard village at the western end of the Glen of Imaal. To get there, from Dublin / Blessington, turn left (east) off the N81 at the Olde Toll House. Follow the main road through Donard village, then about a kilometer after the village, take a left turn up the hill. The forest is a short while further on both sides of this road. Follow directions for parking.
All are welcome. There are courses to suit all levels of experience and fitness
The following are the course details. As well as the regular courses we will also have a Short Green course.
| Course | Length | Climb | Controls | Level |
| Yellow | 2.1 K | 75 M | 8 | Beginners, short, easy, Buggy-Friendly |
| Orange | 3.5 K | 100 M | 10 | Beginners, medium, easy |
| Red | 4.5 K | 140 M | 9 | Beginners, long, easy |
| Light Green | 3.0 K | 100 M | 11 | Improvers, short, moderate |
| Short Green | 3.0 K | 130 M | 11 | Experienced, short, technical |
| Green | 4.9 K | 170 M | 11 | Experienced, medium-long, technical |
| Blue | 7.1 K | 190 M | 11 | Experienced, long, technical |
| Brown | 9.7 K | 300 M | 11 | Experienced, very long, technical |
CONTROL DESCRIPTIONS <- Click to display
Donard Fauna has not been used for a regular event for about 30 years. The forest has been resurveyed and extended this summer by Fingal members, from a base map supplied by Pat Healy. We are grateful to CNOC for agreeing to share the map. It is mostly mature coniferous wood although here has been some felling. There are no brambles although there is some bracken and a little gorse. Some sections are very wet, and only the more significant drain ditches are mapped. As you may guess from the name there are lots of deer in the wood.
Start times from 11.00 until 13.00, courses will close at 14.30
Maps will be printed on waterproof paper, size A4. Control descriptions will be on the map and available at registration.
Entry Fees
€8 Adults, €5 juniors/students/oaps, €20 Families.
€10 for non-club members, €2 for SI card hire
There will be a cake sale in aid of the junior squad. Teas and coffees will be available after your run. We also expect to have portaloos available.
Please bring all rubbish away with you. Please bring reusable cups if you can to cut down on waste
Thanks to Coillte for granting permission to use the forest.
Location
<- Scatter league prize giving
Thanks to all who came to the final scatter league event in Newbridge House. The following are the prize winners
Long Male : 1st Sean Kearns, 2nd, Ciaran Kearns, 3rd Marcus Elovsson
Long Female : 1st Cliona Donaghy, 2nd Karen Convery, 3rd Zoe Tyner
Medium Male : 1st David Quinn
Medium Female : 1st Kathryn Walley, 2nd Becca Payling, 3rd Edith Bridcott
Medium Junior Male : 1st Tyvon Tyner, 2nd Lucas Garvey
Medium Junior female : 1st Sinead Young, 2nd Elizabeth O'Neill
Short Junior Male : 1st Darragh Young, 2nd Alfie Tyner, 3rd Paul Butterfield
Short Junior Female : 1st Orla Church, 2nd Catherine O'Kelly, 3rd Orla Young
Short Others : 1st Con Carroll, 2nd Nicola Elovsson
Becca Payling and Lucas Garvey, please contact us to arrange to collect your prize. For others who weren't at the prize giving someone from your club collected your prize
<- Starting off
Click here for Newbridge House results
Thanks to all who attended this years scatter league events. We hope you enjoyed them. Thanks to the planners, controllers, and organisers, Alex and Bernie, Jean and Ciaran, Per and Ian, Anyta and Dave. Thanks also to all club members who helped out at the events.
Click here for the 2019 Scatter League table with 3 out of 4 events completed.
If you are listed here with 2 events completed you could still win a prize if you attend the final event in Newbridge House Demesne, Donabate, on the 29th September. There will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes in each category.
Thanks to all who braved the rain to come to Corduff today. Numbers were down with juniors away at a training weekend, and probably some recovering from after match celebrations. Click here for results
Next week there will be a Leinster League event at Three Rock wood, Ticknock. The final Scatter event will then be at Newbridge House Demesne, Donabate, on Sunday 29th.
Remember 3 out of 4 events count for the league. We will have prizes at Newbridge House.
There is a training event on the day before in Newbridge, Saturday 28th. Click here for details
Thanks to all who came to Applewood today. Nice morning for some street navigation. Click here for results
Don't forget next week, registration at the National Aquatic Center car park in Blanchardstown.
3 out of 4 events count for the league. There will be prizes at the final event in Newbridge House, Donabate.
Thanks to all who came to our first event of the 2019 Scatter League. Results are here
The 2nd scatter event is at Applewood in Swords next Sunday, Sept 8th
Location here
The 3rd event is at Corduff, Blanchardstown, on Sunday, Sept 15th
The final 4th event is at Newbridge House Demesne, Sunday, Sept 29th
There is a Leinster League event in Three Rock Wood on the 22nd Sept
These events are suitable for everyone, especially those new to orienteering. The format of these events is the same as last year. Registration is from 11.00, then all runners on each course start at the same time, at 12.00 or soon after. There will be 3 courses available, Long, Medium, and Short. Controls can be punched in any order. The number of controls to be punched on each course will be specified on the map, it may not be the same at each event.
There will be prizes at the final event in Newbridge House for the best 3 out of the 4 events.
Thanks to all who came to Skerries last night, and to our other summer events. We are taking a break until our scatter events in September, but the evening events continue, in Ballyboggan Park next Tuesday - Cabinteely/Loughlinstown/Ballybrack area, and in the Phoenix in August.
Good luck to everyone travelling to events abroad in the next 2 months. The destinations include Scotland, Norway, Latvia, Slovenia, and Austria. We might have some interesting reports on travels.
Our next event is in Skerries on Tuesday, 2nd July. It is a 'Come and Try event' around the streets, lanes, parks and beaches of Skerries.
This event is suitable for families and beginners.
If you plan to bring a large group please contact OH ATE SICKS 3306954
Registration is in the carpark of Skerries mills https://www.skerriesmills.ie/ The event will be signposted from the roundabount in Skerries on the R127
There is a regular rail service to Skerries train station with a walk of 600m to the start.
Start times are between 18:00 and 19:30.
Courses:
Short 2.1km
Medium 4.8km
Long 6.1km
Entry fees:
Children/Students/OAP/Unwaged €4
Adults €7
Family €15
The tide will be out, but bring your togs for a swim afterwards.
<- some punters eager to register today at Dalgan Park.
Thanks to all who came to our event in Dalgan Park today, and to our event in Ardgillan last week. Both events attracted many families new to orienteering. Thankfully the weather stayed dry for both events. Hopefully everyone enjoyed the events and will continue to come to further events.
Our next event is an evening event at Skerries on July 2nd. Registration will be in the car park of Skerries Mills from 6.00 PM. Details of the courses will follow.
Fingal are holding a Come-And-Try-It / Training event next Saturday, June 8th, in Ardgillan Park, Skerries/Balbriggan. This event is aimed at the new and improving orienteers by offering a number of white, yellow and orange courses where inexperinced orienteers can build up their skill and their confidence. The entry fee covers multiple courses and SI rental.
Realistically, this means that it will be easy and therefore not challenging for most existing orienteers. It will suit younger orienteers just finding their feet running on their own. Everyone is welcome.
There will be instructors at registration to give a short map walk to get new orienteers started.
Courses will be about 2km, 3km and 3.7km long
Start time 1pm to 3pm
Please park in the top carpark and walk to the Castle for registration.
Ardgillan Castle is well signposted with brown signs from the M1
Congratulations to all Fingal prizewinners at the Irish Championships in Fermanagh/Cavan/Tyrone.
Jean had a clean sweep of the W70s coming first in Sprint, Middle and Long.
Sinead Young was first in W14 Middle and Long, and 2nd in the Sprint.
Eileen came 2nd in W50 Middle, and 3rd in Long. Darragh Young was 2nd in W12 Sprint, and 3rd in Long.
Sinead Kearns was 2nd in W16 Sprint and 1st in W16S Long.
Orla was 3rd in W Short Sprint, Val was 3rd in M60 Sprint, and Sean Kearns was 1st in M Short, Middle.
We didn't win anything in the relays, but had great fun with 2 of our teams neck and neck finishing
4th and 6th with a Setanta team between them on the run in.
One of the biggest cheers was for our Fin Ginners team of Anyta, Gabrielle, and Sarah
A great weekend helped by dry weather made for a very enjoyable Irish Championships. Tremendous credit due to Raymond and Theresa, and all in FermO, as well as NWOC and LVO. We also provided bodies to help with the sprint.
Congratulations to all Fingal Prizewinners at the 2019 Leinster Championships, Gabrielle King (pictured), Jean O'Neill, Sinead Young, Sinead Kearns, Eileen Young, Sarah Ní Ruairc, Ciaran Kearns, Sean Kearns, Tommy Burke, and Ciaran Young
Great Technical forest orienteering in the Coilte section and the military section of Stranahely. The area hadn't been used for a long time so it was great to get access to it.
Thanks to all who came to our league event in Rossmore. The courses were well planned by Eileen, her first time planning a league event. Rossmore continues to mature nicely so hopefully we'll be back again soon. It is one of the nicest forests for orienteering with a good variety of trees both young and old, deciduous and coniferous. Being in Monaghan it also has plenty of drumlin hills