Merry Christmas and a Happy orienteering New Year to all Fingal members and friends.

We had a Maprun event in Clonshaugh on Sunday, followed by our Christmas dinner in the ALSAA building. Only a small group were at the Maprun as there was a league event in the Curragh in the morning. However about 25 members came to the dinner in ALSAA, and enjoyed the food, as well as a quiz and spot prizes. Thanks to Jean and Bernie for organizing the venue, meal, quiz, and spot prizes.

The next Fingal event is a Night Orienteering event in River Valley, Swords, on Saturday evening, 10th February. This will be followed by our spring Leinster League event in Castleblaney on Sunday 25th February.

Thanks to all who came to our Leinster League event in Dartry Wood, near Cootehill and Rockcorry, County Monaghan. We had a better attendance than last year mainly due to a good number of LVO members who came. There were generally good comments on the forest and on Eileen's courses. One comment was that it was like a Scottish forest, although that might be a stretch. The weather was a bit drizzly but heavier rain didn't come until afterwards.

Thanks to Eileen for planning, Tommy for organising, and Shane Lynch of CorkO for controlling. Also to all members who helped, including Dave, Anyta, Bernie, Jean, Roxanne, Gabrielle, Per, Ian, Nicola, Sarah, Ciaran, and Alan and the O'Dpnnell youngsters and Stanislav for collecting controls.

A Black and Red jacket was left at the start and wasn't collected. Contact us at fin@orienteering.ie or ask a Fingal member at next week's event in Trooperstown

The Results are here

Some photos are here

The next Fingal event is a Leinster League event in Dartry Forest near Cootehill on November 19th. While Cootehill is in Cavan the forest is across the river in County Monaghan. Online entry is open on orienteering.ie Go Orienteering .

Dartrey Forest was formerly the estate of the Dawson family but is now managed by Coillte. The area is typical drumlin hill terrain with the classic teardrop shaped hills. Most of the forest on the drumlin hills is runnable coniferous forest. There are also some sections of mature oak and beech woods. The forest is mainly runnable and there are very few brambles. It was used in the 2022 league and before that in the late 1980s.

Parking & Directions

Parking, registration and download will be in the car park of Rockcorry National School, H18 FD93, located to the west of the village of Rockcorry on the R188. The school is adjacent to the forest entrance: orienteers will park in the school yard and walk to the forest where the start and finish are located. A Portaloo will be provided near the forest entrance. The start is located about 1.6km from assembly, the finish is not far from the forest entrance . The event will be signposted from Rockcorry and Cootehill. If using a sat nav to find your way to the school, use the Eircode. Do not use the location for Rockcorry National School that is shown on Google Maps. It is incorrect and is the location of the old school, the "new" school being a mere 16 years old.

View Larger Map

Provisional Course information

Course	Length	Climb
Yellow	2.0 Km	20 M
Orange	3.0 Km	45 M
Red	4.1 Km	55 M
Light Green	4.2 Km	95 M
Green	5.2 Km	120 M
Blue	6.3 Km	120 M
Brown	9.1 Km	150 M

All courses will be printed on waterproof A4 paper. All courses will be on a scale of 1:10000. Control descriptions will be printed on the map and loose descriptions will also be available. Please enter online via Orienteering Ireland's online entry system . A small number of entries on the day can be facilitated, but at a cost of €10/£10, plus SI hire but we cannot guarantee map availability if you turn up on the day.

There are lots of small ditches and extraction lines, that are not mapped. The prominent vegetation features are both fallen trees and rootstocks.

Courses close: 14:45

Please note the earlier course closing time: this is to facilitate control collection before darkness falls.

Timing:

Last start will be 1pm, precisely. Note also, SIAC will be enabled.

Fingal Orienteers would like to thank the Principal, Board of Management, staff and students of Rockcorry National School for the use of the car park.

We had a nice training event using Maprun on a new map of Holywell/Drinam between Swords and Kinsealy on Sunday. 12 or so club members plus some GEN members came and enjoyed the run in the sunshine. There was plenty of discussion on route choice afterwards.

Some more photos are here

Thanks to all who came to the final 2023 scatter event at Newbridge House. The forecasted heavy rain didn't really materialize and the wind didn't affect the tents, or anything else. It was still pretty wet underfoot though and the ditches were flooded. Thanks to Ciaran for Planning and Frank for organising, and the rest of the Fingal members who helped out at this and the other events.

Congratulations to all the scatter league prizewinners. The final 2023 Scatter League table is here. It includes only those with 3 events. There were prizes for the first 3 in each category. If anyone didn't collect their prize please contact us.

The Newbridge Results are here

Some photos are here

The fourth and last of this year's Fingal Orienteers Scatter events takes place on Sunday 24 September in Newbridge Demesne (near Donabate) Co, Dublin.

As this event is the last in the series of scatter events the presentation of prizes will take place after the event, the current table of results for the series can be viewed. on the Fingal website.

For those using public transport, the number 33B passes outside the front gate while the train to Donabate can also be taken but do allow for a walk of around 25 mins. Directions for car parking and the event registration tent will be signposted from the M1.

NOTE: When approaching Newbridge House on the R126 turn left onto Cobbe's Lane 200 metres before the main gate. Then turn right in through the entrance on Cobbe's Lane. Then park at the designated area for the event.

Enter online at www.orienteering.ie/fixtures/newbridge-house-2/

NOTE also that the ditches are very full of water and deep in places so only cross at the bridges or designated crossing points.

Limited entry on the day will be available but if possible please do enter online to facilitate the organisers. Beginners however, are very welcome on the day as this event is part of the Sports Ireland European Week of Sport programme!

The scatter format is as follows
20 controls scattered around the park.
3 courses - Long, Medium or Short
The long course requires you to find any 18 out of 20 controls in any order you like
The medium course requires you to find 13 controls in any order
The short course requires you to find 8 controls in any order. There are 8 controls in the park to suit younger orienteers.
SI Air will be enabled.

Registration will be open from 11.00 until 12.00. All runners will start at 12.00 or very soon after.

If you enter online you just need to come to the start for 12.00. If you request a rented SI unit, pick it up at registration before 12.00. If late you will still be timed from the course start time.

Congratulations to all Fingal prize winners and others who took part in testing conditions in the Leinster Championships on Fair Mountain.

Jean O'Neill was 1st on W75. Kathleen O'Donnell was 2nd on W12. Liam O'Donnell was 2nd on M14, Eoin O'Donnell was 3rd on M16, Alan O'Donnell was 3rd on m45, Eileen Young was 3rd on W50, and Ciaran Young was 1st on Men's Short.

The 2023 Scatter League table, after 3 events, is here.

The league placings are for best 3 out of 4 events. Only those who have done at least 2 events are included. Note also that the planners and controllers of the events get the maximum 50 points.

If you notice any discrepancy or have any questions on the table please email us at fingalorienteers@gmail.com.

The points scoring in each category is as follows: 1st 50, 2nd 46, 3rd 43, 4th 40, 5th 38, 6th 36, 7th 34, 8th 32, 9th 30, 10th 29, 11th 28, 12th 27, 13th 26, 14th 25, 15th 24, 16th 23, 17th 22, 18th 21, 19th 20, and continuing down if there are more finishers.

The day started off well for the DCU / Albert College Park event but then a downpour came just as we were ready to start. Everyone finished and enjoyed Sarah's courses taking in the DCU campus as well as the park. It is a good map for sprint / urban orienteering. Thanks to all who came and thanks to Sarah, Eileen, Ciaran, Chris, Val, Nicola, Per, and Roxanne.

The final scatter league event is on Sunday 24th of September. Meanwhile best of luck to all doing the Leinster Championships in Fair Mountain next Sunday.

DCU Results are here

Some photos are here

We had a great day for Sunday's event in St. Anne's Park. The summer finally arrived in September. The registration was a bit hectic and the car park was very crowded with so many other activities in the park and people just enjoying the sunshine. Thanks to Per for planning. There were many compliments on the control layout. Thanks to the other helpers, including Chris, Frank, Brian, Nicola, Roxanne, Deirdre, Alan, and of course, Eileen and Ciaran.

Welcome to new members, Marcelin Giurgica and Paul Constantin Pricop.

Results are here

Some photos are here

The 3rd 2023 Fingal Scatter event takes place in DCU (Dublin City University) Campus and Hampstead Park (Also known as Albert College Park), next Sunday 10th September. Dublin City Council asks if possible to use public transport or carpool. You can get bus 9, 4, 13 or 155 to DCU. If driving there is limited parking at the back of Hampstead Park. There may also be parking at the church on Ballymun Road. The multi-storey car park in DCU, accessible from Collins Ave, will have plenty of space. It costs €1 per hour. Make your away directly across the campus from the car park through the side gate of Albert College Park to the registration area in front of the tennis courts. Registration, start, and finish will be in the park in front of Tennis Ireland tennis courts.

Enter online at orienteering.ie/fixtures/dcu. Entry on the day will be available.

The scatter format is as in St. Anne's and Santry, see below. Registration will be open from 11.00 until 12.00. All runners will start at 12.00.

There are toilets available in the area around the Tram Cafe at the back of the park. The cafe is open on Sundays.

If you enter online you just need to come to the start at 12.00. If you request a rented SI unit, pick it up at registration before 12.00. If late you will still be timed from the course start time.

Thanks to all who came to the first scatter event in Santry. The rain stayed off for the most part and by all accounts everyone enjoyed it.

The 2nd 2023 Fingal Scatter event takes place in St. Anne's Park, Raheny, next Sunday 3rd September. Dublin City Council asks if possible to use public transport or carpool. You can get bus H1 from Abbey St. to All Saints Rd. or the DART to Raheny. If driving park in the car park at the tennis courts on All Saints Road. Registration, start, and finish will be at the south end of the path from the tennis courts to the main park avenue. Enter online at orienteering.ie/fixtures/st-annes-park-13 Entry on the day will be available.

The scatter format is as follows
20 controls scattered around the park.
3 courses - Long, Medium or Short
The long course requires you to find any 18 out of 20 controls in any order you like
The medium course requires you to find 13 controls in any order
The short course requires you to find 8 controls in any order
SI Air will be enabled. Registration will be open from 11.00 until 12.00. All runners will start at 12.00 or soon after.

If you enter online you just need to come to the start at 12.00. If you request a rented SI unit pick it up at registration before 12.00. If late you will still be timed from the course start time.

Also welcome to new members, Roxanne White and Siobhán Lyons.

The next Fingal events are the 2023 Fingal scatter series. This year's events are as follows. We are back to 4 this year.

Santry Park	Sunday Aug 27
St. Anne's Park, Raheny	Sunday Sep 3
DCU and Hampstead Park, Glasnevin	Sunday Sep 10
Newbridge House, Donabate	Sunday Sep 24

There is a break on the 17th September for the Leinster Championships on Fair Mountain

As previously 3 out of 4 events will count for prizes. There will be 3 courses at each event, Long, Medium, and Short. At each event there will be a mass start around 12.00 and runners will need to visit a set number of controls. The controls can be visited in any order.

Entry will be online on orienteering.ie for these events.

<- Gabrielle at the registration at Lusk Sports Hub.

Thanks to all who came to our urban street event around Lusk on a nice Tuesday evening. The long course wasn't exactly a sprint as the actual distances covered were about 8k. There was plenty of route choice on Eileen's courses and it was also easy to get confused in some of the estates. Results are here.

The next Fingal event is on Tueday evening, 25th July, in Lusk. It will take place in the streets of Lusk. The map is extended to include new housing estates. The event starts at 6 PM. Assembly and registration will be in the car park at the sports ground on the north side of the Lusk ring road, just before the last roundabout and turn to Skerries. There will be 3 courses, Long, Medium, and Short - something to suit everyone. Enter online on orienteering.ie, or on the day.

<- Fingal and GEN members doing the Maprun courses at Paddy's Hill / Robswall between Portmarnock and Malahide.

Fingal members, and some GEN members, met on a lovely evening and did new Maprun courses at Paddy's Hill park which is between Portmarnock and Malahide. The Long and Medium courses also took in some streets in Robswall.

The MapRun courses are now available for anyone to try. Select a course, download and print the map here.

See instructions for using MapRun on our MapRun page here.

New MapRun courses are now available in Millemium park in Blanchardstown. Select a course, download and print the map here.

See instructions for using MapRun 6 on our MapRun page here.

<- The Fingal Winners of the J48 class, Liam and Eoin O'Donnell and Leire Holguin.

Fingal runners did very well in the 2023 Irish Championships in Wicklow. The highlight was the junior team of Liam, Eoin, and Leire winning the J48 class. Alan, Simone, and Ciaran came second in the H6 class and the H24 team of Eileen, Jean amd Val also came second.

<- The Fingal H6 team, Alan, Simone, and Ciaran.

In the individual races, Jean is Irish Champion in W75 in all three days in Sprint, Middle and Long distance.
Liam O'Donnell was 1st and Irish Champion in M14 Long Distance, and 2nd in the Sprint.
Kathleen O'Donnell was 3rd in W12 in the Sprint, Middle, and Long.
Simone De Gasperi was 2nd in the Middle distance. Alan O'Donnell was 2nd and Irish Champion in the Middle distance, and 3rd in the Sprint.
Val is Irish Champion in Middle and Long distance. Eileen is Irish Champion in Sprint and Middle distance.

<- The Fingal H24 team, Eileen, Val, and Jean.

Overall it was a very successful 4 days of orienteering organised by CNOC. The weather was dry for the most part. The Sprint on Friday unusually was in a forest in Glending near Blessinton. The Middle distance was in Stranahely, venue of the 2019 Leinster championships. The long distance was in Devils Glen on a new map. Devils Glen had not been used for about 30 years but is one one the most challenging areas in Leinster. There were some long times and most people made some mistakes.

The relays were in a new area, the Tottenham estate which is a private wood on the north side of the Devils Glen.

<- The Fingal H18 team, Gabrielle, Tommy, and Sarah.

More relay photos

<- Planner Sean with his brothers and Dad.

Thanks to all who came to our spring 2023 Leinster League event. The rain held off for the event, although we had a wet day on Saturday putting out the controls. Thanks especially to the students who came from several colleges around the country. The event was also being used for the Inter Varsities championship. It was great to see so many young and enthusiastic orienteers taking part. Thanks also to those who took part as part of the women in sport initiative.

There was great praise for the courses planned by Sean Kearns on his first time planning a League event. One runner on the Brown said "It was perfect". Thanks also to main organiser Kathryn Walley, assistant organiser Bernie Sharkey, controller Val Jones, and the other helpers, Per-Olov Elovsson, Nicola Garret, Ciaran and Eileen Young, Chris Slattery, Sarah Ní Ruairc, Ian Murphy, Jean O'Neill, and the rest of the Kearns family, Donal, Ciaran, Paul, and Sinead.

More Photos here

Results are here

This may well be the last event in Fauna, or at least the last league event, as Coillte are gathering the machinery for what looks like extensive felling.

The next Fingal event is our Spring Leinster League event in Fauna Wood near Donard in west Wicklow. The usual 7 league courses will be available, to suit all levels of experience and fitness. The event will be sign posted from the N81, at the turn off for Donard, at the Olde Toll House. The forest is mostly runnable although there has been some recent felling.

Course details are as follows.

Course	Length	Climb	Controls
Brown	9.9 K	285 M	26
Blue	7.1 K	165 M	18
Green	4.5 K	160 M	18
Light Green	3.4 K	105 M	12
Red	4.7 K	185 M	9
Orange	3.5 K	95 M	11
Yellow	2.2 K	60 M	8

Control Descriptions are here.

Online entries are open on Orienteering Ireland web site

We would like to welcome newcomers who have entered through the Women in Sport initiative. Please talk to Bernie and Nicole at the reception if you need any information.

We also welcome the student orienteers from the college clubs who are having the College Championship at our event. Great to see student involvement again.

Eileen's Sprint training series continues on Saturdays. Everyone who attended has enjoyed it and hopefully learned something. The final session is in Castleknock next Saturday. Contact Eileen for details if interested.

Thanks to all who came to the night event in Sports Campus Ireland. Results are on Orienteering.ie website.

Apologies to anyone who downloaded the control descriptions from our website. There was a last minute change to the first control, but we forgot to update the descriptions on the website.

Thanks to all who helped, Ian, Bernie, Ciaran, Eileen, Per, and Sean.

Fingal Events for 2023.

The first Fingal event of 2023 is a Night Orienteering event. Unfortunately Fingal County Council have refused permission for Portmarnock. The reason was because participants would have to cross public roads. So the event will now be held in Sports Campus Ireland, Blanchardstown, where it was held last year, assuming we complete permissions in time. The assembly, start, and finish will be in the main car park outside the multi sports building by the hockey pitches. The courses will take in the full grounds of the sports campus. There will be 2 courses on offer, a long, about 6.9K and a short about 3.7K. Click here for control descriptions. SIAC will be enabled. The maps will be printed on A4 waterproof paper. The Long course will be split and printed on both sides of the page. Navigating at night is for the intrepid or experienced only. Any juniors under 16 must be accompanied - it's much more challenging than during the day. The bigger your headtorch the better. Runners can start at 6PM or soon after when it gets dark.

The first Fingal Leinster League event is in Fauna / Donard wood on March 12th. Sean Kearns is planning the courses and Val Jones is controller. Fauna is in west Wicklow south of Donard village, near the Glen of Imaal. It is a typical Wicklow forest and is similar to some of the forests where the Irish Championships will take place.

The Fingal Autumn Leinster League event will be in Cootehill / Dartry where we had the autumn event last year. Eileen Young has volunteered to plan it. It is scheduled for November 12th.

A Merry Christmas and a Happy orienteering New Year to all Fingal Orienteers and friends.

Thanks to all who came to our pre Christmas event in Tyrrelstown. Thanks to the Tyrrelstown Community center for allowing us to use the center for registration and for our AGM. The courses through the streets and park were very well planned by Tommy. Route choices were a little different to the normal, where the choice was where it was possible to run on grass given that the roads and pavements were icy and slippy where the sun didn't shine.

We had a productive AGM and then a very enjoyable Christmas dinner in the nearby Carlton Hotel. Some more photos are here.