FROM THE PRESIDENT

FROM the time that I first agreed to become an amateur administrator within Orienteering, I have been struck by the tension that exists as to the balance between Orienteering as a recreation and Orienteering as a sport. There are even those who want to see decision making within Orienteering made solely on the basis of it being a sport or solely on the basis of it being a recreation.

Personally, I enthusiastically belong to both groups. I live for the next event; the physical and mental challenge, the terrain, the company of the recreation. But philosophically and as an administrator, I also strongly support the sport of orienteering and its sports men and women, at the state level, nationally and internationally. Orienteering just has to be both a sport and a recreation – as difficult as this may be for decision makers and the preferences of some orienteers.

It has been interesting to observe the impacts at the local level of the recommendations of the International Orienteering Federation to bolster Orienteering as a sport with popular appeal. The changes to event organization being adopted at local events in line with the Liebnitz Convention are not being met with enthusiasm in some quarters, which prefer to retain the traditional approaches. However, it is interesting to note that even some of the elites orienteers themselves are not in agreement with the latest experiment of the IOF, Micro-O.

When I first attended meetings of the Council of Orienteering Australia, there existed some tensions over the respective state and national roles with respect to high performance and development. This tension appears to have eased as Orienteering Australia has found roles for itself that do not impinge on the traditional roles of the state associations. With the loss of government funds for development activity at the national level, there will be a danger that Orienteering Australia will serve the sporting component of Orienteering with the recreational component being left to the state associations. It will be important for Orienteering Australia to retain a strong involvement in the development of both the sport and the recreation across Australia.

In recent years, Orienteering Australia has committed increased focus and funding to the high performance and competitive aspects of Orienteering. The National Orienteering League, the Junior National Orienteering League and the links with New Zealand have been positive moves for the sport, also adding new dimensions to major events and carnivals. Orienteering Australia has added support for elite mountain bike orienteers to the high level of support that it has been providing for elite foot orienteers. There are many activities and programs operating in the background of the administration of Orienteering that seek to provide for the nurturing and on-going support of elite orienteers individually and through team membership.

Three orienteers, who have each contributed significantly to the expansion and the success of the high performance program specifically, and to Orienteering in general, leave national roles during the last quarter of this year. Each will be missed. Jason McCrae, Manager, High Performance, Neville Bleakley, Manager, Coaching and Officiating, and Bob Mouatt, Manager, Media and Development, have each made outstanding contributions in these roles in so many ways. Gentlemen, we all thank you.

Keep spiking those controls!

Bob McCreddin

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VICTORINOX AWARD

Orienteering Victoria president, Blair Trewin, is a tireless correspondent for The Australian Orienteer. His detailed analyses of most major events held in the country successfully turn time trials and split times into race commentary which could bring readers to the edge of their seats. Blair is a worthy recipient of the Victorinox Award and we look forward to publishing many more of his gripping event reports. He receives a Victorinox Voyager with 20 tools and features including a watch/alarm/timer; retail value $109.95