Midlothian Orienteering Festival is on the Map

More than 50 pupils helped put Midlothian’s first orienteering festival for primary school children on the map recently. They were part of a total of 14 teams of four pupils from primary schools from across Midlothian who took part in the orienteering championship event - organised by Midlothian Council’s Education and Communities department - at Vogrie Country Park.

Chalmers Smith, the council’s outdoor learning co-ordinator said; “Every team and every individual showed enthusiasm and effort and the standards produced were very high -  everyone seemed to enjoy taking part.

“As a result of our successful bid for grant-funding from ‘Awards For All’, every school in Midlothian will receive high-quality, colour orienteering maps of the school and surrounding grounds and start-up equipment. Staff will also be able to attend a one-day training course in orienteering.

“The orienteering festival will run annually and we next year  hope to double the number of pupils taking part.

“This will give more Midlothian youngsters and young people the opportunity to become physically active in the outdoors, develop a healthy lifestyle and take part in a sport enjoyed by all ages, from 3 to 90.”

Councillor Margot Russell, Deputy Provost of Midlothian - who presented prizes to the winning pupils - commented; “Orienteering is a great sport for runners, joggers and walkers who want to improve their navigation skills or for anyone who loves the outdoors. All you need to start is a sense of adventure and a pair of trainers - so it’s also an easily accessible sport for all.

“At the top level, orienteering is a challenging sport which requires a bit of everything - endurance, speed and you need to have good concentration and be very quick mentally for the map-reading skills.”

One athlete who is competing at the top level is Scott Fraser, a former Newbattle Community High School pupil who is now the national development officer with the Scottish Orienteering Association. Scott returned to Midlothian to help pupils with equipment at the start and finish of the festival.

Councillor Margot Russell, Deputy Provost of Midlothian, presents winners of the first  Primary-7 orienteering festival with their awards. Standing from left are Graeme Burt, Jack Thomson, Fraser Bisset and Kim McGregor; kneeling from left are Rachel Watson, Sarah-Jane Hunter, Lewis Cullen and Eilish Walker

MIDLOTHIAN PRIMARY 7s INTER-SCHOOL ORIENTEERING FESTIVAL
Vogrie Country Park
RESULTS
NAME                  SCHOOL TIME PLACE
Sarah Jane Hunter St Luke’s 09.26 1st girl
Kim McGregor Bonnyrigg 11.01 2nd girl
Rachel Watson      Sacred Heart 11.29 3rd girl

Graeme Burt Roslin 09.06 1st boy
Fraser Bisset Bonnyrigg 09.53 2nd boy
Lewis Cullen St Luke’s 10.22 3rd boy

St Luke’s PS 31.04 1st team
Team A Bonnyrigg PS 33.23 2nd team
Sacred Heart PS 33.42 3rd team