SROC

The SROC Year

Welcome to the 'SROC Year'. This page aims to give you a flavour of the 'SROC Year' by describing a typical twelve months in the life of our club.

In addition to the events named below, the Club also stages a full range of orienteering events, catering for all ages, abilities and levels of experience.

Orienteering is primarily organised and run by volunteers, so everyone is encouraged to contribute. This can be helping once or twice a year at an event. You could take on a major role as Organiser or Planner, or be a member of a team involved in running one part of the event, such as the Start. You could get involved in preparing maps, or help with the general operation of the club, e.g. by becoming a Committee member, organising the Club archives or contributing to the newsletter or website. Helping is a great way of getting to know other SROC members.

January

Bleary eyed, SROC members welcome in the New Year with an Informal Event. Prizes and mince pies may be on offer at the New Year Cracker.

Not long after, we stage the annual SROC Handicap, at a SROC area somewhere near you. A mass start event where the score you have to achieve depends on the calculations (and whims) of the Club Statistician. First past the post is the winner! This is followed by a social evening, including a Jacob's Join buffet and the annual prizegiving. There are awards aplenty . . . to the man and woman who in the eyes of the SROC Committee have been the outstanding SROC orienteers for the previous year, for the SROC Club League and Galoppen (see below) and finally, the National and Provincial Trophy is awarded for one individual's outstanding services to SROC.

The winter Night Street League – on Wednesdays, usually at fortnightly intervals  – is halfway through its 10 or so events. See the Fixtures list for details of forthcoming events.

Tuesday Night Training will be starting up again after its customary break during the school holidays. This takes place at Ripley St Thomas School in Lancaster from 6.30 to 8.00pm. The focus of the evening is some form of circuit training, but there may also be gym-based orienteering exercises, team exercises, basket ball and so on. General good fun for all comers. So if you haven't been before, please come along. More details, including a map, are on the Fixtures list.

February

The Night Street League and Tuesday Night Training are in full swing. After a handful of events, the Club League and the Gallopen are starting to take shape. For seniors, the Club League is based on national ranking points. For juniors, it reflects performance in major events throughout the country during the year. In contrast, the Gallopen is aimed at those who prefer to compete at lower key events, running on White, Yellow, Orange or Light Green courses.

The first SROC Newsletter of the year drops through your letterbox.

March

The Annual Club Dinner takes place in March. This normally takes the form of a sit down meal. See the Fixtures list for more information.

Event 10 of the Night Street League brings the league to a close, followed by a social and prizegiving. As well as trophies for the winners of the Men's, Ladies and Pairs competitions, there is the Tower Trophy to be presented for the best performance in one of the events held around Blackpool.

Round 1 of the Compass Sport Cup, a national inter-club competition, sees the Team Captain mobilising his squad for the first time.

April

The second team event of the year is the Jan Kjellström Relays. This follows two days of individual races. Hosting of the JK moves around the regions. This is a holiday event as well as a top level competition, which attracts a good contingent of SROC members.

Well, the JK may have already passed, depending upon the timing of Easter holidays! If so, you can while away a few hours with the next copy of the newsletter.

May

By now, the Team Captain has got those relay teams honed to perfection, just in time for the British Relay Championships. This is usually combined with another prestigious event of the year: the British Championships. SROC will be hoping that some of its members make it on to the podium.

June

The second big social event of the year is the Club Picnic but first you have to earn it with a swift 3-4km!

June also sees the first of a series of informal events, often held in local parks.  Great training for young and old alike. Details to be found in the third newsletter of the year.

July

The final team event of the year will, or may, have already been: the Harvester Relays.

August

One of the quieter months of the year . . . except for the newsletter editor, preparing release number four ! Some club members will undoubtedly be pitting their wits against Europe's finest. Or travelling to a multi-day event somewhere in the British Isles. In alternate years this might be the Scottish 6 Day. Every fourth year, there is the Lakes 5 Day, with SROC often taking responsibility for the planning &/or organisation of one of the days.

September

After the summer break, Tuesday Night Training resumes at Ripley School. And it's AGM time, normally held at Furness College in Lancaster University. The formal proceedings are followed by . . . yet more food !

October

Believe it or not, the Night Street League's starting again. Can it really be that time already? The first event may have competitors running round the streets of Chorley. A fortnight later it might be in Carnforth.  With the street events usually based at a pub or social club this series offers good opportunities for socialising.  Expect lively discussion of route choice and other matters.

The nights are drawing in and that gives you time to read Newsletter number five. Or would you prefer to go out into the woods in the dark? The North West Night League will now be underway, with one of the events hosted by SROC. And around now there is Spook-O. Try to score points in the company of ghouls and ghosts and other assorted weird creatures whilst avoiding the vampires. Great fun for both adults and children.

November

The SROC Club League is into its final stages. Could that great run in the recent LOC Regional Event have elevated you to the top of the table?

December

The year is almost over and planning is well under way for the New Year Cracker. . . . we could get into a continuous loop here! The last newsletter of the year coincides with the Christmas post and it's Happy Christmas from everyone at SROC.

Last Updated : 21.01.10