The 2021 Senior Home International was held in Scotland over the weekend of 4^th/5^th September. The individual race was held on the Sunday at Glen Tanar, a typical tough Scottish forest with the relays on Balmedie, an area of open sand dunes just north of Aberdeen, the day before. Four SYO members were selected to represent England – Jonny, Euan, Pippa and Imogen, although Euan pulled out at the last minute due to illness.

In the Men’s relay two Scottish teams finished 1st and 4th with England in 2nd and 3rd. Therefore honours even in the Men’s relay. In the Women’s relay Scotland finished 1st and 3rd with England in 2nd and 4th so a 2 point advantage to Scotland overnight (and the Dolgellau Bowl for the winner of the first day’s racing). Ireland and Wales each had only one competitive team. The following day Scotland won 3 of the 4 classes (albeit narrowly) to cement their overall victory. The only class not won by Scotland was W20 where England split the points, due in part to a fantastic run by Imogen (only a W16) to take 2^nd place.  Pippa and Jonny also had good runs with Jonny taking 4^th place in M21 and Pippa finishing 6^th in W21.

Thanks to Charlie for managing the team. You can read his full report here.

The junior and veteran home internationals are still to come, taking place over the 9^th /10^th October and 6^th/ 7^th November respectively.

The prizegiving for the 2020/21 prizegiving was held in beautiful sunshine in Endcliffe Park last Saturday. Despite the lockdown restrictions of the past year we were able to hold 5 events. Although we were unable to hold inter school competitions, the individual league continued to thrive. The best 4 results counted. Congratulations to....

Y4B - 1st Jack W, 2nd Jasper, 3rd Alexander
Y4G - 1st Beau, Hannah, 2nd Eve, 3rd Lucy H
Y5B - 1st Freddie G, 2nd Jack B, 3rd Felix
Y5G - 1st Sophie, 2nd Lucy-Laura, 3rd Polly
Y6B - 1st Lawrence, 2nd Oskar, 3rd Edward
Y6G - 1st Abigail, 2nd Imogen L, 3rd Lucy W

Y7B - 1st Oscar, 2nd Pasco, 3rd Walter
Y7G - 1st Ella, 2nd Penny, 3rd Thea and Lydia
Y8/9B - 1st Evan, 2nd Caspar, 3rd Oliver
Y8/9G - 1st Anna, 2nd Ciara, 3rd Ruth and Isla
Y10/11B - 1st Olmo, 2nd Dylan, 3rd Matthew & Conrad
Y10/11G - 1st Amelia, 2nd Alexandra

Thanks to Beat the Street and Decathlon for the prizes and Jacky for co-ordinating the prize giving.

A huge contingent of SYO members travelled across the Pennines to compete in the British Sprint Champs and brought home a record beating array of medals and trophies!

The weekend of racing kicked off with the Mixed Sprint Relays in Skelmersdale. The post-war social housing provided tricky technical urban orienteering, which really kept runners on their toes but there was also plenty of opportunity to stretch the legs out in the fast parkland sections. Assembly was based in a huge amphitheatre, which provided excellent spectating views and the superb commentary added to the excellent race atmosphere. Even the rain showers were not as bad as forecasted!

SYO took their maiden mixed sprint Elite title with excellent performances by Kim, Euan, Jonny and Laura. In the U12 relay it was a clean sweep for SYO with SYO bumble bees in first (Pasco, Ella and Charlotte), SYO mini bees in 2^nd (Hannah, Louis & Freddie) and SYO Beetles (Oskar, Sophie & Jack) in 3^rd. In the U16 class SYO Bee Awesome (Jamie, Immy & Conrad) took gold, while SYO Bee Good (James, Freya & Olmo) took silver. It was silver in the vets class for SYO Beehave (Richard, Amanda & Martin) and also in the super vets for SYO Bee Keenie (Tim, Robyn & Mark).

Sunday saw the turn of the individual sprint champs. Courses for the heats and finals were in more of Skelmersdale’s the intricate housing estates, which made an interesting change to the normal university campus terrain. Racing was fast & furious and mistakes costly. The SYO contingent performed superbly for the second day in a row taking 8 golds, 9 silvers and 6 bronzes! Congratulations to:

Men’s Open – gold Jonny
M10 – gold Jack, silver Louis

M12 – bronze Freddie
M14 – silver James
M18 – gold Euan, silver Max
M20 – bronze Dom
M50 – gold Martin

M60 – gold Tim
M70 – silver Paul J, bronze Peter G

Women’s Open – bronze Laura
W10 – gold Hannah, silver Sophie
W12 – gold Charlotte, silver Ella
W14 – silver Freya, bronze Anna
W16 – gold Immy
W45 – silver Kim, bronze Louise R
W50 – silver Amanda

Huge thanks to DEE and MDOC for putting on a superb weekend of orienteering.