SYO had another super successful competition at Wass on Sunday with 10 members crowned Northern Champions in their respective age classes. Congratulations to Anna (W10), Freya (W12), Conrad (M12), Euan (M14), Aislinn (W21E), Amanda (W45), Jenny P (W50), Charlie A (M50), Peter G (M70) and Brian (M75) who all took home trophies. 

More than 90 members travelled to the West Midlands over Easter weekend to compete in this year's JK competition. Despite the severe weather conditions, SYO members performed out of their skins to produce 22 individual medallists and 6 team relay podium positions -  a truely fabulous club achievement!

The weekend began on Good Friday with the Sprint event at the Stafford MoD. Whilst the navigation was technically easy, the racing was fast and furious and those that topped the results list proved they could perform under pressure. Well done to Robbie (1st M10), Anna (1st W10), Ella (2nd W10), Conrad (3rd M12), Freya (2nd W12), Imogen (1st W14), Pippa (3rd W20), Judy (2nd W65) and Peter G (3rd M70).

Saturday saw the start of the JK overall individual competition with the middle race at Brereton Spurs. Despite overcast skies and freezing temperatures, the day stayed dry. The orienteering was physically and technically demanding and there were many top performances by SYO members. Robbie, Oscar, Conrad, Euan, Andy P, Charlie A, Brian, Anna, Charlotte, Freya, Imogen, Pippa, Amanda & Jenny P all held top 3 positions overnight.

On Sunday the JK moved to Beaudesert for the classic distance and the 2nd day of the overall individual competition. Although the orienteering was not too technically demanding, the courses provided a significant physical challenge and keeping concentration to the very end was key to a good race.

Well done to JK Champions Robbie Lightfoot (M10) and Freya Tryner (W12) who triumphed after 2 tough days in the forest. Congratulations also to silver medallists Charlotte Chapman (W10), Conrad Reuber (M12), Euan Tryner (M14), Jenny Peel (W50), Charlie Adams (M50) and Peter Gorvett (M70) and bronze medallists Anna Todd (W10), Oscar Peel (M10), Pippa Dakin (W20), Andy Preston (M40) and Amanda Crawshaw (W45). There were also good runs on the short classes for Mark C (1st M50S), Louise P (2nd W40S) and Wendy (1st W55S).

Monday saw a return to Beaudesert for the relays. The day dawned with the shock of snow which was particularly challenging for those travelling form Sheffield - well done to those that made it. The snow made the parking field unusable so there were long queues and on arrival at the arena competitors were faced with a quagmire! This didn't faze members of SYO though....

In the Mini Relay Robbie, James and Freya won by a very impressive 6 minutes, whilst Ella, Oscar and Charlotte grabbed 3rd spot just 2 seconds ahead of 4th despite Charlotte falling in the mud on the run in but a quick return to 2 feet kept her in front. In the Junior Relay Sam C, Conrad and Euan had an equally impressive win by over 6 minutes. It was also really great to see our M18s finish 2nd in Men's Short relay - Ryan, Seb and Dom ran incredibly well against experienced adults. It was close in the Senior Women's relay with Amanda, Jenny J and Jenny P holding off SN by 30 seconds. In the Senior Men's relay Nick B, Andy P and Oli ran impressively to win over long term rivals FVO.

A special mention must go to our members competing at their first JK. There were some very impressive performances in tough conditions. Let's hope the weather gods smile kindly on us at the remainder of this year's major competitions. The next big race is the Northern Champs on 22nd April - entries close on 8th. 

Sunday 11th March was Compass Sport Cup competition time with qualifying heats held up and down the country. This year it was SYO's turn to host the heat for this part of the country. Surprisngly only 2 other clubs, in the cup competition for large clubs, chose to attend our heat but there were 6 clubs competing in the trophy competition for smaller clubs.

Organiser Paul Bradbury found a fabulous new hardstanding car park and assembly area close to the start and finish. He also managed to organise the first warm and sunny day in months which encouraged people to hang around and sample the delights of the SYO Junior refreshment stand.

Canklow is a small but interesting area comprising of a sloped deciduous woodland and a narrow strip of complex quarry workings. Colin Lynch planned interesting courses that criss crossed the area resulting in some fast and furious racing. 

SYO fielded a large team with 87 competing in the competition courses. It was fabulous to see so many club members doing their bit including lots of newer members taking part in their first CSC competition. SYO won by 20 points over DVO sealing a place in the final on Cannock Chase on 21st October. DVO also qualify as we finished in the top 3 at the final last year so a good result for both clubs!

Congratulations to the 5 course winners - Jenny P, Al B, Freya T, Dom D and Kim B who scored 100 points each - and the other 20 scorers - Charlie A, Laura G, Andy P,  Mark C, Aislinn P, Janet A, Seb M,  Jamie L, Imogen P, Judy J, Paul B, Jenny J, Paul J, Jenny L, Matthew M, Paul T, Bill H, Pauline T, Henry M, James B, Naomi T, William G, Alex E and Nick L. Well done even if you didn't score as your contribution pushes down the scores of our competitors.

In the Trophy competition EPOC were the victors in a tight competition between the smaller clubs, also securing a place in the final.

Thank you to everyone who helped particularly Paul, Colin, Pete and Brian for fulfilling the major official roles. Thank you also to Jacky & Dom for co-ordinating the cake stall and raising £270 for the SYO juniors.

Meanwhile, across the Channel, 8 members of SYO were doing their bit for England competing in the Interland competition in the Netherlands.

The whole SYO contingent aquitted themselves brilliantly. Well done to course winners Nick B (M40) and Euan T (M14). There were also great results for Sam C (4th M14), Max M (5th M14), Ryan E (11th M20), Amanda (5th W40), Lucy W (7th W40), Martin (6th M50) and Sam F (ShUOC 8th M20). We missed them at the CSC heat - thankfully there will be no country call up clashes with the final!

Time Lapse Photo of torchlights on Merthyr Mawr BNC 2018 courtesy of Siobhan Locke

A number of dedicated SYO members travelled to compete in the British Night Champs on the extremely challenging sand dunes of Merthyr Mawr and were rewarded with a number of podium positions. Well done to British Night Champions Jenny Peel (W40), Amanda Crawshaw (W45), Dave Peel (M50) and Peter Gorvett (M70) - fab results on a very technically difficult area! Congratulations also to silver medallists Charlie Adams (M50) and Louise Adams (W20) and bronze medallist Nick Barrable (M21). Lesley Ward also had a great run winning W45S.

The Yorkshire Middle Distance Champs were held by EPOC on Sunday 28th January at Storthes Hall. The event also served as a memorial for Alastair Tinto who sadly passed away last August. Alastair made a huge contribution to orienteering throughout the region so this was a fitting way to remember him. EPOC had arranged a wonderful indoor assembly area incorporting a bar and restaurant. Alastair's wife presented the prizes and there were a wonderful selection of photos of Alastair on display.

SYO scooped over 30 podium positions, doing particularly in the junior classes. Well done to:

W10 - 1st Anna T
M10 - 1st Robbie L, 2nd Freddie G, 3rd Joseph G
W12 - 1st Freya T
M12 - 1st Conrad R, 3rd James B
W14 - 1st Alex C, 2nd Imogen P
M14 - 1st Euan T, 2nd Sam C, 3rd Jamie L
W16 - 1st Alex E, 2nd Isabelle H, 3rd Isobel R
M16 - 1st Sam D
M18 - 1st Dom D, 2nd Ryan E, 3rd Seb M
M40 - 1st Pete T
W45 - 2nd Amanda C
M45 - 3rd Tony U
W50 - 3rd Bronwen D
M50 - 1st Martin W, 3rd Karl M
W55 - 3rd Jacky D
M55 - 1st Nick L
W60 - 2nd Marcia B, 3rd Hilary B
M60 - 1st Paul B
M65 - 1st Bill H

Well done to all the SYO members who have been selected to run for England at the Interland Competition in the Netherlands.

M14 - Euan Tryner, Sam Crawshaw & Max Mobus (travelling reserve)
M18 - Ryan Elliot (travelling reserve)
M40 - Nick Barrable, Oli Johnson
M50 - Charlie Adams, Martin Ward (reserve)
W21 - Cat Taylor
W50 - Lucy Wiegand

The 2017 annual club champs were held in the glorious grounds of Whirlowbrook Hall on Saturday 2nd December. 57 adults and older juniors set off together on a 50 minute mass score event with the aim of collecting as many controls as possible in the time limit. This year there was a secret twist in that you could collect odd or even controls but could only switch once between them. Charlie Adams scored the most points on 220 with Dom Dakin close behind him on 210. First female was Jenny Johnson on 170 points.

However, once Peter Gorvett's fiendish handicapping system had been applied it was all change at the top with the overall victory going to Kris Groom. Max Mobus was first male junior, Isobel Reuber was 1st female junior, Louise Preston 1st senior woman, Peter Guillaume 1st vet man and Lynden Hartmann 1st vet woman.

Whilst the more experienced orienteers were enjoying the score course, the younger members had their own yellow course. Charlotte Chapman flew round the course in 11.36. Fastest male was James Bryant in 13.00.

Post race members adjurned to HSBC for a delicious Christmas Curry. Lunch was followed by the very brief AGM before it was time for the annual awards ceremony, which honoured our members' best achievements:

Best male performance at the CSC: Ian Cooper
Best female performance at the CSC: Isobel Reuber & Isabelle Hodgson
Best YBT performance: Henry MacDonald

Best Junior Relay Team: M14 Euan Tryner, Max Mobus, Sam Crawshaw
Best Senior Relay Team: M50 Tim Tett, Paul Bradbury, Martin Ward & Charlie Adams
Best Individual Junior Relay Performance: Jamie Lightfoot
Best individual Senior Relay Performance: Paul Bradbury
Best Male Junior Performances: Robbie Lightfoot
Best Female Junior Performances: Freya Tryner & Imogen Pieters
Best Overseas Performance: Cat Taylor
Best Senior Male Performances: Andy Preston
Best Senior Female Performances: Kim Baxter
Best Veteran Male Performances: Peter Gorvett
Best Veteran Female Performances: Lucy Wiegand
Most improved junior: James Bryant
Most improved senior: Julian Pieters

The final part of the day concentrated on thanking the club's volunteers for the hundreds of hours they dedicate to orienteering. All the major officials and coaches received a small prize and the club's mappers (Ian Cooper, Dom Dakin, Pete Tryner, Peter Gorvett and Charles Hird) were presented with a framed copy of their maps. Our main club coaches Colin Best, Jacky Dakin, Nick Lightfoot and Kim Baxter were thanked for their efforts and presented with a small award. Pete Tryner won 'official of the year' for organising the schools league events, planning the Park Hill urban and controlling Treeton and Lucy Wiegand was awarded the trophy for the 'outstanding contribution to orienteering for the excellent job she has done securing permissions for the past 7 years alongside organising, planning and controlling numerous events.

Thank you to Arun Sahni for planning an innovative and challenging score event that made fantastic use of Limb Valley, ably assisted by Clive Wilson and to Emily Pieters for organising so efficiently and finding such a great venue. 

On Sunday 19th December 50 children representing 10 Sheffield schools made the long journey to the Forest of Dean to compete in the British Schools Championships. Ranging in age from 8 to 16; they all performed exceptionally well bringing home 9 individual medals, 3 team trophies, 5 team medals, a whole school trophy and podium position.

The day started exceptionally early as we all clambered aboard the coach in the dark at 6.45am. There was a bit of a kerfuffle as we realised we had one more person for the coach than we had spaces for - many thanks to Toby for giving up his seat at the very last moment - but eventually we were on our way. The journey down was smooth and we arrived at 10.30am with plenty of time to apply face paint before the first start!

It was a lovely surprise to arrive in a well sheltered, sun drenched arena and certainly made the job of the team managers and parent supporters a pleasurable experience. 11.00 arrived and the first of the Sheffield competitors headed for the start.  Early results indicated that the times were very fast on the primary courses so it was an anxious wait with frequent watch checks for the arrival of our first finishers. The juniors were soon streaming in, mostly with huge smiles on their faces.

Within no time at all, all the Sheffield contingent were back and there was time to relax, play and eat packed lunches before the prize giving. Back of the envelope calculations from the individual results indicated the likelihood of a good medal haul so it was with good spirits that we decamped to the (ahead of schedule) prize giving!

The final results proved even better than expected with a vast array for podium positions. Well done to the individual medal winners: Ella (2nd Y5G), Beth & Sofia (3rd Y5G), Freya (1st Y6G), Imogen (1st Y7G), James (3rd Y6B), Jamie (2nd Y7B), Euan (1st Y8B), Max (1st Y9B) and Ryan (3rd Y12B). There were also a number of team podium positions:

1st Y5G - Hunters Bar - Ella, Sofia & Beth, Ellen & Megan
1st Y6G - Hunters Bar - Freya, Ruth and Lotte
2nd Y10G - High Storrs - Isobel, Alex & Hannah
2nd Y5B - Nether Green - Robbie, Sam & Oscar
3rd Y5B - Hunters Bar - Ben, Toby & Rhys
2nd Y6B - Hunters Bar - James, Mark & Oliver
3rd Y7B - High Storrs - Conrad, Jamie & Ben
1st Y8B - High Storrs - Euan, Dylan & Olmo

Hunters Bar took the overall primary school trophy and Birkdale were awarded a bronze medal in the small secondary category.

Many thanks to Jacky for dealing with the trails and tribulations of the overbooked coach, Nick for the coaching tips and all the parents that acted as team managers, supporters and chauffeurs. 

Next year the British Schools Schools Champs is on Sunday 18^th November at Haigh Hall, Wigan. On Saturday 17^th November the World Schools Selection Race will be held at Tockholes near Blackburn. This is for juniors born between 2001 and 2005. Those that are selected will travel to Estonia to compete in the World Schools Champs in Estonia in May 2019!

Forty eight members made the very long journey to Virtuous Lady in Devon for the final of this year’s Compass Sport Cup final and were rewarded with an excellent 3^rd place.

Due to the epic distance involved SYO subsidised the cost of the coach. Most of the team took advantage of this and signed up to “Jacky’s Coach Tours”. The initial plan was to get some training in on the way down on the Saturday at an event in the Quantocks but unfortunately the fast approaching Storm Brian led to its cancellation at the last minute. Every cloud has a silver lining though and this meant a departure time 3 hours later at a very reasonable 10am. Following a leisurely drive down we eventually arrived at the youth hostel in Okehampton in the late afternoon and despite the torrential rain and gale force winds a few hardy souls went for a run / walk on Dartmoor before it got dark.  A delicious 3 course meal (leek & stilton soup, roast beef and sticky toffee pudding) was served at 7pm and everyone agreed that it was far superior to any other youth hostel meal ever sampled. Some of the childfree amongst the team then adjourned to the pub while the rest relaxed at the hostel.

The following morning saw the team up bright and early for an 8.30am departure. By 9.30am we were parked in our fab parking spot adjacent to the arena where we could smugly watch people traipsing across the moor from the main parking area – it’s not often the coaches get the superior parking arrangements! There was a certain reluctance from much of the team to leave the warm, cosy coach so we instructed the juniors to put the SYO tent up whilst the rest of us stayed put! However, it was eventually deemed necessary to move and we joined the juniors in the tent where face painting in team colours was in full swing (even the SYO chair was spotted sporting the SYO logo on his cheek!)

The assembly field offered a lovely vista over the area and the spectator control meant we could cheer on fellow team mates as they entered the final loop of their courses. The weather remained reasonably bright for most of the day and the courses were surprisingly tricky with plenty of headless chickens on view in the areas of gorse and plentiful paths. Like last year, SYO’s main competitors were BOK and FVO. Whilst we fielded a very similar sized team to FVO, BOK had almost double the amount of runners and as a result they swept away with the competition scoring 2363 points to take the cup, which they last won in 2013. SYO scored 2296 finishing in third behind FVO on 2324 but surprisingly this was actually closer than the result last year when we were on home turf. This is very encouraging for the future as we were actually without a lot of our top runners and just shows how well the club is developing in strength and depth.

Congratulations to everyone who competed. It really was a stirling team effort with those who didn’t score contributing by pushing down the scores of others. Well done in particular to those who did score: Nick B, Bill E, Martin, Peter G, Euan, Alex E, Lucy, Isobel R, Sam C, Colin S, Dom, Nic, Pete T, Ian, Freya, Pauline T, Ryan, Clive, Henry, Isabelle H, Amanda, Bill H, Paul B, Tony and Tim W. Fabulous to see the strength of our juniors and also great to see lots of people scoring for the first time at a compass sport cup competition.

The coach journey home was long but far more relaxing than driving and we passed the time by eating our prize winning chocolates. We were also treated to a surprisingly tuneful sing song by the juniors from the back of the bus!

Many thanks to Jacky for organising the coach and booking the hostel and Tim T for co-ordinating the entries. Next year we are hosting the heat at Canklow on 11^th March and the final is at Beaudesert in the West Midlands on 21^st October 2018. Please put the dates in your diaries; with the all our best runners out we really could lift the cup again!

The second event of the league at Meersbrook Park had another great attendance.  This was a new area - with a map of the park by Dom Dakin and the park linked up to the woods and urban area around Gleadless.  Thanks to the Möbus family for planning and all of our helpers who managed to cope with the record numbers.

We have also added a further team competitiong to the league - a year group competition.  Up to Y7 it is split girls and boys per year group and combined Y8 & 9 and Y10 & 11. 3 people to count for the team with the best 5 results from the 9 races in the year to count for the league.