The entry form for our sprint sprint series is now available HERE

You can fill in one form if you know your likely attendance, or fill in one per race, but note that entries close one week before each race which means the first race at Gordon needs entered by bedtime on 17/4. Late entries may not get you an entry and also cause a lot of extra work so please pre-enter if you can.

Details and the entry form for our Bowmont Forest event are now available on the event page

The Red course at the Eildons seemed popular so we’ll have a Red at Bowmont too – a bit shorter and a lot less climb than the Eildons !

Full results and splits for the event are HERE

We’re pleased to report we have raised a grand total of £180.38 from the Eildons Event for Harris Trust Many thanks to everyone who came along to enjoy some orienteering, muddy trails + traybake ! Photo shows James handing over the cheque to Jane and Dave of The Harris Trust.

Report from James Purves, Planner/Organiser:

When it comes to choosing a central Borders venue for orienteering the Eildon Hills and surrounding trails and woodlands, as well as good transport options give it a head start.

As the planner and organiser for this local winter “Come and Try Orienteering” event I was keen to try and encourage people, young and older, who had never given it a go.

Linking up with the Harris Trust who do a lot of work to encourage young people to get involved in different activities, in memory of Harris Macdonell, who at a young age sadly took his own life in 2020, we decided to make the event a small fundraiser for them.

On the day the event ( Yellow course for beginners and slightly trickier Orange course as well as much harder Green course) attracted a great number of families with young children, many who hadn’t tried orienteering before. There was plenty of “mud, mud , glorious mud, nothing quite like it for cooling the blood” and also nothing quite like it for creating lots of washing for the parents when they got home but there were plenty of happy sounds from the young participants and shouts of glee when they saw the orange and white controls!

To make the most of the Eildon Hills area and to encourage some runners and walkers who hadn’t orienteered before I decided to also have a Red course approximately 4.5 miles (Orange level but more physically challenging) which attracted some entries from Gala Harriers and Lauderdale Limpers running clubs- the small number of them said they enjoyed the experience and will hopefully give it a go at another event as well as perhaps recruiting some other club members to give it a go too. For anyone thinking about taking part in Scottish Hill races or Fell races in the Lake District and elsewhere then navigating skills are essential and possibly life saving- practice at orienteering events can develop those skills.

Roxburgh Reivers is a small orienteering club but is a great club to be a part of. As planner and organiser I was well supported throughout by both Robin Sloan, helping with map planning and setting up on the day as well as Lindsey Knox who coordinates entries and a lot of other things which make these events possible.
Also many thanks on the day to willing helpers Judith Purves, Rob Cranston, Ian and Eileen Maxwell who collected the controls and helped with advice and support for the people new to orienteering.
We are also grateful to Andy the Country Ranger from Buccleuch Estates for assistance with help and permissions for the event.