Leinster 3day orienteering event 2016
Welcome to the Leinster 3-Day Orienteering competition (http://www.leinster3day2016.org/entry.html). This is the first time ever that an orienteering event of this nature has been staged in Ireland: where five clubs in one area will work together to provide three days of high quality orienteering in the Wicklow Mountains, located just south of Dublin, Ireland's capital city. It is a great honour for me to be part of this event.
Day 1 is organised by UCDO and DUO, two student clubs from University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin. Traditionally, there has always been a great rivalry between these two institutions, both academically and on the field of play. However, the orienteering clubs have always been on good terms, no more so then in the organisation of the Leinster 3-Day. The event takes place on Glendoo Ridge, which was first used for the relay event in the 2011 Irish Orienteering Championships.
Lough Firrib, organised by Setanta and GEN, is the venue for Day 2. Parking will be beside the upper lake of the Turlough Hill pumped storage facility, Ireland's only one. This area was first used for the 2014 Irish Orienteering Championships. However, attendance at this is no guarantee of advantage for the Leinster 3-Day: the mist was so thick that day that it was difficult to see the terrain.
Finally, Day 3 is organised by CNOC and takes place on Scarr mountain, in an area of open mountain with pockets of intricate woodland on its lower slopes. Day 3 will feature a reverse chasing start, with the slower orienteers starting early. Hopefully this will result in a dramatic finish, as the faster orienteers seek to overtake each other in the bid for first place.
The Wicklow Mountains' location close to the Greater Dublin Area, the most densely populated part of Ireland, make them a well-used area for recreational purposes. They are popular with hikers, runners and climbers, as well as orienteers. They are also popular with sightseers and tourists, and tour buses are no strangers to areas such as Glendalough, the Military Road and the Wicklow Gap. I would encourage all of our orienteers visiting from abroad to enjoy all that County Wicklow has to offer and to take the time to go sightseeing.
Each of the events is easily accessible from Dublin, Ireland's capital city. Laragh, the location of our event centre, is just over an hour's drive from Dublin Airport, Ireland's largest airport that is connected to several major European airports. For anyone travelling to the event by ferry, Dublin port, Ireland's biggest ferry port, is a similar distance from Laragh.
In conclusion, I hope to see you all at the event, as you enjoy the very best that the Wicklow Mountains have to offer, both on and off the orienteering course.
Keep an eye on the website and follow us on social media between now and June. More information will be available.
I look forward to seeing you at the event.
02nd Feb 16 by Terry Smith
Categorized under: News
