Fermanagh Orienteers Newsletter
Committee News
January came to a close with the AGM taking the stage for FERM O and members will note that the attendance at the event was rather low, admitted the roads were a bit icy and the meeting was a bit earlier than usual, but this was compensated by the extensive spread of food laid on by Marita and Jim and they deserve a big thank you for this. Earlier in the day came the news that Simon Reeve had unfortunately come to grief on the icy road just outside of Derrygonnenly, the car finishing up over the hedge, I understand that Simon is OK but was unable to attend the training or the AGM. Greg McCann who was organizing the training attended the meeting and informed members of the coaching program expected in the coming months. The committee remains the same for 2010. Our membership stands at 30 to date.
The club is to purchase new feather flags for display at the events to jazz up our image. This Saturday is the NI Night Champs at Castle Archdale, information on the homepage, Sunday is the final event in this years Frostbite series and it's been a bit more frostier than usual this year with the weather playing a big part in the running of the event.
Hallo Folks, Your newsletter is back in publication again and I suppose we had better start with the Frostbite series which is again very successful for a Sunday morning nine-o-clock start.
Numbers attending are very good and inclusion of other clubs is also a feature of this event. The ladies have already got the series sewn up and the next event will provide the men's winners. Membership is a bit static at the moment, and now that we have to show non members in the results don't be surprised when you are shown as a non member, it means that you have not yet renewed your membership or that your membership has not been recorded in club records.
Our ARDO will be getting busy soon with the development program so we hope to see it pay dividends in the overall membership numbers in the next few months.
Keep your eye on the event program, the night champs will be along soon the actual date is the 6th February this event is being run by FERM O. see you soon. 26/01/10
Ferm O Members win British Orienteering Service to Orienteering Award.
The award is for 20 years great service and it is presented jointly to Raymond and Teresa Finlay.
This is a new award and it is well earned by Raymond and Teresa.
Raymond and Teresa receiving their well earned award presented by Bill ( club Secretary ) at the local come and try it Event at Omagh Leisure Centre last Thursday night.
Membership,
It's always a pleasure to welcome returning members, and especially members who have been with the club from our early days, such a member is Alison Tottenham, it's great to have you back on our membership list Alison and hopefully we may see you sometime in the near future.
Club Training,
Poor turnout for training Sunday at Necarne, Raymond planned control and attack points for members, no new dates for training, need more support to make it viable. Leinster Champs coming soon, get your entries in, its only down the road at Rossmore. Dont forget the Irish Champs in Donegal, very local this year. Hope to see you all soon, somewhere. 16/03/09
Club Equipment.
No more excuses of not knowing how to turn on the boxes Folks, the new club SI has arrived, and they are Blue and very easy to use and carry, so the new events will be easier for all members to handle. 16/03/09
Parkanaur, Dungannon.
Hi Folks, went to Parkanaur on Saturday past, should have stayed at home, I was out a long,long time and it was my own bad orienteering that caused it, three Ferm o was there, so not a great turnout for us. results on LVO website.16/03/09.
Somerset Colour 1. Sat 8th.
Gone were the brambles and out came the sun, what a gay day and the orienteering was good. The attendance was also good, but only 6 Ferm O were there. There is a competition at Parkanaur Dungannon this Saturday, LVO Spring Cup, should be good and its not very far, will Ferm o turn out, we shall see. Me, I'll be there in my new O top, should be worth seeing, sorry, I've just stopped typing to listen to Portora Royal school Pipe and Drum band on the tele, they're fantastic, anyway back to Orienteering. There is club training scheduled for Sunday, must find out where it is and toddle along, summer is just around the corner folks and we have a lot of local competitions coming along, I've got some posters ready and I will get them out shortly. Well that about it for now, so cheerio, see you in the forest. 11/03/2009
NI Score, Night Champs and AGM.
Well its over for another year, and its noticeable that not many Ferm O travelled the long distance to the event, perhaps this and the late start and finish put our members off, not wanting to travel home after the late finish, but of course this is always the case I have found with the NI Night event, a more central venue might be the answer.
The results for those that attended were pretty good.
Score event: Simon Reeve, Mens Open: 6th place. Raymond Finlay, Mens Vet: 2nd place. Teresa Finlay, Ladies Vet:1st place.
Night Champs: Simon Reeve, Mens Open: 15th place. Raymond Finlay, Mens Vet: 3rd place. Teresa Finlay, Ladies Vet: 2nd place.
According to our members, the courses were well planned, but the night event came across rough areas of forest for the unwary.
The next event is at Somerset, Coleraine, I have traumatic visions of large brambly areas and rough terrain, but I understand this problem has been overcome, we hope
1/3/09Club training
Training took place on Sunday morning 10am at FlorenceCourt west end in very decent weather. The format for the training involved the use of pre-marked maps and a system called C.A.R. which stands for Control, Attack and Route.
Your course gave you three route choices and different attack points. The competitor made the decision which route and attack point to use, eventually trying all three, by timing each route you could evaluate the best for yourself eg. direct or using line features. the exercise was very worthwhile and very original.
We held the club meeting afterwards at Gortatole. 16/02/09
Club Training. 
Remember folks there is club training for everyone coming soon, the first is on the 15th February, the training will take place early and there will be a club meeting afterwards.
Night Events. 
The first two night events have taken place, the first at Gortatole on a wet and windy night, the events have been well supported in what is the most inclement weather. The Gortatole event was organized by Raymond and Teresa and although Gortatole is not a very large area the competition was great and fast times were recorded except for the extreme veterans like yours truly, who was determined to finish while at the same time struggling to keep up with the elements.
The Castle Archdale event wasn't quite as wet at first although it did snow hard during the event and later, it was also very cold. the competitors did well and good times were recorded, but I did make a mistake putting out the controls, there was one at a feature which was not even on the map, some competitors found it, but some were at the feature where it should have been, but it wasn't, however being the Controller, Planner, organizer, Judge and Jury I resolved the outcome and everybody got the finishing time they deserved, so good oh! next event at Florencecourt, see you there.
A.G.M. Briefs
The AGM is over for 2009 and the committee elected for another year, there being no offers of anyone wishing to take office the committee was re-elected en-bloc.
Chairman Jim Fallis
Secretary Membership Fixtures Bill Regan
Treasurer Nadine Grant
Coaching Mapping Development Raymond Finlay
Equipment Teresa Finlay
Next Events Local
Coming events for ferm o on the local scene is a series of night events and members should try these because the NI night champs are coming up and a little training will work wonders. Information on the series is on the home page. 19/01/09
FROSTBITE RESULTS
The final event of the frostbite series is over
On the TD4 course Joan Flanagan won in great style and took the winners place from Carrol O Dolan, many thanks to all involved, planners and organisers and of course the Competitors. 19/01/09
Frostbite News
The second event in the
On the TD4 course Carrol O Dolan is still at number one with Teresa in second place. I did not manage to get to the competition, my excuse..getting over the Flu, old age etc.etc. but I am keeping up to the news on the event. Well done to all you hardy orienteers, if I had my way you would all get a prize for your efforts. The next event is on the burren ( watch out for the stray sod ).
