O on Today's Torch Relay

[ba-ba]

OK, OK, technically it's now yesterday's:

from the BBC torch relay page:

1757:Fiach O'Rourke, 23, has competed for Ireland and after moving to Wales he quickly took up a leading sports role in Bangor University, setting up an orienteering club and recruiting members and linking with the local clubs.
He has led his team to third place in the British Championship relays and captained the university badminton club until it became the largest club in the university.

not sure about the British Champs bit, but well deserved for a an organisational dynamo! I know Fiach was looking at qualifying for the Irish Olympic Badmington team whilst we were at JK2010, but haven't spoken to him since JK2011 in Ireland.

nice one Fiach Kinky Biatch!

Fiach's nomination story
"Fiach has been an inspiration to sport in Bangor, Wales and Ireland. He has a remarkable sporting profile before moving to Wales including competing for Ireland in sport but also organising and facilitating of sport for youth. After moving to Wales he quickly took up a leading sports role in Bangor Uni by setting up an orienteering club from scratch and recruiting members and linking with the local clubs but also increasing the sport participation in Wales. He then went on to lead his team to 3rd in the British Champs relays (a major accomplishment for a new team) He ran weekly coaching sessions for free for university students and local orienteers. At the same time Fiach captained the university badminton club which he grew to the largest club in the university. Leading the team to 2 league wins and promotions in 2 years. Also getting to the cup final 2 years in a row also (BUCS formerly BUSA). For his efforts he received university half colours for his work in first year for badminton. Blues in his second year for Orienteering (the top award) And University sportsman of the year. In his final year to sum it all up received Blues in Badminton (a double blues we think no one else has done). Also to add to that he pushed the badminton club to the club of the year while also setting up a squash club for some students who had no facilities available to them and ran that club in his final year while completing his degree. All Voluntarily. Major impact on Sport in Bangor"

[JK]

Well done to Fiach.

Presumably a key point for his nomination was "contribution to British Sport". I am sure he'll correct us, but when I spoke to him at JK'11 I think he said he did indeed expect to be selected for the Irish Olympic Badminton team.

A couple more questions then:

1. In what shape or form has Will.I.Am contributed to British Sport? Are the B-ePs perfoming in the opening ceremony for 2012?

2. How many other orienteers were involved in the relay? ISTR hearing Maurice Collett was involved, but not in Cumbria, was that right?

JK

[MIE]

Peter Heywood of Kerno (ex-Mole Valley) did a section in Saltash,
Cornwall on the 19th May. His youtube vidoe is here: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A ... FliGgGuXqQ .

[frostbite]

2. How many other orienteers were involved in the relay?

We've been through that one before, although no mention of Maurice, or Peter Heywood

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13028

[Clive Coles]

From a previous thread :

"Ian Wainwright, long time member of SYO, is carrying the torch on 26th June in Warmsworth. Also in the list is Angela Brand-Barker from Cumbria."

Then of course there is also Jon Williams from CLOK and Chris Bonington who was on top of Snowdon today.

There is at least one other orienteer in the list : not however nominated for any contribution to British Orienteering.

[fiachorourke]

He has led his team to third place in the British Championship relays.
not sure about the British Champs bit, but well deserved for a an organisational dynamo!

Correct we did not come 3rd in the British Relay Champs, we came 3rd in Ad Hoc at that event, however the person who nominated me did not seem to have much of a grasp of the different categories in orienteering relays.

[Red Adder]

Clive Coles is one of the other orienteers who have carried the torch (in Woodbridge). Clive, I think, was nominated for his voluntary work with the local Children's Hospice.

[Ant W]

Sheila Carey (OD) carried the torch in Warwick - orienteering is mentioned in her story but understandably there is more focus given to her participation in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics and her work with disabled athletes.

[pete.owens]

The "Real Torch Relay"
http://endurancelife.com/RealRelay/
looks just the sort of thing for orienteers:

Runners will be required to navigate their own way between the start and finish of their stage. There will be no support crew leading the way or following behind. This means that it is up to individual runners to decide their own route between the start and finish points of their stage. The only condition is that they must go via the communities visited by the official Olympic Torch relay.

[Jethro]

I know of at least 3 Orienteers who have been part of the Real Relay - Ross McClennan, Jon Cross & James Tullie - I am sure there will have been more.

[Jayne]

Tom Cochrane (SLOW) is doing a leg of the real relay next week. By the time it got down to us it was quite hard to sign up!

[andy]

By the time it got down to us it was quite hard to sign up!

was pretty hard to sign up for it in Edinburgh too, all the local legs were gone

[deebee]

Yes, Maurice Collett carried the torch in Aysgarth, many miles from home in Kendal.
http://www.emmsphotography.com/?p=3614 for a wonderful photograph of Maurice gazing into the distance.

[usuallylast]

John Roelich of BL carried the torch in Kendal

http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/torchbearers=john-roelich-1400/