Borje Leijon visit

[Derek A]

Sorry for using the forum but I wanted to inform as many people as possible.

Do any orienteers who went on a junior training camp to Sweden in the 1980's and early 90's, remember sleeping in the nuclear shelter in Gotene, halfway from the Gothenburg ferry to Ludvika?

Did you go as a junior to the Sparasater training camp?

Borje Leijon, who made the arrangements for those trips and at whose house in Gotene hundreds of juniors ate lots of cakes over many years, is across for the British Orienteering Championships this weekend and he would like to renew old acquaintances. He is an honorary life member of British Orienteering; maybe the only one who has not won a medal?

Lejla died last year so he is on his own on this trip, do look him up in the assembly area this weekend.

Derek Allison

[Ravinous]

Derek Allison wrote "He is an honorary life member of British Orienteering; maybe the only one who has not won a medal?"

There are several more Hon BOF Life Members still alive who have never won a medal for GB in a World Champs.
Lars Lystad, Gilbert Åkerlind, Hilda Gregson, Chris Bonnington, Jon Disley, Earl Of Moray and Tim Pugh.
(A couple have passed away but I think all of these are still alive).

There are also 4 GB WOC medallists who have not become Hon BOF Life Members however- which seems to contradict BOF policy. Dave Gittus for Trail O and the forgotten 3. Bronze medallists from the 1981 Ski-O WOC.
I hope if Emily Benham wins a WOC MTBO medal in future that she isnt counting on the honour as it would appear it is only Foot-O which matters.

Pls correct me if I am wrong on any of the above - this is nopestrop so I am sure somebody will...

[DIDSCO]

With all respect to those that compete in MTB-O, TRAIL-O, SKI-O, CANOE-O, BIATHLON-O, ALC-O, your achievements are great but cannot be compared to those of our best orienteers (I don't agree with the term foot-o, so I'm not going to use it). These sports are novelty variations of the real thing.....bit like underwater rugby, crazy golf, bog-swimming, 100m sprint in high heels, and womens football

Borje Leijon is a really nice man, and his wife was a great host at their house in Götene. I still remember her getting up at 5am to cook a mountain of waffles for our breakfast before one junior-tiomila, then on the same day cook 4 whole chickens for our lunch....there was only 3 of us staying there!

[fish]

Having been fortunate enough to get to Sparaseter way back in 91(?) as one of 4 NW juniors, and also stayed in Gotene at the end of the trip. It's a shame not to have been able to say hello to Borje this weekend. Wonderful hosts, and the Sparasater trip was a real learning experience.

Hope many people were able to catch up, and that Borje is well (sorry to hear about Lejla)

Fish

[awk]

These sports are novelty variations of the real thing.....bit like underwater rugby, crazy golf, bog-swimming, 100m sprint in high heels, and womens football

Maybe said in jest, but unadulterated rubbish.

I'm sorry I didn't pick this thread up until getting home - it would have been great to see Borje again.