BOF becomes English Again

[Mrs H]

There was also an initiative a couple of years back - possibly from BSOA - aimed at promising youngsters coming through the schools system - is that still running?

[jab]

My offspring is a current active highly ranked orienteer who is keen to apply to attend one of these days. Never been offered this testing before and would benefit from the analysis. As a XC inter-counties and English Schools 2010 and 2011 competitor should stand a chance but will being an orienteer exclude selection?

So who can attend these Talent Identification days? Current orienteering juniors who are trying/already broken through in their age classes (M/W 14/18) or non orienteers only?

The performance newsletter (http://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/i ... ssue_2.pdf)
says that "No prior experience in orienteering is required, although existing orienteers are welcome, as we are looking for raw sporting talent with the capacity to develop under the guidance of British Orienteering’s Performance Director and National Talent Manager".

[SJC]

No prior experience in orienteering is required, although existing orienteers are welcome.

One of the reasons for asking what the benefits are of getting selected onto this development programme. If those identified are to get nothing more than those already in the sport then there would seem to be little point in existing orienteers attending. However if they are to be given additional coaching, training camps, etc. then any orienteering junior who wants to improve should try to get selected.

Really needs a bit more detail from the powers that be.

[Ravinous]

It says, "...under the guidance of British Orienteering’s Performance Director and National Talent Manager."
Bit strange the Performance Director is involved greatly in a grassroots activity!?
To take a big guess and speculate, both Sarah H and Gareth are full time employed, assume they are being paid by UK Sport (and maybe Sport England) too. But from 1st April, their budget has halved from 250k to 125k. There must be pressure to cut down hours/days of their job as otherwise, you end up with salaries taking up all the budget and athletes having to pay for everything themselves.
So along comes this Sport England funded initiative which BOF can get money for which can help pay for salaries in order for them to carry on working full time. But of course they must run the initiative.
Good luck to them.
Seeing as I am highly sceptical as to whether we will get any/much new blood into the sport, I recommend existing O athletes muscle in and take advantage of what might be on offer. Existing Juniors seem to currently be getting less and less from BOF - fewer weekends and summer tours & places on them.