Irish Orienteering Championships 2011

This year Ajax hosted the Irish Orienteering Championships in Wicklow. This was the largest (open to correction) Irish Championships ever due to the extra numbers that stayed on after the JK last weekend.

The weekend opened with a Middle Distance race on Glendoo Ridge. The ridge line is covered in peat hags that formed the basis for the navigating. Kevin O'Boyle (M20), Caoimhe O'Boyle (W14) were our too most successful runners on the day, both claiming Irish titles. There were a number of close misses with Conor Short (M20), Deirdre Ryan (W18) and Billy O'Neil (M65) all coming in in second position. Regina Kelly (W21) came home in third. Full results from CNOC's 26 runners is here.

Day 2 of the championships brought CNOC to the well known slopes of Brockagh mountain. The slopes provided faster running than the previous day but runners had to be wary of the contour and rock detail. Many a runner was caught astray. CNOC came home with 3 Irish titles. Senan O'Boyle (M55L), daughter Caoimhe O'Boyle (W14) (again!) and Deirdre Ryan set the record straight by claiming her first national title in W18. The rest of CNOC's podium toppers were Conor Short (2nd M20), Eileen Loughman (3rd W21S), Billy O'Neil (3rd M60), Bridget Lawlor (W40). Laoise Ryan (W10) and Siobhan Delaney (W14) just missed out on the podium in 4th place. Full results can be found here.

There is loads of information about the event, with photos, routegadgets and results all on the IOC website.

Tony's photo's from the event can be found here

To keep ye amused, here is a link to my QuickRoute from the Long Distance on Sunday.

If people have photos or race reports send them on.