Schools Celebrate Finding their Way

Orienteering Competitor

Three schools from Castle Morpeth are celebrating after winning separate awards in an orienteering competition, which was supported by Northumberland Sport as part of their Get Active Northumberland campaign.

Castle Morpeth Borough Council’s Active Outdoors Project has been working with children from 11 first schools and six middle schools in the Borough for the past four months, teaching orienteering skills in partnership with Northumbrian Schools Orienteering Association and the Morpeth and Ponteland Schools Sport Partnership.

Around 1000 young people have been offered three hours of orienteering during the programme, with CollingwoodSchool in Morpeth taking part for the first time.

Theory and practical heats all took place between March and June, and a total of 350 pupils from 16 schools across the Borough took part in the grand final on 4 July 2008 at Wallington Hall.

Collingwood School received a Sportability award, whilst StobghillgateFirstSchool were the overall first school winners, and ChantryMiddle School were crowned the overall middle school winners.

The orienteering programme is now in its fourth year and this year featured the added bonus of a theory session on how to read a map, rather than the usual format of putting students straight into heats within each school.

With Castle Morpeth hosting the British Schools Orienteering Championships in November 2009, events such as this are vital in order to teach youngsters the skills they need and to ensure the Borough has as many young people as possible to compete.

Doug Lowery, Executive Director of Northumberland Sport, said: “Orienteering is a relatively inexpensive and easy way to get active and really encourages people to get out and enjoy the great outdoors and fabulous countryside that we are lucky to have here. It can be enjoyed by all ages, and at all levels, but it is particularly popular with families as it is a sport that everyone can take part in together.

“The sport is growing in popularity nationally, and on a local level Castle Morpeth Borough Council and its partners have been doing some excellent work to raise the profile of orienteering and make it more accessible to the public. Northumberland Sport is pleased to be supporting them in this work.”

Louise Horsley, Castle Morpeth Borough Council’s Active Outdoors Project Coordinator, said: “This year’s programme has been a great success, with children across Castle Morpeth eager to get involved, learn new skills and get active, which is the main purpose.

“We are delighted with the enthusiasm shown by the students and the Borough is geared up to host a great national championship next year.”