As I write this, the Olympics are almost finished. Our spring season has passed and has been reasonably good, although there are still a few more vacancies for more orienteers. Meet quality appears to generally meet the accepted standards. The twin short O format held at the Saas Peepre seemed popular.
It was really cold at the Ottawa Inter Club meet in May. It snowed. We pulled quite a coup; the Fredericton Foxes walked off with the team trophy. This is the first time it was not won by a local club.
In news from our younger orienteers, five of our young athletes received financial assistance from the province, the maximum being $1750. Four of these orienteers, Cherie and Doug Mahoney and Wil and Mike Smith, have been competing in Europe this summer. They'll be back for the COCs.
The O Limp Picks start next week, otherwise known as the eleven days of the North American Orienteering Festival, including the Canadian Orienteering Championships. Think for a moment of the publicity Marianne Limpert got from winning a silver medal in swimming at the Olympics. Her face is plastered all over the newspapers, congratulations are on billboards, and the city of Fredericton is throwing her a party. On the other hand, there is a reasonably good chance that I will return with a gold. Oh, I guess the last word of the previous sentence should begin with the letter `c'. Nevertheless, what can I expect when I return. Nothing. Well maybe a speeding ticket, but that's all. I won't even get to meet Ron Williams and listen to him say I'm from Nova Scotia. And why... just because she is more talented and more capable. I think it's discrimination against the inept and the mediocre.
This fall I will be meet director for the first time at the ONB Championships. To prevent any complaints I have called in the army, well cadets actually. The cadets are integrating their orienteering program into ours. The ONB Championships will serve as their regional championships. They will be helping with the meet organization. Any complaints concerning the meet can be directed to the cadet looking for help with latrine duty.
Oops. Some full members have not been receiving Orienteering Canada, the newsletter of the Canadian Orienteering Federation. I think we have rectified this. For the record, a full member is one that joins either as a junior or senior full member or by a family membership. If you think you fit into one of these categories but still are not getting Orienteering Canada, let me know.
Happy Trails.