1st (NI) BN ACF ORIENTEERING – CONTINUED SUCCESS

The group had previously received numerous training packages over the three preceding years delivered by the incredibly enthusiastic Training Safety Advisor, WO2 Mac Philpott. This training had earned some successes in the past with the Junior Girls Teams having won their competition for the last 3 years! However this had never been converted to success in the Seniors category.  We were very close in 2013 but unfortunately suffered a number of critical disqualifications preventing the senior teams from taking the titles their performances and experience really deserved.  However lessons had been learned from previous years and there was a real determination not to repeat these lapses.

The teams assembled at multiple locations on Saturday morning and travelled to Larne for the morning crossing.  At that time a couple of cadets hadn’t turned up and adjustments had to be made.  Nevertheless the Battalion was still able to field really strong teams in the Senior Boys and Senior Girls teams with, for really the first time in a number of years, an inexperienced team of Junior Girls and most disappointingly, no team of Junior Boys.

After an uneventful, but long, journey we arrived at Wathgill Camp.  After a central briefing and team talk the youngsters were left to their own devices to prepare for the competition the next day.

Despite adverse weather predictions the day dawned calm and sunny but cool. Excellent conditions for orienteering.  Individuals were briefed, calmed and sent out to do their best.

Unsurprisingly, as the results came in we were firmly established towards the top of all the age categories and with the final results received, we had, at last, recognised a real goal – to have success at the Junior level translated into success at the senior level.  Not only had we won the Senior Girls but we’d also won the Senior Boys competition as well.  Cadet Sgt Rebekah Mahon of Lisneal College Detachment continued her individual performance success as runner-up in the Senior Girls Category (a previous winner of the Junior Girls category) and in addition Cadet LCpl Jessica Martin of Carrickfergus Grammar Detachment was also runner-up in the Junior Girls category.

1st (NI) Bn has developed into a real leading light in Cadet Orienteering, thanks in the main to the enthusiasm and effort of WO2 Mac Philpott, who is tireless in organising events and conducting orienteering skills training. The undoubted abilities of our cadets, however, should not be understated.  We would also like to recognise the support from all the parents and families of our cadets who unswervingly support them in the conduct of their training and competitions.

We look forward to 2015 and repeating these achievements or even bettering them.