The Armed Forces joined annual orienteering battle in the woods at Shining Cliff on 16 Nov 08 at a physically challenging regional event hosted by DVO.

As per their track record, the clear favourites the Army won the men's title by a margin of 458.54 to 524.09 (total time for first 6 placed runners), maintaining their firm grip on a trophy which they have held uninterrupted since 1981. For at least the third year in a row the first-placed competitor was Maj Rich Barrett.

The ladies competition was tighter with RAF and Army having 2 runners apiece in the fastest 4. This year the RAF ladies prised the Army's hold from the individual title which was won by Cpl Sadie Burrow RAF with a significant 12 minute margin over her nearest challenger. However the araldyte grasp meant that, as per SOP, the Inter Service Ladies Team trophy was retained by team Army (247.03 to 278.03 for 3 runners).

Unfortunately the Royal Navy/Royal Marines were not represented at this year's Inter Service Champs.

A full event report will be added over coming days.

Results: The Inter Service Mens and Ladies results are included in the Results section, as is the Roll of Honour of previous Inter Service victories. View M21L and W21L complete on DVO's site.

Splits: Full class splits for M21L and W21L are available on DVO's site. The Inter Services results plus the other Army matches have been uploaded to WinSplits and SplitsBrowser.

> Mens : WinSplits table, time behind leader and leg placement. Splitsbrowser for race, position and splits graphs.

> Ladies: WinSplits table, time behind leader and leg placement. Splitsbrowser for race, position and splits graphs.

RouteGadget: the event RouteGadget is n the DVO website.

Photographs: a small number of photos from the event and prize giving are in the gallery.

2008 RAF ORIENTEERING CHAMPIONSHIPS – WAKERLEY WOODS, 22 OCT 08

There were few surprises at this year's RAF Orienteering Championships.  The RAFO Champion brought the trophy with him and it promptly went back to RAF Marham.  In the ladies race the usual suspects raced it out again in their ongoing game of: I had the trophy last year, so you have it this year. The team for the Inter-Services was announced and all went home in time for tea and medals.  The End.

STOP!  Hang on a minute, it wasn't as simple as that?  What about racing on a Wednesday instead of a Sunday, what about the large turnout, what about the courses with the imaginative distance and what about the new RAF Men's Champion?

2008 RAFO AUTUMN JAMBOREE - 19 SEP 08 - REPORT

Thank you all for your support at the RAF Orienteering Autumn Event which was held at RAF Halton on 17 Sep 08.  The event was a great success and from the feedback that I have received, was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.  My grateful thanks to Gp Capt Gammage (who also took part) for allowing us to utilise his station for the event and to his many personnel who provided facilities and services, without which the event could not have taken place.  RAF Halton can only be described as an outstanding area for urban orienteering and this is borne out by the recent request by the Thames Valley Orienteering Club to potentially hold a Sprint event at Halton in the new year.  Watch this space!

Full Results : Overall - Harris Score - Relay

Summary results : below

CC AIR RAMSTEIN ORIENTEERING CHAMPS AT RAF HALTON - 24 APR 08 - REPORT

On 24 Apr 08 RAFO hosted the first CC Air Orienteering Championships at RAF Halton.  The CC Air Championships have been running for a significant number of years and it was encouraging that the first time that orienteering was chosen to be a sport for the championships that it was the RAF that was to host it.  In addition to it being the first time that orienteering had featured, it was also the first time that Estonia would attend the CC Air Championships and it was hoped that they would remember their first Championships with fondness.