Junior Orienteering Awards 2026Club juniors are winners
Credit: Matt Tinsley
Congratulations to Calum who won Junior Orienteer of the year 2026, and well done to Tate who won the inaugural Junior IT volunteer award.
Five new awards for juniors were created by Scottish Orienteering following feedback from juniors at a previous inter area weekend. SOA have created these awards to recognise juniors’ volunteering achievements in five categories: Planner, Organiser, Coach, IT/Results/Timing, and Mapping, with points awarded for contributions over the past year, and five brand new wooden carved trophies available.
The inaugural SOA Junior Volunteer Awards for 2026 were announced at Vogrie Country Park following the Junior Inter-Areas relays on Halloween (so there were lots of great costumes around, including Judy Bell’s fabulous Tigger outfit!). Prizes were handed out by Sasha Chepelin, a British level orienteer who is currently a member of Interlopers
ESOC juniors were very well represented, with Tate Woodhouse receiving the IT/Results/Timing trophy. Tate is a regular helper with computing at ESOC events, and ran the IT for the Mary Erskine event, and for a Sprintelope, independently.
The following ESOC juniors were also nominated for awards, with each receiving a special orienteering kite:
Planning: Alexis Gow, Calum Robertson, Sam Mackenzie
Organising: Thea Kirk, Kirsten Tinsley, Ursula McColl
Coaching: Calum Robertson, Emma Daley
And there was a special mention for Ingrid Edenbrandt and Luke Durnall, who were also awarded kites in recognition of their help with the O-Zone.
Now is the time to start recording volunteering points for next year’s awards!
SOA Young Orienteer of the Year
Calum Robertson was awarded the prestigious Young Orienteer of the Year 2026, receiving the quaich trophy, in recognition of his incredible work over the past year over a whole range of volunteering activities, including planning, coaching, and completing his coaching foundation award, as well as being a fantastic role model for other juniors. Well done Calum!
An article can also be found on the SOA website.
Other entries categorised under: Juniors