Irish exploits at this years world champs in Trondheim are being noticed around the orienteering world. The International orienteering Federations magazine 'O-zine' has produced a feature focusing on Irish team member Niamh O'Boyle.
You can download a copy of the
O-zine here.
BY ERIK BORGThe Irish are comingNiamh O'Boyle has had more success than any other Irish woman at the World Orienteering Championships, and she is one of the most promising athletes from the green island.
The 26-year-old just missed out qualifying for the sprint final at the World Orienteering Championships in Trondheim, but then qualified well for the long distance and in the final came number 34.
“I orienteered well and didn't make any big mistakes. I couldn't ask for more in my first World Championships final and I was really happy when I finished. The day was even better because there were lots of Irish supporters in Trondheim, including my family. My brother Seamus also took part as a competitor at the World Championships in Trondheim. The atmosphere was brilliant”, she says.
Better and betterThere are 21 orienteering clubs in Ireland with about 1,100 members and 500 regular orienteers. There is also a good number of school children who take part in organised school orienteering events.
Among the seniors there are a lot of good orienteers who want to lift their level. Ivan Millar, Director of High Performance of the Irish Orienteering Association, says that the current success is mainly thanks to the hard work of dedicated coaches and parents of Irish juniors over the past ten years.
“There is now a core of young seniors emerging from the junior programme who are very talented and focused on doing well at the highest level”, Ivan says.
Positive approach“Lots of people have very positive attitudes”, says Niamh. “There is more competition to gain a place on the Irish team, especially in the men's, so everyone has to work harder. “A rising tide lifts all boats”.
We are supported by the Irish Orienteering Association to travel to World Cup races so the team is getting experience at a high level. The people on the Irish team also get on very well with each other and we have
lots of fun together”, she says.
For the last three years Niamh has been working on a PhD in the School of Pharmacy at Trinity College Dublin in the area of anti-cancer drugs. The university has also given her good support in her sporting pursuits.
Since mid November has she been living in Gothenburg, Sweden. She moved there from the little city of Newbridge, close to Dublin, “I moved to Sweden both to have better opportunities for orienteering and because I could undertake some interesting research at the university.”
All time best in women’s classOnly two Irish runners, both men, have fared better at the World Orienteering Championships than Niamh. Wally Young was 27th in the long distance in 1981 in Switzerland. Two years earlier Wally ran the first leg in the relay and handed over in 4th place. Aonghus O'Cleirigh finished in 28th position in the long distance in
1987 in France.
“The long term goal is to improve our team performance year on year. The World Championships 2013 looks like being an important goal in the careers of many of our current team members and we aim to have some impressive performances in Finland”, Ivan Millar says.
Aiming highNiamh will build on her performances from this year and try to achieve more consistency at international events.
“In particular my orienteering technique needs to be improved. I will improve my map-reading skills over the next year or two so that I can compete with the best in the world. And I will have to keep my physical and mental strength up too. I will be aiming for a top 20 finish at World Championships in the near future. I also
hope that I can make it to W35 without being beaten by my younger sister, Caoimhe. She is 13 now and really fast”, Niamh says.
