Junior Squad:

Men: (In no particular order)

Bradley Lund

JP Sissing

Anthony Stott

Greg Avierinos

Women: (In no particular order)

Stephanie Courtnage

Jessica Hemer

Sarah Pope

Salome Van Hoepen

Youth Squad:

Boys: (In no particular order)

Roark Robinson

Timothy Chambers

David Avierinos

Dylan Barry

Miguel Robinson

Girls: (In no particular order)

Laura Troost

Cian Oldknow

Jesse Oldknow

Christie Courtnage

Sarah Dutkiewicz

Development Squad:

JP Sissing

All the athletes listed above will be expected to show steady improvement, commitment and fitness throughout the year. Included in this, the above athletes will be required to attend any squad trainings held in their respective Provinces as well as 3000m track fitness assessments on dates to be advised.  Final Team selection announcements will be made in March 2012.

The five orienteering races were put organised by the four Johannesburg-based clubs, with a large group of volunteers working together to ensure a successful outcome. Without the help of these volunteers, the Big 5 would not have been possible.

Judging by the comments and reports that we’ve received so far, both from local as well as international competitors, the Big 5 O-Week was an enjoyable and successful week of orienteering. There were a few wobbles, which we would like to apologise for. From the organisers perspective, I think we have achieved what we set out to do, but more importantly we have learned a great deal about organising orienteering competitions at this level. We have had a very steep learning curve, but I believe we’ll take all the lessons, good and bad, and be able to build a stronger, better Big 5 O-Week in two years time. For this reason, we welcome all comments, criticisms and encouragements from both competitors as well as our volunteers that can help us improve on the Big 5. Please contact us via email or other means with your suggestions.

Thanks must first be given to all our volunteers and their clubs: AR CLUB, ROC, RACO and WITSOC. Their dedication ensured that the Big 5 event succeeded. Special note must go to a small handful of persons who volunteered to help on all 5 days, choosing to assist with the organisation in place of competing themselves.

A big thank you must go to our event sponsor, First Ascent, South Africa’s leading outdoor apparel brand. The First Ascent – Big 5 branded t-shirts were extremely popular and well liked. Thank you must also go to our land owners, Komatiland Forests, the Dullstroom community, York Timber and the Lowveld National Botanical Gardens. Orienteering in South Africa is entirely dependent on their generosity and we thank them for their continued support of our sport. They manage some beautiful areas and we are truly privileged to access them.

Congratulations to all the participants in the Big 5. We had some tough competition, not just in the Elite categories, but in the age groups as well. Well done to the winners, but also well done to everyone who finished all five events. We trust that you thoroughly enjoyed the orienteering and the areas. If you were visiting South Africa, we hope you enjoyed your stay and leave the country with good impressions. Once again, please feel free to send us your comments to nmulder@infodoor.co.za

Thank you for your support and all the best with your orienteering…

The JOB Descriptioncan be downloaded here,l and is also available on the SAOF web site (www.orienteering.co.za) . The position is ideal for a person who is studying, working from home or is semi-retired. Preference will be given to members of a Club affiliated to the SAOF.

 Applications are to be sent to Garry Morrison, the President of the SAOF at president@orienteering.co.za . Applications close on the 31^st October 2011

The HP Manager’s role is to review (with input from the selection committee) the HP strategic plan and the selection policy, communicate with high performance athletes, manage the HP budget, oversee selection of squads and coaches/managers (in conjunction with the selection committee), and is responsible for organisation of training camps and entries to international events.

A small stipend will be offered.

Applications will be accepted until October 23rd, and should be addressed to Val Brentano: administration@orienteering.co.za

Montreal, September 27, 2011 – Following approval by the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Executive Committee on September 17, the 2012 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods is now available.

Noteworthy changes to the List, which will come into force on January 1, 2012, include:

Formoterol added as an exception to beta-2 agonists

One of the most significant changes is the removal of formoterol from Section 3 ‘Beta-2 Agonists’ of the List when taken by inhalation at therapeutic dosages.

Taking into account recent research results and requests by members of the sports community, inhaled formoterol at therapeutic doses is no longer prohibited.

The List prohibits the administration of all beta-2 agonists except salbutamol (maximum 1600 micrograms over 24 hours), salmeterol when taken by inhalation, and now formoterol (maximum 36 micrograms taken over 24 hours).

The issue of beta-2 agonists will continue to be a focus of WADA’s research activity in order to ensure that the administration of large doses or by systemic routes of these substances is prevented and prohibited, but that the appropriate care and treatment of asthmatic athletes is facilitated.

Alcohol and beta-blockers

At the request of the Federation Internationale des Quilleurs (FIQ), alcohol is no longer included on the List as a prohibited in-competition substance for ninepin and tenpin bowling.

After a review by WADA and following discussions with stakeholders, bobsleigh and skeleton, curling, modern pentathlon, motorcycling, sailing and wrestling have also been removed from the list of sports included in the List in which beta-blockers are prohibited.

Nicotine placed on monitoring program

In order to detect potential patterns of abuse, nicotine has been placed on WADA’s 2012 Monitoring Program.

It is NOT WADA’s intention to target smokers, rather to monitor the effects nicotine can have on performance when taken in oral tobacco products such as snus.

Nicotine is one of several stimulants added to the Monitoring Program, along with the narcotics hydrocone and tramadol. Out-of-competition use of glucocorticosteroids has also been included.

Under Article 4.5 of the World Anti-Doping Code, WADA is mandated to establish a monitoring program regarding substances that are not on the List, but which the Agency wishes to monitor in order to detect potential patterns of misuse.

Mobile-friendly formats

In an effort to provide stakeholders with tools to support anti-doping activities, and following the successful iPhone application introduced in 2011, the 2012 Prohibited List will again be available on iPhones, and for the first time on other mobile devices.

In addition to the English, French and Spanish versions of the List, it is also now possible to add additional languages. Stakeholders who wish to translate the List can do so by November 1, 2011 and send WADA the new version to be inserted into the mobile-friendly platforms at minimal cost.

For more information contact: info@wada-ama.org.

To consult the 2012 Prohibited List, the 2012 Monitoring Program, a summary of modifications on the 2012 List, and a Q&A on major changes, click here.

Limpopo educators are introduced to orienteering

As part of the SAOF Expansion Plan, which aims to teach educators around the country how to teach orienteering to learners, four facilitators from the South African Orienteering Federation (SAOF) headed to Polokwane on Saturday, 20 August 2011. This was the first Level 1 Orienteering Instructor Course held outside of Johannesburg and it was hosted by Capricorn High School. The course was attended by 14 educators from 11 schools, most from the Capricorn district.

The one-day course focused on introducing educators to the basic principles of orienteering; the use of symbols on a map to represent a school environment, map orientation techniques and basic navigation and route choice skills. Although orienteering is a component of the Life Orientation syllabus, the sport is barely acknowledged in South Africa.

The two geography and 12 Life Orientation educators got hands-on experience when they participated in indoor and outdoor activities. They will use these same exercises in their classrooms to teach and practise basic principles. The course pack given to each participant contains booklets with additional information, lesson plans and laminated material to allow the educators to start teaching their classes immediately. The course concluded with each participant receiving their Level 1 Orienteering Instructor certificate from the SAOF’s VP Development, Garry Morrison.

COME AND TRY IT EVENT

A ‘Come And Try It’ orienteering event, promoted within the schools, was presented on Sunday morning by the team. Although the turnout was very poor, there were some shining stars. Mary Makhobotlwane from Mphachue Secondary School brought three learners and her young son to the event. Two learners, Ephraim and Jill, took to orienteering instantly. After being guided through the short demonstration course, they were on their own on the two kilometre course run on school property and between buildings.

“Salome Bopape from Mmamarama Secondary was my success story for the weekend,“ says Lisa de Speville, SAOF’s Expansion Plan project manager. “Salome battled with the map orientation activities during the course. On the Sunday morning on the demo course she started to visualise the symbols on the map as features but was still struggling with orientation. This is a skill that some people take a little more time than others to get to right. We set her off on the course and I really just hoped for the best. Well, I couldn’t have been more delighted to see her return absolutely ecstatic and gushing with joy and a sense of accomplishment. She made a few errors on the first few checkpoints but then she really excelled and the puzzle pieces came together for her. She has definitely been bitten by the orienteering bug!”

The SAOF will return to Polokwane mid-week in October to present another ‘Come And Try It’ event. Having made direct contact with educators through this course the SAOF will be better able to encourage more learners to attend.

Thanks go to Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) and the National Lottery (NLDTF) for making this initiative possible.

A copy of the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events can be seen by clicking on the following link :

http://www.info.gov.za/view/DownloadFileAction?id=123752

A copy of the SAOF GUIDE TO EVENT LIABILITY can be found here.