The Isle of Man Orienteering Klubb (IOMOK) held its annual Boxing Day orienteering event at Archallagan Forest.

More than 100 people of all ages showed up to take part in the family friendly event on a wet, misty morning.

Participants set off in different directions from a mass start, having one hour to find as many of the orienteering flags and pin punch their scorecard as they could in any order.

With many different options of route choices and control flags to visit at various locations throughout the forest, this event provided different levels of navigation challenge for people of varying abilities.

Some participants enjoyed the competitive navigation challenge with other participants or between family and friends while walking or running.

For some participants it was a chance to meet and get outdoors with friends or family and undertake an event which engaged everyone in the activity.

The IOMOK wanted to thank ’everyone who came along and braved the wet conditions to make another special orienteering event on the Isle of Man.

’Thanks also must go to DEFA and the different people who helped to organise the event, plan and set out the course, manage registration and results and collect flags at the end of the event’.

The winners were as follows:

Male:

1st Robin Gledhill

2nd Matthew Garratt

3rd Alan Macnair

Female:

1st Anne Cousins

2nd Chris O’Hanlon

Adult Group:

1st Hannah Scarlett Group

2nd Aoibhinn Tastagh Group

3rd Jan Gledhill Group

Family Group (Adults & Children under 16yrs):

1st James Mylchreest Family

2nd Martin Kasta Family

3rd Matt Callister Family

IOMOK treasurer, Tony Garratt, said: ’It was good to see some new people taking part in the Boxing Day orienteering event this year, with some participants indicating that they enjoyed the event and would like to do some more orienteering in the future.’

IOMOK development officer, William Higgins added: ’We have planned a variety of orienteering events throughout 2022 and I will also continue to undertake further development of permanent orienteering courses across the island.

’This will provide more opportunities for people of all ages and ability to undertake orienteering as a low-cost healthy recreational activity on the Isle of Man that can help to exercise the mind and body.’

Further details about future orienteering events, and information about orienteering on the Isle of Man can be found on the Isle of Man Orienteering Klubb website - ww.orienteering.iom - and facebook page - www.facebook.com/IoMOrienteering