The Rocket
| January, 2001 | Editor: Eoin Dunne | Newsletter No. 30 |
Please note:
The 25th 3ROC AGM & Social will be taking place on Friday, February 23rd, 2001 at Glenalbyn House, Stillorgan at 8.00pm sharp.
Once again another AGM draws near and this one marks a landmark of a quarter-century of orienteering by 3ROC. Please come along as there are a number of important issues to discuss including the draft of the new constitution (a copy of which is included with this Rocket) and also, some of the problems currently facing the club such as a drop-off in participation. Remember, it's not my club or their club, it's YOUR club so come along and have your say. Of course, it will also be a social occasion with a bar service available and you are invited to bring along some party food to add taste to the occasion.
Glenalbyn is located off the Lower Kilmacud Road, to the left of the overflow car-park and opposite the Stillorgan Shopping centre. Drive down a small lane for around 200m and you will see Glenalbyn House in front of you.
Train now - reap the benefits in competition
For anyone seriously thinking of competing at any of the upcoming Championship events, start training now if you're not already doing so. Training is taking place three nights a week so there's no excuse for not getting out and there's a healthy social scene to boot. Times and days are as follows:
Tuesdays and Thursdays: Merrion Cricket Club, Anglesea Road, Ballsbridge (just opposite the junction with Simmonscourt Road) from 6.30pm onwards. Running for all levels of fitness.
Wednesday: Sion Hill gym, Mount Merrion Avenue. If coming from Blackrock, look for an entrance and a high wall on the right just before the traffic lights at Cross Avenue. Circuit training for beginners and advanced starting at 7.00pm sharp
Pine Forest event to go ahead as Score event
The forthcoming 3ROC event in the Pine Forest on February 4th will now take place as a Score event instead of a League event as advertised. This decision was taken in light of the difficulties of gaining access to the car parks and the expansion of fight' forest thus limiting options for planners. David Brennan is organising and is asking for your help in putting on this event. David can be contacted at 836 1214 or by e-mail at dbrennan@adm.ie so if you haven't helped recently, please do so now.
2001 membership fees are now due
Membership subs for 2001 are now due. Please note the new rates for which you get an annual subscription to the TIO, regular copies of the Rocket, reduced entry fees at events, training, social events, etc, etc:
Senior - £10
Family - £15
Junior/student - £5
Please send in your subs to me at: Eoin Dunne,
36 Grangebrook Ave,
Whitechurch Road,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.
Make sure that cheques/postal orders are made payable to Three Rock Orienteering Club. Please do it today!
Orienteers left puzzled by 3ROC pub quiz
The 3ROC Christmas pub quiz proved to be something of a success with over 50 orienteers and friends attending. Many had gone to that evening's Night-O event in the Hellfire Club and indeed a sizeable Setanta contingent arrived after ensuring everyone was out of the woods. Apologies for the non-appearance of the promised tea/coffee but with a bar service available, nobody complained of feeling parched. Many thanks to Brendan Cryan who supplied the projector and for his ingenious use of a bed sheet to display the results. I just hope that nobody in the Cryan household was left shivering that night.
Low turnout denies 3ROC victory in Inter-Club Champs
A poor turnout by 3ROC members put paid to our chances in the recent Inter-Club Championships at Carrickgollogan on Sunday, 21st January. The event was comprehensively won by GEN for the third time in a row and for the first time, we were unable to field even four members in the A' category. Many thanks to all the members who did turn out and let us hope for a better attendance at future events. On a more trivial note, has anyone any idea on what a boxing ring (complete with ropes, stools and seating for spectators) was doing in the middle of the forest at the foot of that small hill at the bottom of the map?
Club shorts
A warm welcome to new club member (though hardly new to orienteering) Anna Marie Dowling. May your controls always be in front of you.
Una May makes a welcome comeback to orienteering after being laid-up through injury. For a long time, Una could do little more then put in an appearance at events, not an easy thing for the former British and Irish champion. However, she kept herself occupied by taking up rowing (the indoor type, without water) and in typical May fashion, beat everyone in sight.
Liam Convery is back after trekking in the Himalayas. Liam has promised a report for the Rocket so I'm looking forward to that. Ger Power was also away trekking in distant lands though in Ger's case it was Chiang Mai in Thailand.
Move over Charlie Dimmock! Lindie Naughton has written a book due to be published shortly on of all things! gardening!. How Lindie found the time with her journalism and coaching duties I shall never know. I suppose, in a way, the subject matter is not too surprising as Lindie is often to be heard talking about the vegetables found in upper sporting circles.
A Night-O first, Justin May is planning a Night-O event up in Three Rock Wood on Tuesday 23rd January. To the best of my knowledge, this will be the first time night orienteering has taken place there. However, those with a longer memory may wish to correct me on that.
Fancy a warm-up for the Leinster Champs? Michael Richardson passes on the news of a National Event taking place on Saturday, March 3rd at Newborough, Anglesey. This is only a 30-minute drive from Holyhead and is a World Ranking Event. Controller for the Elite courses is none other then Trina Cleary. For more information, visit the web site at http://www.deeside-orienteering-club.org.uk/
Many thanks to all the people who helped out at the Christmas Score event, particularly Trina Cleary who was left to plan and organise. Special thanks to the Converys who arrived en masse to get things going. As usual, the mulled wine proved popular with everyone. This was made possible by yours truly and Lindie Naughton sampling it regularly to ensure that the quality was maintained.
Have you any news for the Rocket? If so then please pass it on, I'd be most grateful. Thanks to all the people who sent me information for this issue. Splutters of indignation to those of you who didn't. See you at the AGM.
Eoin