The 25th edition of the Scottish 6-Day event was held in Deeside in 2025 with over 2500 participants. Congratulations and thanks are due to the Coordinator, Richard Oxlade, and his team for delivering a very successful event despite the difficulties in obtaining suitable areas and finding volunteers for some of the major roles. The revised format introduced in 2023 with only 5 days being run was continued but with the best 3 days out of 5 to count, the reduction from 4 out of 5 having been made to allow main officials to have a better chance of being in contention for top places. In a change to the normal practice, the assistant coordinator role was filled by the appointment of Nic Crossley on a part-time basis. The financial outcome of the event is still to be determined at the time of writing.
As noted in the last annual report, the average age of officials has increased over the years and without support from younger members of the Scottish Orienteering Association it will become increasingly difficult to host 6-day events in the future. Given this, and the issue noted above regarding volunteers, the Board after discussion with the SOA, have decided to ask the each of the three SOA areas to form the central organising team at successive events with the East area taking on responsibility for the 2027 event. The event will be held in Perthshire based on Aberfeldy and will mark 50 years since the first 6-day event in 1977, a notable milestone despite some challenges along the way such as foot and mouth disease in 2001 and covid in 2021.
The Company continues to operate profitably and is a strong position financially with reserves in excess of its stated policy at the date of the last set of accounts. It contributes on an agreed basis to support the activities of the SOA and also distributes money to Scottish clubs after each event in recognition of the time spent by their members in organising and manning the events.
Following the successful outcome of the sprint World Orienteering Championships held in Edinburgh in July 2024, three Directors retired at the subsequent AGM in November 2024. I would like to thank Rachel Wilson, Robin Strain and Colin Eades for their work and support during their time as Directors, particularly during the difficult and intense period leading up to WOC 2024. Replacing them, Richard Oxlade and Keith Roberts joined the Board at the AGM and Jonathan Molloy has subsequently been appointed as a further Director. I am very grateful to all the Directors and co-opted members for their commitment and contribution to the continued success of the Company.
As this will be my last annual report before retiring as Chair, I would like to thank all those who have made my term of office an enjoyable and fulfilling experience, if somewhat stressful at times, and wish my successor every success going forward.
Dave Kershaw
Chair
September 2025