Well done to Day 1 organisers who had to cope with an incident closing the A96 between Elgin and Forres from 9am for the whole day.  All those who arrived late because of the traffic were accommodated even if it did mean a slightly later finish for the Day 1 Team.  All in all a great effort by all those volunteering today – thank you!

Thank you to competitor number 2192 who gave up his run to respond to the whistle blown by an injured competitor. This is the selfless action we hope any orienteer would take to help another orienteer in distress but to actually do it deserves our praise, recognition and sincere thanks.  Please remember that  the sound of a whistle is a distress code.

Following a protest regarding leg 5-6 on Course 21, it has been decided to void the leg as the fairest option to take. The protest concerned a path mapped as distinct whereas, on the ground it was quite indistinct and this combined with an extra path running parallel to the beach meant the protest was upheld.

It was noted by the download team that older dibbers appear to be taking longer to register controls and this resulted in a number of mis-punches.  Please remember that there are punching starts as  a few competitors who forgot to punch the start today.

The traders did a roaring trade and there were a few competitors taking advantage of Claire the Physio who is donating all the proceeds of her efforts (after expenses) to the Orienteering Foundation.

Well another great day today, even if the weather decided about lunchtime that we had seen a bit too much of the sunshine for now!  Fingers crossed that the weather forecast holds true and we are basking in sunshine tomorrow.

Thank you to Day 2 organisers and their team for their efforts in providing another great experience for all involved.  The World Ranking Event which ran alongside the normal 6 Day races went off without a hitch.  Some great courses in the lovely Darnaway beech forests after the technical dunes of Lossie Forest.

Thank you also to the Norwegian competitor who delayed their run to help an injured competitor near the white and green start.

The very talented Sammy Edwards recorded some drone footage of the arena yesterday and we think you’ll agree that it was a great spectacle!

Well another glorious day today – Moray was looking at it best as we enjoyed the pine forest and the intricate sand dunes of Roseisle – the sun came out in earnest so that we could all bask in the warmth whilst watching friends and family on the run in through the goalposts.

Thank you to Day 3 organisers and their team for another seamless event where even the sloping parking field, which had been causing some concern before the day, caused no issues and the buses for those in campervans ran like clockwork.

The Day 3 controllers wished it to be noted that competitors must wear full leg and torso cover unless the organiser specifically says that shorts may be worn in terms of BOF rule 10.1.

Please remember to bring cash where possible for the traders on Days 4 and 5 as the mobile reception for card readers has been sketchy and we do not want you all to be disappointed!

Yet more smiling faces abounded in the assembly/ car park today as everyone got to experience the delights of Culbin again.  Having the event in Culbin did however mean there were compromises to be made.

There were lots of complementary comments on the planning today, with lots of entrants getting their first taste of Culbin, and lots of admiring comments on the terrain.  A few more experienced orienteers were heard to say that they thought it to be one of the best orienteering locations in the UK.  The planning team did state that they were sorry to have to make people walk so far to the starts but hoped that the quality of the courses and terrain were suitable compensation! At least the walks were on pleasant forest paths and tracks with almost NO climb.

Getting everyone access to Culbin did however mean some compromises.  The decision to ask campervans to park in Forres Academy, get on a bus and walk to the assembly was not taken lightly and we are grateful to all of those who adhered to the request.  The field and track to the assembly is a bit cut up after a days rain and approximately 900 cars taking access but things are meant to dry up overnight and we have rubber mats to supplement the track mats.   Please adhere to the request to drive slowly and steadily across the trackmats and rubber matting to preserve the surface as much as possible.

For those travelling via car please use the road via Brodie and follow the signs erected by our volunteers, as advised on the website, rather than following your satnav which directs you to a small residential road in Kintessack as we do not want to have to help push anyone else stuck on the green track taken by those walking from the bus.

Following on from Day 4 of our event the times for the seeded starts on Day 5 in the elite events have been sent out.  Prize giving will take place as soon as possible to allow everyone to get home and we hope that most people will be able to stay and support.

Culbin provided the backdrop to Day 5 and the last day of Moray 2023.  We were treated to a middle race involving quite a lot of heather compared to Day 4 but the planners used the area to ensure that everyone experienced the best bits of the terrain.

After a dreich day yesterday the weather held out, for the most part, and meant that (despite some trepidation about getting everyone out of the car park if the rain continued) we did not have to call in the cavalry!

Following a protest regarding control 196 on courses 3,4 and 10, it has been decided to void the leg involving this control as the fairest option to take.  The protest concerned a misplaced control which affected several early runners on these courses.  Controllers checked that the overall results would not be affected for the top 6 runners and the protest was upheld.

Thank you to the Day Organisers and their volunteers for yet another successful day and a great way to finish Moray 2023.

Without the volunteers who stepped forward holding an event like this would not be possible. We are grateful to Elizabeth Furness for taking on the mantel of Event Coordinator for Moray 2023 and all those who assumed a role on the central organising team but without all the club volunteers taking the lead each day this event would not happen – the list of people who went above and beyond really almost includes everyone who helped .  Thank you to everyone who gave their time and an especially large thank you to all of those volunteers from outwith Scotland who helped make it happen.  You all made Moray 2023 a great event!

The event was not without its challenges and the organising team did not take the decision to ask those in campervans to use the buses to get to the event lightly.  Parking areas are increasingly becoming hard to source close to the forests which we all want to enjoy.  We think that we managed to take you to the best forests which Moray has to offer and hope you managed to explore Moray’s delights while you were here.

We will be emailing out a questionnaire shortly  and your feedback is important to us as we look to learn from this event to ensure that in this post covid world we put on an event which suits the needs of those attending and sustainable for the future.  Please take the time to complete the questionnaire or email me  nikki@scottish-orienteering.org