Scottish Orienteering 6-Days Event attracts thousands of competitors, friends and family to Forres area
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THOUSANDS of visitors poured into Forres for a popular bi-annual sports competition last week.
The woods at Darnaway, Roseisle, Grant Park and Culbin were settings for the Scottish Orienteering 6-Days Event, which this year welcomed 3000 competitors, their friends and families to Moray - Lossie Forest was also one of the courses.
Event organiser and Moravian Orienteers member, Elizabeth Furness, confirmed competitors of all ages and abilities came from as far away as Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
She said: “Moray 2023, Scottish 6 Days was a great success with a bumper number of entries including locals who came along to experience a major event.
“There was so much positive feedback including about the beauty of the area and the flower displays at Grant Park in particular.”
As well as elite athletes from around Europe, there were age classes from under-10 to over-85 years. A string course gave many very young children their first taste of orienteering. And there was mountain bike orienteering over three days.
Ms Furness said: “Darnaway hosted a world ranking event - the competitors appreciated being able to run in such an area.
“Roseisle was, for many people, their favourite day due to the variety of terrain and pockets of complexity in it.
“Culbin is generally agreed to be one of the most technically challenging areas in the UK and it did not disappoint, with excellent courses planned.
“And the urban sprint event in Forres was fast and furious, requiring careful map-reading and quick decision-making.”
Another fringe event was Trail O which provides an orienteering competition for people of all levels of physical ability, including those who are physically challenged and may be in a wheelchair.
Event car parking was on neighbouring land so as not to overwhelm Forestry and Land Scotland car parks, and event infrastructure within the forests was kept to a minimum.
Each day from Monday, July 31 to Friday, August 4 was set up as an individual event, with participants opting to enter any on the day and/or choose the course appropriate for them.
There were also a range of events and social activities: Timothy Finnegan of Kinloss Abbey Trust invited two group guided visits to the site; there was an evening of Scottish traditional music with local musicians, orienteers who had brought fiddles and a bagpiping woman from Canada; and a ceilidh at Forres Town Hall run by Findhorn Coastal Rowing Club with music from The Andy Thorburn Ceilidh Band.
Ms Furness was thrilled with the support from the wider community and reaction of the visitors to the area.
Ms Furness thanked everyone who helped and attended for their support, patience and enthusiasm.
She said: “We were supported in so many ways by local businesses and residents alike - everyone I talked to agreed that the Forres area is a very friendly place.
“It was all appreciated by the 3000 plus people who had a wonderful experience in-and-around our town.”
Local running and cycling veteran, Douglas Cowie, said orienteers took part in the Forres Harriers annual Califer Hill Challenge last Wednesday.
He said: “It was great to have a few orienteers and family members not only take part, but take away a prize or two!
“Whatever the occasion, Forres has a reputation for staging first class events and the Six Days was no exception - the town was buzzing all week!”
Local businessman, Maclean’s Highland Bakery managing director, Lewis Maclean, is also sure the event was “fantastic for the area”.
He said: “Forres needs events like this. We have a great central park that should be used more.
“Tourism benefits everyone - if 1000 people visit, not only are the hotels and shops busy but of those visitors, one might have car trouble, one might have toothache etc so other businesses get extra customers.
“Our two shops in Forres were very busy and it was so nice to see the High Street so busy too.”
The leader of Moray Council, Councillor Kathleen Robertson (Forres, Conservative), agreed that the Scottish Orienteering 6-Days Event helped put the area on the map.
She said: “We get to showcase our town and surrounding area as well as support our local businesses at a time when it is really appreciated.
“More importantly, it publicises a sport to a potential new audience who were perhaps unaware of the benefits of orienteering from a health and well-being perspective!”
Finally, Forres Community Council chairman, Steve Ferris, thought the Six Days was a fantastic opportunity for the area to showcase itself.
He finished: “Anything that raises the town’s national and international profile raises our tourism status.
“I haven’t heard any negative feedback about any disruption – the event was a huge success all round.”
