Sports festival set to give Moray economy a £3.5 million boost
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The sport of orienteering will attract thousands of visitors to Moray this summer, bringing a huge boost to the local economy.
In less than a month's time, Moray plays host to the Scottish 6 Days Orienteering event, with entries from 22 different nations and an average of 2,500 competitors on each day of the tournament.
Orienteers aged from 10 to 85 will take part in races held at popular Moray woodlands in Lossie Forest, Darnaway, Roseisle and Culbin between July 30 and August 5.
And forecasts predict that the event will bring almost £3.5 million to the Moray economy.
Event co-ordinator Elizabeth Furness said Moray's terrain is a perfect lure to attract orienteering enthusiasts from all over the world.
“Moray is a particularly attractive venue for this event with its vast forested sand dunes and mixed woodland estates regarded as some of the most technical orienteering terrain in the UK," she said.
"This year we have an average of 2,500 competitors entered each day with competitors from 22 different nations - covering all age groups, from 10 to 85.
"We have also incorporated a demonstration event for the physically challenged (Trail-O), demonstrating that orienteering is a 'sport for all'.”
She added that the competition is planned to provide the highest quality orienteering in a relaxed holiday atmosphere, with a full social programme in place.
"In most cases, competitors are accompanied by family and friends who regard this as an annual holiday and will extend their stays to visit local attractions and enjoy the scenery.
"Typically, competitors will arrive by differing means of transport – whether car, minibus, mobile home or campervan (typically 80%) – and even train and bicycle. Their accommodation needs encompass hotels, self-catering (typically 65%) and caravan/camping parks – with stays averaging seven nights.
"In addition, they will look to visit local attractions, shop and eat locally, and enjoy other activities such as golf.
"And not only competitors - 100 volunteers are required each day and this year they are coming from not only Scottish clubs, but also south of the border and even some from New Zealand.”
“I am sure that Moray will extend a very warm welcome to these visitors, with local businesses reaping the benefits – not just accommodation and catering establishments, but also all the businesses which are essential to the running of such a huge event, such as on-site caterers, suppliers of marquees and sound systems, not to mention a local ceilidh band.”
Mrs Furness said that the organising committee wanted to thank local residents in advance for their patience and understanding if some locations become very busy with heavy traffic.
She said the team was also grateful to their event partners – land permissions from Forestry and Land Scotland, Forres Community Woodland Trust, Innes Estate, Moray Estates, Altyre Estate and Dawn and Davie Nicholson – and sponsorship partners, Maclean’s Highland Bakery, Strathdee Properties Ltd, Visit Moray Speyside and Moray Council.
The Scottish 6 Days Orienteering event is a biennial event, first held in 1977, and taking place in a different area of Scotland each time. It is the largest orienteering event in the UK, attracting international competitors.
The event is overseen by the Scottish Orienteering 6-Day Event Company (based in Aviemore) and organised by all of Scotland’s orienteering clubs, who co-ordinate central organisation as well as individual race days.
The schedule for Moray 2023 is:
30th July: Lossie Forest
31st July: Darnaway
1st August: Roseisle (Burghead)
2nd August: Roseisle Main Car Park (for Trail O event) and Grant Park, Forres (for Sprint event)
3rd and 4th August: Culbin (Welhill area and Snab of Moy).
