Fixtures secretary Gerry Elliott explains the reasoning behind the committee's decision to hold regular Saturday events and introduces the programme for the new season.

Over the last few months the committee have been pondering how we can provide more opportunities for you to orienteer more frequently, closer to home. Consequently, this autumn, in addition to our normal programme of colour coded and badge events, we shall be launching a series of low-key events, on Saturdays, at the rate of one a month. At the moment the intended schedule is :

We would have liked to arrange all the events for the first Saturday of the month, but as you can see this wasn't possible in the first couple of instances, then, however, we do get on track with the idea of "1st Saturday."

The format for the events will be long (50 minutes) and short (30 minutes) score courses. We also hope that there will be an additional training exercise available at each event.

These events will be deliberately kept low key. The intention is that the organiser and planner for each is the same person and they should be able to run the event with, probably, only 3 or 4 helpers. Apart from providing lots more orienteering, the events will be a great opportunity for novice planners and organisers to cut their teeth - so much so that our Development Officer, Pauline Goddard will acting as the series coordinator and there will be lots of experienced club and committee members willing to give advice if you want to have a go.

We do hope that many of you will take these opportunities to increase the frequency of your orienteering and, in particular, that we will have lots novice organiser/planners champing at the bit to give it go. Give me a call or send me an E-mail if you're interested (contact details on page 2).