GBR Programme
The overall aim of the Performance programme is to maximise GBR success at the World and European Orienteering Championships (WOC and EOC). Here, you will find more details about the programme's levels, our team of coaches and further aims of the programme.
GBR Programme Levels
Level 5 – World Class
These athletes are already achieving top international results at World and European Championships, and exemplify a performance lifestyle and attitude.
Level 5 - Performance
These are the athletes we expect to be achieving top international results in the next 1-3 years, and are targeting performance at upcoming World and European Championships. These athletes are committed to a performance lifestyle.
Level 4 – Development
These are athletes aged 19 and over who we expect to be achieving top international results in the next 3-10 years. These athletes show a desire to progress to Performance Squad level, and are preparing to compete at Junior World, World, and European Championships in the coming years.
Challengers Squad
These are our top domestic performers not in Level 4 or 5 squads, and other athletes demonstrating potential to be selected for future teams - including athletes not yet ready for the Development Squad.
Level 3 – Talent Squads
There are three Talent Squads within the programme: Talent Scotland, Talent North and Talent South. Athletes in our Talent Squads are 15-18 year old junior athletes.
Core aims of the Squad
Develop junior athletes with a programme of training, education and coaching which takes a holistic view of their development as athletes, orienteers and individuals. Encourage the athletes to take responsibility for their own plans to improve their orienteering. Squads act as a source of motivation and enjoyment for athletes.
Level 2 – Regional Junior Squads
Our Regional Junior Squads are made up of 13-18 year old junior athletes.
About the squads
Junior Regional Orienteering Squads (JROS) is the umbrella organisation for the 12 Regional Orienteering squads based on the British Orienteering regions. JROS was set up to further develop the junior orienteering talent which is nurtured by the Regional Squads. Their website is here.
Athletes compete in Junior Inter-Regional Championships and Junior Home Internationals.
Level 1 – Clubs
All ages
Core aims
Club coaches nurture athletes, encouraging and supporting them to progress in the development of their technical skills and physical abilities.
Aim of the British Orienteering Performance Programme
The overall aim of the Performance programme is to maximise GBR success at the World and European Orienteering Championships (WOC and EOC). WOC and EOC are our two “focus" competitions. The targets for these competitions are to win medals and achieve top-10 places.
The only other international competition with a performance target is the Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC), although this is secondary to WOC and EOC. The JWOC target, set out in our selection documents, is an aspiration; the real measure of our junior programme is how many athletes transition to the senior elite ranks.
For all other competitions, athletes are entered primarily for development and competition experience. There are no set performance targets.
The underpinning aims of the Performance programme, which contribute to our overall aim, are:
- Attitude:
- A professional programme of coaching, training and race preparation
- Athletes see themselves as ‘performance athletes’, committed to their improvement and working towards performance goals
- Progression:
- Junior athletes are prepared and supported to make the transition to senior competitions and squads
- Senior athletes continue to their build skills, fitness and experience to improve their competitive performance
- Welfare: Athletes, coaches, volunteers, British Orienteering, universities
- are engaged and enjoy their involvement with the programme
- feel valued and in control of their involvement and contributions
- understand what they need to do to get selected, and how the Performance Programme works
Support Team
- Graham Gristwood – Performance Pathway Manager
- Mark Nixon – Squad Development Lead
- Tbc – Performance Pathway Officer
- Emil Wingstedt – L5 forest coach
- Tbc - L5 sprint coach
- Andy Kitchin & tbc – Challengers squad coaches (volunteers)
- Talent Squad coaches (volunteers):
- Mark Saunders & Alice Bedwell (Talent South)
- Pete Tryner & Simon Hunter (Talent North)
Judy Bell & Roger Goddard (Talent Scotland)
- JROS team
- Many other fantastic volunteers