#JKMemories : JK ’87 in Scarborough

By Clive Allen, Former Chairman of British Orienteering Federation

JK ’87 was based in Scarborough, sponsored by the Paper Sacks Information Bureau, the fourth year of their sponsorship.

There were over 4,000 competitors – a record in the UK at that time. Over 400 were from overseas, with Norway, Sweden and Switzerland having the biggest numbers.

Event Centre: the Spa Conference Centre on the South Bay seafront. All event facilities there, plus a huge cafeteria, three bars, entertainment, Prize-giving (in hall seating 2,000) and Grand Social (free).

The Individual Race Day 1 was in Newtondale, with the North York Moors Railway (steam) splitting the area. Three special scaffolding bridges were constructed over the railway to allow for use of the whole area.

Day 2 took us to Barns Cliff and Lownorth Park, two very contrasting areas, split by a river – the first steep and rugged with intricate contours, the latter runnable deciduous woodland and open land. The river was crossable on various bridges, or at designated points (not shown on the maps! – only on the river banks with orange tapes) with ropes to hold on to for safety.

The Relay was at Cawthorne Banks, with the assembly area beside a Roman camp. Steve Whitehead contributed a detailed historical note in the event programme, complete with a site plan.

In the days when everything had to be posted, and postage was cheap: the Event programme ran to 40 sides of A5, plus another 44 A5 sides of start lists, a 4-page A4 Late Information insert and a card cover. It weighed 121 gms! Number bibs, safety pins and control cards were picked up at Registration on arrival.

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Memories of the JK Online
Have you got any old photos, maps, stories, snippets to share? Over the JK week, British Orienteering will publish as many as possible so we can share our experiences and understand more about this fantastic event together. Email to: info@britishorienteering.org.uk

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