British Orienteering is pleased to announce the Senior GB Squad for 2021.
The squad remains at 24 athletes, 14 men and 10 women, with two first year seniors for 2021 joining the squad for the first time, and two experienced athletes announcing their retirement from the squad.
Many congratulations to Grace Molloy and Alastair Thomas, whose strong performances through their junior career are recognised by an immediate step up from the Talent Squad to the Senior Squad. Both Grace and Alastair have already shown with their performances that they are ready to challenge the existing senior athletes for a place in the team for 2021 international competitions, and we are delighted to welcome them to the squad.
The two athletes retiring from the squad are Jess Halliday and Matt Speake, and we would like to thank both for their valued contributions to the GB team, and congratulate them on their international careers.
Both Jess and Matt have represented GB at world level with distinction, taking part in many World Cup races and making multiple appearances at the World Championships. Jess made her debut at the World Championships on home ground in 2015, and has an impressive three top 20 placings at the World Championships (WOC) to her name, with a best of 15th in the Middle Distance in Estonia in 2017. Meanwhile Matt has made the Great Britain WOC team no fewer than eight times, with a debut as a first year senior in 2004 and a final appearance in Norway (where he now lives) in 2019. That fifteen year span from 2004 to 2019 is testament to how long Matt has maintained his standard to compete the highest level, and he is one of very few athletes to have represented Great Britain at all of the sprint, middle, long and relay disciplines over a WOC career.
Both Jess and Matt intend to keep racing on the domestic scene and in the big club relays, and we wish them well for the future.
The members of the new 2021 Senior Squad are looking forward to next season’s calendar of international races, particularly after the cancellation of the entire international season in 2020. We very much hope that for 2021 we will see a successful return for the major competitions, and a chance for our athletes to show what they can do!
The 2021 World Championships in Czech Republic, originally scheduled to be Forest only, has now had Sprint and Mixed Sprint Relay added to the programme (given the cancellation of the Sprint only WOC in the 2020). This takes place in July and is preceded by the Sprint European Championships being held in Switzerland in May. These two Championships are the key targets for the GB team in 2021.
Later in the year there are World Cup rounds in Sweden and then in Italy, with the programme of races at these competitions predominantly forest disciplines. Additionally there is a Euromeeting competition planned for Switzerland in September 2021, offering opportunities for training and racing ahead of the forest WOC being staged there in 2023.
Senior GB Squad
More details on the full squad are available here and you can read more about the GB talent and performance programmes here.
Latest News
Job Opportunity: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) - British Orienteering
Now available: A draft copy of the Rules of Orienteering effective 1/01/2025
