The Woodburn event on Sunday September 5th has
been cancelled due to an infection of p.ramorum in the Japanese larch trees.
This is the same fungal infection that causes sudden oak death in the USA and
it has been identified in three forests in south Antrim.
The Forest Service has placed Woodburn out of bounds for
orienteering. They have asked that anyone who goes walking in Woodburn Forest
strictly follows the instructions posted there ie to keep to the main paths and
remove any mud from footwear before leaving. Preferably they would like people
not to go there at all.
Hopefully we shall be able to return there at some stage
though considerable map revision will be needed as the stands of Japanese larch
are being felled.
Bobby Smyth at the World Mountain Bike O Championships
NWOC orienteer Bobby
Smyth was Ireland's sole representative at the 2010 World MTBO championships in
Portugal this year.
You can now get a taste of what Bobby experienced at his first major MTBO
competition.