The TVOC Junior Squad has successfully qualified for the National Final of the inter-club Yvette Baker Trophy (YBT) for juniors for the sixth year in a row, as a result of competing in a regional heat at Castle Hill Country Park, on the northern outskirts of Leicester, last Sunday (26th April). The YBT is the premier inter-club competition for junior teams from orienteering clubs in England and Wales.
Thirteen TVOC juniors (and their families) made the journey north to Leicester on Sunday to compete on the Yellow, Orange, Light Green and Green courses for the YBT qualifying heat. For six of our juniors this was the first time competing for the Junior Squad. They all did really well, with everyone successfully finishing; and no mis-punches.
For context, and bearing in mind that the YBT qualifying heat was also an East Midlands Orienteering League Event, TVOC had more juniors competing in the whole event than all of the East Midlands clubs put together!!! Our juniors and parents showed great determination and massive commitment, with some families travelling almost 100 miles to get there; so a huge thank you to everyone who went.
The YBT Final will be hosted by Swansea Bay Orienteering Club (SBOC) at Penllergaer Valley Woods, on the northern outskirts of Swansea, South Wales, on Saturday 4th July. This will be a great opportunity for all juniors in the club who can undertake at least a Yellow course on their own to have a go and represent TVOC.
So TVOC juniors (and parents!) – please put Saturday 4th July in your diary, because we are going to need as many of you as possible to compete in the Final. Event details will be available in late-May, but it’s likely that the YBT competition will happen from 11.00am onwards, with prize giving at about 3.30pm (but there will also be non-YBT courses available for parents/siblings in the late-morning). If you know that you will definitely be available on 4th July (or indeed if you won’t), please let us know.
Big thanks go to all juniors (and their parents) for your support; and thanks to everyone who competed in the qualifying round – you’ve made this possible. And thanks also to TVOC for the support the club has given the Junior Squad.