The outdoors enthusiast who mapped the growth of orienteering across Moray is stepping down from his role at the helm of the pursuit’s local expansion.
Mike Rodgers became the Scottish Orienteering group’s regional development officer for Grampian four years ago, and transitioned into covering Moray exclusively in 2014.
He says that since then he has watched the activity explode in popularity, particularly among young children, and he credited a World Orienteering Championships event held across Moray and the Highlands last summer with boosting its credibility.
The contest attracted a combined 8,000 competitors and spectators to the region, and boosted the north’s economy by £7million.
Mr Rodgers said its success was helpful in convincing children to give orienteering a try.
He added: “When I first started I thought it would be a good idea to focus on schools, and I’ve definitely noticed children become much more keen over the last four years.
“It’s all about getting kids more active, and the championships removed any sense of embarrassment about the hobby.
“Children saw the crowds and TV cameras here, and that made it seem cool to them.”
Funding for Mr Rodgers’ post has now come to an end, and Scottish Orienteering is recruiting two employees to cover development posts encompassing the majority of Scotland.
Mr Rodgers said: “In a way I feel like my work here is done, as we have enough people interested in the sport to make it sustainable.”
But he looks forward to remaining a part of the local scene, and taking part in challenges organised by the volunteer-run Moravian Orienteering Club.
He has encouraged people to vote for last summer’s World Orienteering Championships, and the Scottish 6 Days Event which accompanied it, in the Scottish Events Awards at
surveys.thedrum.com/s3/Peoples-Choice-Vote
