AYROC

JK 2004

Assembly Area JK Day 2

Phil speeds in

Finally the last control Day 2

Apres Relay

Vicky in flight

Sporting duo Bill and Katharine Melville bring to a close their 30 year association with Ayrshire Orienteering when later this month they head up north to Perthshire. They leave in the knowledge that through Cunninghame Orienteering Club they have introduced the sport to countless people in Ayrshire. Both have been keen drivers of the sport holding various posts in administration, organising numerous events both locally and nationally over the intervening years.

Like many orienteers Bill came into the sport from athletics. In the seventies following the first ever staging of the World Championships in Great Britain (held in Morayshire), he took over the presidential role and guided the club through a formative five years. Fife born Bill is an internationally known Sports Journalist covering athletics and curling in addition to orienteering. Never afraid to be controversial, his in-depth knowledge and his familiarity with the sporting "stars" gives new perspectives and makes for informative reading.

Katharine took up orienteering around the same time going on to be secretary for a number of years. Her infectious enthusiasm for the sport coupled with her commitment to young people’s education led her to found the very successful Ayrshire Schools Championships which sees hundreds of primary and secondary schoolchildren train and compete every year. Launched in 1989 and first staged at Irvine Beach Park, it became an immediate success and continues to attract throngs every year.

The farewell dinner and presentation held recently in Loans was a fitting tribute to two giants who have contributed so much to Ayrshire sport