Ewan McCarthy's orienteering career gained a huge boost three years ago when he moved to Norway, was selected for the British team and finished a mightily impressive 16th in the sprint event on his debut in the world championships.

Unfortunately, a string of health problems saw his form dip - but now he is back home in Scotland and ready to stage a comeback. In fact, he is just itching to take part in the forthcoming British Championships in Forres.

"I have spent the last three years in Scandinavia where orienteering is a lot bigger," he said. "I was staying in Halden in Norway and the sport was in the newspapers all the time. In Scotland, a lot of people don't really know what orienteering entails.

"It was great when I was over there because I was able to train with friends who were top-class at the sport and I had a lot of success during my first year. But then illness took its toll. I had a bad chest infection and there were a few other factors. As a result, I'm not where I want to be in terms of my orienteering.

"But I'm now back studying for a Masters degree in sports studies at Stirling University and I want to steady myself and get involved again in the GB and the international scene. I definitely want to get back into the British squad."

After a few months living in Stirling, the 25-year-old who originally comes from Kingussie admits it is a "big change" to be living in Scotland again. "But the change of environment has definitely done me good," he continued. "There are a lot of new opportunities and it has given me some extra motivation."

A member of Badenoch And Strathspey orienteering club, he has extra reason to be looking forward to the British event in Forres.

"The Championships are being staged in Culbin Forrest and it's an area close to where I learned the sport and it is the sort of terrain that I know very well," he explained. "I'm really looking forward to it."

A graduate in geology from Edinburgh University, Ewan reckons he now in the perfect position to kick start his sporting career. And he is determined to take the challenge very seriously.

He's taken the benefits from his time in orienteering's Scandinavian homeland and is now ready to turn the overseas experience into success on the home stage - and onto the international scene as a member of the British team.

"I'm hoping it will work out really well," he assessed. "It is good to be back in Scotland and I really feel I'm ready to start making my mark again."

EB

www.scottish-orienteering.org

© Copyright In The Winning Zone, MMVIII, All Rights Reserved