It was almost ten years ago when the Lindsay family popped down to Princes Street Gardens to join in the fun of a special National Orienteering Week. It sparked an interest and the two Lindsay kids – twins Rona and Andrew – are now among the best in Scotland at the sport.  

Last month, Rona won the Scottish Under-18 Championship in Crieff and then reached another peak when she was selected to compete for GB at the European Youth Championships at Jindfichuv Havdec in the Czech Republic.  It was the first time she had been selected at under-18 level.

The 17-year-old more than held her own against around 80 of the top European youngsters. She finished 43rd in the sprint and 39th in the long distance. The only slight disappointment was that the course didn’t play to her strengths because it wasn’t too tough from a technical point of view.

“It was quite an easy course so all the results were very close,” said Rona. “The map reading is definitely my strength and I feel I have to work on my running. I enjoy working out the route and just try and run as fast as I can.”

Andrew is also a member of the Scottish squad, and hopes to make it to British level. Rona insists he is equally talented: “Andrew is also a Scottish Champion in his age-group. But it’s harder for boys because there are so many more of them taking part.

“We are both members of Edinburgh Southern Orienteering Club and train around Edinburgh. It’s a great activity.”

Rona’s Scottish Championship victory was her third National title – and she rates it among her best achievements to date. The list also includes a second at Under-16 level in last year’s British Championships 2010, a fourth place in the Under-16 relays at the 2010 European Youth Championships and a bronze medal in the Women's Trophy relay at the prestigious and long established Jan Kjellstrom event in Sweden earlier this year. 

Rona has just completed her time at Craigmount High School and she will be starting a degree in Biological Sciences at Edinburgh University in the autumn.

“I chose Edinburg because it has a great orienteering club,” she explained.  “I know they will be very supportive.”

In fact another two leading Scots – Scott Fraser and Hollie Orr – also helped further their orienteering expertise through their time at the capital’s University. 

Before then, Rona has a summer packed with orienteering activity. She and Andrew – he is going to be doing a degree in computing at Edinburgh – are heading to Sweden in August for a training camp.

“I have been to Scandinavia before and it is a part of the world that has a really strong orienteering tradition,” she explained. “It is such a great region to improve your skills and learn more about the sport.” 

Thanks to that chance decision to sample the sport in Princes Street, the Lindsay parents – Sally and Crawford – have also become hooked by orienteering and so now it is very much a family preoccupation.   

Rona certainly has ambitions to go even further. “I want to make the full GB team and get to compete in the World Orienteering Championships,” she said. “I would also love to win a British title.” And it’s all the result of an outing to Princes Street Gardens.

EB

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