Edinburgh trio Scott Fraser, Oleg Chepelin and Douglas Tullie are all hoping to claim success for Scotland in this weekend's world-class Purple Thistle orienteering event in Oban.

Top line competitors from Canada, New Zealand, Spain and Sweden, as well as a huge UK contingent, will be taking part in the three-race event.

Fraser, who recently took up a role as Professional Officer for Scottish Orienteering, has already won a bronze medal at the World University Championships this summer. Next month, he will be competing for Scotland in the World Hill Running Championships.

"Oban has high quality orienteering areas in one of the most scenic parts of Scotland, " said Fraser, who graduated from Edinburgh University this summer. "I'm really looking forward to the weekend."

Based at the Oban Caravan and Camping Park at Gallanach, participants will be faced with races on the Island of Kerrera, a run round Oban and, finally, a
long track over the moorland and through the forest at Creag Mhic Chailein near Stonefield.

Paul Frost from the local EckO Club is delighted with the strength of entry. "It is brilliant so see so many people coming to Oban for these events, and it bodes well for when the Scottish 6-Days when it comes to the region in 2011," he said.