The SHIs is an annual competition between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with hosting duties rotating between the four nations. The weekend features both individual and relay races, providing two days of competition against some of the best orienteers from across the home nations.
Both races took place in the Mourne Mountains, featuring open mountainside, intricate rock detail and plenty of climb. Saturday offered glorious sunshine and ideal racing conditions, while Sunday brought low cloud and fog, alongside more heather and tougher underfoot conditions.
Saturday’s individual race went well for me, finishing 5th in W21 and the 2nd English woman. I navigated some challenging legs well and pushed hard across the terrain for over 90 minutes. Unfortunately, a twisted ankle shortly after the map flip took some of the fight out of the final controls, but overall I was pleased with my performance.
With Saturday’s racing done, the team headed to Castlewellan’s famous hedge maze for some post-race entertainment. As the second-largest permanent hedge maze in Europe, it kept us occupied for the best part of an hour. Naturally, a few of the English athletes resorted to satellite imagery to find their way around. Apparently, even when the maps are put away, some orienteers just can’t resist finding the optimal route!
Sunday’s relay brought a very different set of conditions. Low fog reduced visibility, and some slight overplanning, meant some unexpectedly long race times. I was promoted to England’s first women’s team but set off around 20 minutes behind the leading second-leg runners, leaving me racing largely solo. It was a less successful run for me, with several significant mistakes – including at Control 1, which is never quite how you want to begin a race!
Despite the mixed results, it was a brilliant weekend, and it is always a pleasure and a privilege to represent England. I’m hugely grateful to EMOA and DVO for their continued support over the years, which has helped make opportunities like this possible.
