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SENiLe history

 
  The SENiLe league was formed by a handful of keen but frustrated night orienteers back in 1986; frustrated because there were not many events in the near vicinity. The concept for setting up the league was proposed by Steve Waite of CROC and rapidly endorsed. Or rather as Steve puts it himself he was just told to "go ahead and do it". Steve was certainly the driving force to getting the league up and running in the early years, as he recalls in 'SENiLe, the beginnings'.

In the first season there were 6 events, a good start for a fledgling proposal. With minor modifications the SENiLe league has continued since that year, and we have now completed 20 seasons of the night league. Having persuaded regional clubs to hold 139 events over 20 seasons, an average of 7 a year, the league has continued to provide a supply of local low-key night events to orienteers in the South East. The league itself may be the motivating force to hold some of the events in the first place but it has always been the intention that the events are also there to introduce orienteers to the pleasures and skills of night-O. With that in mind the league has broadly followed principles established early in the league's history and to this day SENiLe events still have courses suitable for novices. Long may that continue.

The colour schemes of the league were developed from an idea by Mark Blackstone of LOK. Mark has since moved away and is now the co-ordinator for the Western Night league based around the Bristol & Gloucester area.

In 1993 Keith Tonkin took over the reigns as league and results co-ordinator. The league has continued to promote the holding of night events, although with some decline in numbers within the sport average attendances have dropped. Some small changes have been implemented to ease the organisation of SENiLe events, and further changes may need to be made going forwards. It is hoped that the SENiLe series will to continue for some time but like all things may need to evolve. Keith Tonkin moves the history forwards from 1993..... 'SENiLe II, the sequel'.

 

 
 
 
 

 

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