WCOC: The first 10 years
By Vi Nelson

Sept. 1967 an advert in the Whitehaven News "How to read a Map & Compass" led to the formation of W.C.O.C.
1967 saw the first J.K. & British Championships.
Mar. 1968 The first WCOC open even at Santon Bridge. 93 entries. 12/6d profit. i.e.62 1/2p.

The following images are some interesting artifacts from that event (click on them to enlarge) Could you cope with a map like this and map refs for controls? Spot a few familiar 'old' names in the results including various mountaineers. Who's got the WCOC rubber stamp?

Map

Controls

Results Page 1

Results Page 2

Results Page 3

Results Page 4

June 1968 The revival of the Ennerdale Horse Shoe Fell Race.
June 1969 Joe Long & Frank Travis. the founders of WCOC decided to stay with Fell Running Organisation whilst other WCOC members continued to Orienteer as WCOC. About this time controlling events was introduced.
1969 WCOC event at Santon Bridge was featured in the Readers Digest "into the Woods with a Junior Lady." A tongue in cheek Journalist trying out Orienteering.
1969/70 Beginning of Sponsorship by Guinness (later Wm Younger) Guinness instead of Orange Juice. Wow! I wonder what this did for increasing Membership and how many members acquired a taste for Guinness ?
1970 First WCOC coloured Map of Blengdale, (H.Howard) Followed by Lowther Park (P.Nelson) a junior member.
1971 WCOC member Sue Banner (now Parkin) won both the Junior & Senior Ladies National Championships.
1972/3 The Golden Gauntlet. The annual event between Borderliners & WCOC provided Fun and Rivalry. The Prizes, a Golden Gauntlet glove and Silver Battered Boot. The original hallowed trophies are still contested for nearly 30 years on.
1974 J.K. The Forest of Dean. Prize wise the club's finest year. 10 Winners and many lower places. It was suggested we had won 10% of the Prizes.
June 1974 The Long 0. Fabulous weather made the running of 7 events in 2 days quite an achievement. One competitor thought he was hallucinating with the heat when in Blengdale he was given a drink by an attractive lady in a bikini.
1975 one of the Mappers of that Era had the bright idea of mapping open terrain at Dalegarth, Eskdale, prior to this most events were held in Forestry Commission Forests.
1976 WCOC, Mapped,Planned & Organised the J.K. this prestigous event at Dalegarth turned out to be truly international, as the Scandinavians and others flocked there to try British Orienteering in preparation for the World Champs. held that year in Darnaway, Scotland. Sponsored by Wm.Youngers.
1968-2000 Punches and Controls have evolved, from miscellaneous Beer cans with rubber ink stamps, to Hand-made Wire controls (wire scrounged from Dry Cleaning Hangers,) to today’s electronic wizardry
WCOC was and still is one of the most prolific event organisers. from National to club training, catering for the serious competitor, to come & try it novices, or just running for fun (and beating your mate on a Thursday night)
One club member was not thought good enough to run in the elite 1974 British Champs., ran & won the B class by a large margin, and went on to win and is still winning at International & National levels.

WCOC: The first 10 years By Vi Nelson
Sept. 1967 an advert in the Whitehaven News "How to read a Map & Compass" led to the formation of W.C.O.C. 1967 saw the first J.K. & British Championships. Mar. 1968 The first WCOC open even at Santon Bridge. 93 entries. 12/6d profit. i.e.62 1/2p. The following images are some interesting artifacts from that event (click on them to enlarge) Could you cope with a map like this and map refs for controls? Spot a few familiar 'old' names in the results including various mountaineers. Who's got the WCOC rubber stamp?

Map	Controls	Results Page 1	Results Page 2	Results Page 3	Results Page 4
June 1968 The revival of the Ennerdale Horse Shoe Fell Race. June 1969 Joe Long & Frank Travis. the founders of WCOC decided to stay with Fell Running Organisation whilst other WCOC members continued to Orienteer as WCOC. About this time controlling events was introduced. 1969 WCOC event at Santon Bridge was featured in the Readers Digest "into the Woods with a Junior Lady." A tongue in cheek Journalist trying out Orienteering. 1969/70 Beginning of Sponsorship by Guinness (later Wm Younger) Guinness instead of Orange Juice. Wow! I wonder what this did for increasing Membership and how many members acquired a taste for Guinness ? 1970 First WCOC coloured Map of Blengdale, (H.Howard) Followed by Lowther Park (P.Nelson) a junior member. 1971 WCOC member Sue Banner (now Parkin) won both the Junior & Senior Ladies National Championships. 1972/3 The Golden Gauntlet. The annual event between Borderliners & WCOC provided Fun and Rivalry. The Prizes, a Golden Gauntlet glove and Silver Battered Boot. The original hallowed trophies are still contested for nearly 30 years on. 1974 J.K. The Forest of Dean. Prize wise the club's finest year. 10 Winners and many lower places. It was suggested we had won 10% of the Prizes. June 1974 The Long 0. Fabulous weather made the running of 7 events in 2 days quite an achievement. One competitor thought he was hallucinating with the heat when in Blengdale he was given a drink by an attractive lady in a bikini. 1975 one of the Mappers of that Era had the bright idea of mapping open terrain at Dalegarth, Eskdale, prior to this most events were held in Forestry Commission Forests. 1976 WCOC, Mapped,Planned & Organised the J.K. this prestigous event at Dalegarth turned out to be truly international, as the Scandinavians and others flocked there to try British Orienteering in preparation for the World Champs. held that year in Darnaway, Scotland. Sponsored by Wm.Youngers. 1968-2000 Punches and Controls have evolved, from miscellaneous Beer cans with rubber ink stamps, to Hand-made Wire controls (wire scrounged from Dry Cleaning Hangers,) to today’s electronic wizardry WCOC was and still is one of the most prolific event organisers. from National to club training, catering for the serious competitor, to come & try it novices, or just running for fun (and beating your mate on a Thursday night) One club member was not thought good enough to run in the elite 1974 British Champs., ran & won the B class by a large margin, and went on to win and is still winning at International & National levels.