Members of Moray’s Orienteering club are set to take a block of seats at the forthcoming Scottish Premiership clash between Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Motherwell.
A group of volunteers from the Moray club have been helping Scottish Orienteering’s regional development officer, Mike Rodgers, with his work in schools around the region.
Now they are being rewarded this weekend with a trip to Inverness, taking seats at the Caledonian Stadium as part of the Premiership clubs ‘Volunteer Day’.
Attending a press call at the stadium on Tuesday was Rosie Pye, an ever-present behind the registration desk at Moravian events over the last year. Also facing the press was Active Schools coordinators Paul Rogan from Forres and Roy McPherson from Elgin.
Mike Rodgers said: “Rosie has become something of a cult figure among Moray schoolchildren who have seen her as my right-hand man on a mission to convert them to the real Sport of Kings.
“Both Paul and Roy have played major roles in developing schools orienteering in Moray.”
Mike took the opportunity to plug the hosting of the World Orienteering Championships which takes place in Highland and Moray in August next year.
At the press call was Caley Thistle goalkeeper Dean Brill, who said: “Volunteers do an amazing job in all levels of the community and I’m delighted to hand out some tickets to Scottish Orienteering, hopefully more volunteers come forward and claim theirs.
“It’s an excellent idea, as these people don’t often get the recognition they deserve so I’m thrilled they can come and watch us play Motherwell this weekend.
“Hopefully we can put on a performance for them so they come back and watch the team in future.”
Moravian Orienteers have an established connection with Inverness Caley after putting on a pre-season training day for the squad in Forres two years ago. That was covered on STV evening news – the item that can still be found online.
Mike Rodgers said: “It’s hoped that by nurturing this connection the profile and awareness of orienteering in the North will keep on heading in the right direction.”