It is the Interland competition this weekend, where the English team competes against teams from the Netherlands and two regions of Belgium. Congratulations and good luck to the following selected squad members: Dane Blomquist (M14), Peter Bray (M18) and Jane Morgan (W50).

Normal squad coaching and training days are open to any interested junior from 2^nd year M/W12 upwards in the region. 1^st year M/W 12's can come to training days in the autumn of the year (1^st September onwards). This applies to both full BOF members and local members of clubs within SCOA. The emphasis of the squad is on coaching and technique training.

The squad has over 20 juniors and a number of experienced coaches (male and female). We have monthly training days, usually on Saturdays, from 10:30 to 3:00/3:30. They are normally held in areas within the SCOA region, though occasionally they may be elsewhere, usually when we train with another region's junior squad. Day training costs £1, with training weekends away costing more. We have a regular squad newsletter and a squad sweatshirt which you can order after coming to 3 training sessions.

There are also training and competition opportunities outside the region, which you have to be selected for. Each November, the best M/W16's in Britain have a weekend training in the Lake District, and recently we have had 2 car loads attending.

In late June or early July, there is the Junior Inter-Regional Championships, a competition between the 12 British junior squads (SCOA last hosted this event in 1995). There is an individual race on the Saturday, where the best 2 finishers from each region in M/W14, 16 and 18 score points. There is a relay on Sunday, with separate M and W races for teams of 3 (one from each age class), and again the best 2 scores in each class count. The weekend is usually the highest standard junior competition of the year, and a good social event, too. Only if you are selected for this competition can you qualify to wear the distinctive green, white and blue squad O-tops.

We are allowed to nominate two 2^nd year M/W 14's for a week's training camp in late July at Lagganlia, near Kingussie (in northern Scotland). There are also tours for M/W 15/16/17/18's which are financed by BOF under the World Class Start programme. These tours are entered by selection by the BOF Junior Selectors. See the BOF web site for details of the current selection races.

There are also a series of races known as the Future Champions Cup, which is hotly contested by M/W 18's & 20's.

The squad activities are generously funded by SCOA, with juniors currently being granted half the cost of these special training sessions and also the Junior Inter-Regional Championships.

Although the Junior Inter-Regional Championships is the highlight of the year, we have plenty of fun at our monthly training sessions, as you will find out if you come along. You will meet people of your own age, who share an enthusiasm for orienteering and a willingness to learn and improve their skills. We don't expect you to come to every training session, but we'll be very pleased if you do show such commitment.

The squad is managed by Dave Rogers (BKO), who is assisted by six or seven coaches from around region.