1. How did you to start orienteering?
Angus has revealed he has an official result from when he was 6 weeks old on an Orange course from 5 November 2006. He adds “My uncle did help me a little bit by taking me round in a backpack, but I reckon I was the true brains of the operation.”
I am now a third generation orienteer. My granny still chugs around courses at 80 years of age, in spite of the fact she has been through three new knees and a hip. My parents orienteer, my dad (James Laird) started at the age of 12 years old, and my mum was introduced to it in ChCh but only really started when we moved to Inverness.
Both my parents have attended previous PAPO events and know some PAPO members. My dad was working at Canterbury University in 1999 and we have extended family here. I have been to New Zealand two previous times, once as a tiny baby in a Kilt and then on a holiday at 10 years old.

2. Tell us about your club and the terrain you have in Scotland ? 

Inverness Orienteering club (INVOC) is a busy, well-attended hub of orienteering based around Inverness. Our club was voted highest performing club in Scotland by our very own trusted members, due to it’s weekly training sessions and dominance in results.
The terrain of Inverness and the highlands is pretty remarkable. We have heaps of heather and bog maps, silver birch forests, open hill sides and some techy pine terrain. Our neighbouring club has the majority of maps as essential carbon copies of the Oceania maps, only with smaller pine cones.
Notable maps are Glen Afric, Nairn Fishertown and Roseilse, which have held WOC multiple times.

3. What are some of your memorable orienteering moments(?

2015 Scottish champs, I was M10 and the first finisher, so most of the crowd was watching as I ran in. At the last control, my right shoe turned against me and slipped off my foot in the mud. Quick thinking 10 year old Angus picked it up and ran down the finish line with it. I knew it was slowing me down, so I was relieved when I saw my little sister watching and was able to throw it in her face. I remember seeing Daniel Hubman there cheering me on too.
In the end, I brought home the win. Since then I kept my shoes on, but never won the title again.

4. What are some key events to attend in Scotland?

Starting the day after Oringen this year, the Scottish 6 days is a key unmissable event. One of the largest in the world, in it’s prime it gets up to 6 thousand competitors. It will be held on the techy hillsides near royal Balmoral castle this year.
Not in Scotland, but the JK is the next biggest, held at the same time as the NZ nationals, I would recommend.

5. You have been a key coach at all the summer camps. How did that go, and how do you think these camps help young orienteers?

The camps help form great bonds and really are motivational. The friendships are a key part and orienteers support but also help push each other to do well. The coaches and mentors give you the means to go onwards, all done with a lot of fun. It becomes something to look forward to each year.

6. Do you have any tips to share on how you train and prepare for big orienteering events?
“Do as I say and not as I do! But I do have a good concept on what I should be doing” . If your orienteering club doesn’t do weekly trainings, I recommend joining a running club for some speedy sessions, then taking maps out on your long runs. You should try and run with maps 3-5 times a week if you are really serious.

7. How did you find out about the coaching position in NZ?

I saw Ewan Musgrove’s (previous coach from Scotland) strava, and I thought it would be a great opportunity, so he made enquiries with PAPO members he knew.
“It has been more than good!” Angus says. He is still adjusting to life on the move, as he has visited so many different places, adding that he has also been tramping and visiting family on top of his camp coaching and staying with various host families.

8. What advice can you give another coach coming to NZ?
Don’t get stressed, kiwi orienteers are very friendly and laid back, but do make things happen – it all works out.
The people are very generous, and it has been a pleasure to stay with everyone who has so far hosted me.

9. What have you observed in NZ that might differ from NZ. Are here some new opportunities you can see for orienteering in NZ? 

Angus thinks he hasn’t been here long enough to comment yet, but he does mention that Scottish Orienteers have a system where the youth have separate camps according to grades. For example every year, M14 head more locally to “Laggan Liath” for a week, M16 first year to Deeside, M16 second year the trip heads to the Czech republic run by coaches fresh out of Uni (hype) and M18 go to Stockholm/Gothenburg. Once on camp, they really get to know their year group very well and look forward to visiting a different place each year. After Gothenburg (which is run entirely by the athletes themselves) they often travel together on groups and plan their own orienteering camps. Conditions are runnable terrain and cheap pints.

Scottish orienteers also have ScotJOS (Scottish Junior Orienteering Squad) weekends where M14-18 year go away for the weekend Orienteering. Usually, they end up sleeping on a scout hall floor. The Seniors and Uni students organise their own events with a SEDS ( Senior Elite Dev Squad) organised by Graham Gristwood. These are also with weekend formats.
Angus notes that a big difference is that NZ orienteers expect a bed, mattress and showers, when he is used to the floor and the rain.
One other thing Angus has noticed is that starts for big events in Scotland give the family very similar time slots. Often the whole family will be in the start block together with start times only minutes apart. .

10. If you could have one orienteering sporting wish, what would it be?

Mass start Jukola. And come back number 1!