History of the Event.

Based on an idea by Robert Cumming and organised by Robert and his sister Moira, the event was first held as an evening event on 26 September 1986. Anne Salisbury, 1986 British Ladies Champion, made (yes, she was attending woodwork evening classes at the time) and presented the MKBC Trophy to the club. There was a tie for first place between Anne herself and Derek Jardine, then an M13. It has always been hoped that this could be an annual competition, but it was not until Dave McQuillen realised that it was an ideal format for a New Year fun event that the series started in January 1992. Only in 2015 was SI punching and pre-marked maps introduced and the number of controls limited to 30.

The Trophy is presented to the top Solway member with the added bonus that the holder has to plan and organise the next year's event. So far the outright winner has always been a member of the club, except for 1993 when it was won by former member Dave Robertson, now of Clydeside Orienteers and 1994 when Brian Whitworth, then of Border Liners, shared top place with Jason Turner. A new rule was introduced in 2003. If the overall winner is not a member of Solway Orienteers, then the Trophy and the right to organise the next year's competition goes to the top female Solway member. After two successive years of Solway's best men being beaten by visitors, this rule was relaxed in 2005 to simply state that the top Solway member is invited to organise the next one. In the unlikely event that they decline, a volunteer will be sought...