In This Section
What is Orienteering?
How do I get started?
What kit do I need?
Local Clubs
Useful Contacts

What is Orienteering

Orienteering is a sport where competitors navigate their way between control points marked on a specially drawn map. It is a time trial so you race on your own (although there is an option for beginners to run in a pair) visit all the checkpoints (controls) as quickly as you can and that’s all there is to it.  The faster you can cover the distance, crash through the undergrowth, splash through streams and marshes and career over rocks, the better your result will be (and the more fun you will have).

How do I get started?

South Yorkshire Orienteers are running a series of events around Sheffield suitable for all fitness levels, ages and abilities - everyone is welcome.

• Wed 15th July `09 - Graves Park
• Wed 29th July `09 - Concord Park
• Wed 19th Aug `09 - Millhouses Park
• Wed 9th Sept `09 - Endcliffe Park

Club nights suitable for all ages, abilities and fitness levels start on Wednesday 16th September 2009, 6.30pm - 8.00pm at the Sheffield Hallam Sports Centre, Broomgrove Road, Sheffield.  These will take place every Wednesday, and everyone is welcome - families and individuals. Activities include:

• Developing orienteering skills
• Circuit training
• Indoor and outdoor orienteering exercises
• Group runs
  

For more information about the summer events click here and the club nights click here or contact Tim Tett on 0114 2667922.

Beginners are welcome at all orienteering events – take a look at your local club’s website (www.southyorkshireorienteers.org.uk ) or the British Orienteering website fixture list (http://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/fixtures/fixtures.htm ) to find your nearest forthcoming event. Events are held in parks, on moors and in woodland over the whole of Yorkshire, and usually take place on a Sunday morning.

Lots of clubs also run small events on weekday evenings in the spring and summer.

There are various sizes of events ranging from Local through to District, Regional and National. Local and District events can only be entered on site, while Regional and National events usually need to be entered in advance, either online or by post. Instructions of how to enter are always available on the local club’s website

What kit do I need?

To start, all you need is a sense of adventure, a pair of trainers or outdoor shoes and outdoor clothes. A compass is not a compulsory piece of kit when starting out, but can be useful on the more technical courses.

If the event is exposed or if the weather conditions are particularly bad, the organisers may decide to make it compulsory to take a windproof and/or a small whistle.

You will receive a map with your course marked on it when you get to the start line of an event. The scale of orienteering maps are usually 1:10,000 or 1;15,000, which includes lots of small details that aren’t shown on OS style maps: small boulders, bushes and knolls. The map will also use different colours and symbols to those used on OS maps, and a legend on the side of the map will explain what the colours and symbols mean.

Joining a local club is a great way to find out about local events and training that is going on near you, as well as meeting fellow orienteers who can help get you started and offer advice.  

^{Above: an orienteering map uses different symbols and colours to an Ordnance Survey map}

Local Clubs

South Yorkshire Orienteering Club: www.southyorkshireorienteers.org.uk  

Useful Contacts

British Orienteering: www.britishorienteering.org.uk

For advice specific to beginners and to request an information pack from British Orienteering, click here