New To Orienteering?
Types of Orienteering
Orienteering can take place in several forms:
- on foot
- on skis
- on mountain bikes
- on horseback
and there is another format, called Trail-O, that is designed to enable physically-disabled athletes to compete equally against the able-bodied.
Foot-O
In Britain, the most common form of orienteering is on foot. However, within this one discipline, there are several types of event:
- Cross-country - the most common type
- Here the aim is to find red and white markers (called controls) in a set order. Each entrant is allocated a separate start time. The entrant is timed at the start and again at the finish. The person who completes the course in the shortest time wins.
- Relay
- This is a version of 'cross-country' orienteering for teams of 3 or more. In this form, all teams start at the same time. When the first runner gets back, the second starts and so on. Each runner in the team has a different course, and the different teams do these courses in a different order, so not everyone is looking for the same controls at the same time. The first team to finish wins.
- Score
- Here the aim is to find as many controls as possible in a set time. Some controls may be worth more points because they are further away or harder to find. Points are deducted if you are late back. The person with the most points wins.
- Sprint
- This is a version of 'cross-country' orienteering over very short distances. Everyone starts together, but does different loops of their course in a different order. It is fast and exciting for competitors and spectators alike.
- Night
- This is 'cross-country' orienteering at night. Competitors carry torches to help them to see, but otherwise it is exactly like 'cross-country' orienteering.
'Cross-Country' Orienteering
'Cross-country' Orienteering is further split into different categories, ranging from informal to international competitions. The three most common forms are local, district and regional events, and are described below. You are also likely to come across national events, which are like regional events, but are more prestigious and held on the best orienteering areas in the country.
Local and District Events
At the informal end are local and district events which provide a good introduction to cross-country orienteering. At these events, the different courses on offer are described by colours which represent their length and difficulty. White is the easiest and black the hardest.
Regional Events
When you become more competitive, regional events can provide competition against orienteers from all over the country. At these events, which usually have to be entered in advance, the courses on offer are described by 'age classes'. There are separate courses for men and women, and for different ages (split into five-year bands for adults and two-year bands for juniors). There are also long and short versions of each course. This allows the organisers to provide courses which are suitable for different levels of fitness and navigational skills.
Permanent Courses
If you want to try orienteering in your own time, rather than at an organised event, then permanent courses are for you. Deeside Orienteering Club manages several permanent courses.
Maps, Compasses and Control Descriptions
Maps
For all forms of orienteering, you must be able to read a map. The maps used for orienteering events are specially produced and are at a much larger scale and more detailed than most maps. They also use their own symbols for features such as boulders, fences, crags etc. These are all depicted on the map's legend.
Compasses
As well as being able to read a map, it is useful (and in fact necessary for the harder courses) to be able to use a compass. This isn't too hard a skill to learn.
Control Descriptions
Orienteering is all about navigating to features on the ground, a coded red and white control marker being located at each feature on your course. Small red circles are marked on the map to show the positions of these control points. You will be given a control description sheet, on which the descriptions and codes of the control features are listed.
How to start
At the registration car, choose a course from those available. Yellow (or white if available) is the shortest and easiest.
Pay the appropriate fee. You will be given a map, a control description sheet and a control card. The control description sheet is a list of the control features you will be looking for together with the codes you will find on the control markers.
Fill in your name, age class and course on both the control card and stub, and copy down any map corrections, especially out-of-bounds areas.
Choose a start time at the start time allocation car. Make sure that you allow time to walk to the start. Make your way to the start with map, control card, description sheet, whistle, red biro or red waterproof pen and compass. A polybag is useful to protect map and control card.
When your start time is called, hand in your stub to the start official. Go to the master maps when the whistle is blown. Make sure you find the right master map for your course.
On the master maps, the start is shown as a red triangle. Copy it onto your map, followed by the red circles that show where the control markers are hung. The finish is shown on the master map as two red circles, one inside the other. Make sure that you copy down the right course and draw the control circles exactly in the right places on your map.
Walk (or run) to the first control. Check that the code is correct and punch your control card in the first numbered square using the pin punch hanging at the control. Continue round the course to the final control.
FOR SAFETY REASONS YOU MUST ALWAYS REPORT TO THE FINISH WHETHER OR NOT YOU COMPLETE THE COURSE.
At the finish, hand in your control card.
You can find out how you did at the results display.
If you want a copy of the results, address an envelope to yourself at registration, and pay the small charge for postage.
