A Beginner's Guide to Orienteering

Basics
Equipment
Types of Event
        Local / District / Regional / National / British Champs / Multi-Day / Relays
        Score / Night / Trail-O / Trail Quest & Mountain Bike Orienteering
A Typical District Event
        Registration / Start / The Map / Course / Finish / Variations

The following is a beginner's guide to orienteering in Great Britain including a description of the types of event you might come across and what to do at a typical District event. Acknowledgements to OUOC for the original text upon which this page is based.

The Basics

In its simplest and most common form, orienteering consists of navigating on foot between points on a pre-defined course drawn on a map. The aim is to navigate round all of the points in the correct order and in the fastest possible time. Attributes that make a good orienteer include running speed and strength through sometimes rough terrain, and accurate navigational skills. You will find that events tend to take place in areas of natural beauty, often forested, but also on open fellside.

The course normally consists of a series of points marked on the map. At each point there is an orange and white 'control kite' and some equipment that is used to check that you have passed through that point. To aid you in finding each point there will be a 'control description' briefly detailing what feature the control is located on.

There are two types of equipment used to record your passage through the controls. The more modern version used at most events consists of a small electronic card that you take around the course with you. At each control site there is a small box which records on your card what time you passed through. After you finish you are then able to see what your total time was and how long you took for every leg of the course. The older version, used at a few smaller and more informal events, consists of a pin-punch which is used to make a unique set of holes in the 'control card' carried by each competitor. At the finish the control card can be checked to make sure that you have visited all the controls. You will be timed around the course and results will be displayed near to the car park. As people running the same course do not normally start at the same time, results are not finalised until the last runner finishes. Although orienteering is a competitive sport, many people come just for the challenge of completing the course and enjoying the scenery.

The large scale maps (1:10,000 or 1:15,000) are drawn especially for orienteering and show everything from large hills down to the smallest pit. One thing to be careful of when you first see the map is that white doesn't represent open fields (as on an Ordnance Survey map) but instead, runnable forest. If you are not sure what a symbol means there is usually a key on the map to tell you. To make things easier when using a compass the North lines on the map point to Magnetic North so there is no need to make any complicated adjustments.

Equipment

Initially no specialist equipment is required. Any old clothes and trainers will do as long as you don't mind getting them a bit muddy. Long trousers are a good idea to stop your legs getting scratched or stung and full leg cover is required at many events. Lightweight running trousers and tops are available from the club. A large poly-bag is a must in keeping the map dry (although frequently maps are already bagged or printed on waterproof paper). At some events whistles are compulsory. As you progress onto harder courses a compass will become useful though the club will be able to lend you one to begin with.

Types of Event

There are many types of orienteering event. A few of the more common ones are described below.

Local Events

Local Events usually have only a few of the colour schemed courses that would be available at a larger District Event with a bias towards the easier and shorter courses more suited to beginners. The Hertfordshire Orienteering Club runs a Saturday Series of Local Events with one event most months.

District Events

These are low-key events perfect for beginners where anyone can just turn up and run on the day. These used to be called colour coded which refered to the ranking of the course length and difficulty being through a colour scheme as shown in the table below. White is the shortest and easiest and Brown the hardest and longest. Start with a yellow or orange course just to get the hang of using the map.

	White	very easy	1.0 - 1.9 km
	Yellow	easy	2.0 - 2.9 km
	Orange	medium	2.5 - 3.5 km
	Red	medium	5.0 - 7.0 km
	Light Green	hard	3.0 - 4.0 km
	Green	very hard	3.5 - 5.0 km
	Blue	very hard	5.5 - 7.5 km
	Brown	very hard	7.5 - 10.0 km

Regional Events

The next step up from a District event, Regional events usually have to be entered in advance. Most regional events can be entered online otherwise there is a Standard Entry Form which can be used. They differ from the District events in that courses are by age class, and tend to be more competitive.

For each adult age class there will be a long (L) and short (S) course and in some larger events a novice (N) or very short (V) course may be offered in the M21 and W21 classes for adult beginners. The L and S courses (and V where available) are the same technical difficulty but differ in length, whereas the N course is easier.

For juniors a standard set of courses, similar to the colour coded courses a are usually available (a few regional events use age class courses for juniors). These are open to all juniors allowing a course to be chosen based on ability rather than age. These courses, which are designated JM for boys and JW for girls, are sumarised in the table below, together with the equivalent coulour coded course.

	JM1	JW1	very easy	1.0 - 1.9 km	White
	JM2	JW2	easy	2.0 - 2.9 km	Yellow
	JM3	JW3	medium	2.5 - 3.5 km	Orange
	JM4	JW4	hard	3.0 - 4.0 km	Light Green
	JM5S	JW5S	very hard	3.5 - 5.0 km	Green
	JM5M	JW5L	very hard	5.5 - 7.5 km	Blue
	JM5L		very hard	6.5 - 9.0 km	Blue/Brown

Many Regional events also have some entry on the day (EOD) colour coded courses.

Shortly before the event Final Details will be available - these will usually be on the organising club's website and are also posted to anyone who has requested when entering. This information will include your start time, and everything you might need to know about the day itself such as the type of terrain you will be running through and what facilities will be available. Control descriptions for all the courses may be included. Descriptions for adult courses are most likely to be given using International Orienteering Federation symbols which club members will be able to explain to you untill you get the hang of them.

You should aim to get to the start several minutes before your allocated start time as you will be called up typically 3 minutes early (there will usually be a clock showing the call up time). Other than this you will find everything very familiar if you have been to a District event before. Make sure you carry a whistle if the organisers specify that you must, otherwise, in the interest of safety, you will not be allowed to start.

Regional events used to be called 'Badge events'. This was because you can gain Badges for attending these events. In the results you will find times which you must have beaten to gain Bronze, Silver or Gold standard. If you achieve a given standard at three events within two years (at the same age class) you can, for a small fee, obtain a Badge from the British Orienteering. Together with National Events, results from these events are used to compile the British Orienteering rankings.

National Events

These events are similar to Regional events but are held on top quality areas. The technical difficulty of the courses must satisfy guidelines specified by the British Orienteering Federation, and the competition is usually very high. Along with the Jan Kjellström and British Championships, National Events allow you to gain Championship Badge standard. This is usually 125% of the winner's time. As with the other Badges you must achieve three such standards to gain an award but this time they must be within one calendar year. The classes are similar to those for Regional events, except that age class based courses are used for juniors. For each junior age class an A and B course is available; the B course is shorter and easier than the A. Entry to the age class courses at National events is limited to British Orienteering members, however this does not apply to any colour coded courses at the event.

British Championships

The British Championships are held annually to decide the British Champion in each age class. They must be pre-entered like Regional events but there is still no restriction on who may enter. There is a separate British Elite Championship for those at the top of the M/W20 and M/W21 classes. There is usually an individual event on a Saturday with a relay event on the Sunday.

Multi-Day Events

The British Championships is one example of a multi-day event. Many others exist, usually run over the course of a weekend. The most popular is the Jan Kjellström, held on the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. There are individual events on the Saturday and Sunday followed by a relay on the Monday. Another large multi-day event is the Scottish Six Day where four out of the six days count towards your final score, allowing you to have a day off and still have one bad run!

Relays

Relay teams consist of 3 or more people. The first leg runner in each team is given their map rolled up or sealed in a paper bag and then they all start together. The courses they follow will have some common controls but will also differ slightly. The second leg runner waits in a changeover pen for the first runner to hand over on returning from their course. By the time the last leg runner crosses the finish line each team will have covered the same distance so the first team back is the winner. The Harvester Relay has eight legs starting in the middle of the night so that the first legs are run in the dark!

Score Events

In score events the idea is not to complete a course. Instead, you are a given a map showing a large number of controls. Each control will have a score associated with it. The idea is to score as many points as possible but returning within the allotted time. For every minute your are late a severe score penalty will be deducted.

Night Events

The concept is simple, orienteering but in the dark. The technique takes a lot of practice! The serious night orienteers have huge halogen lamps fastened to their foreheads but a simple torch will do for the beginner. This is to allow you to see both the map and where you are going. There are numerous night leagues around the country so look out for details of your nearest.

Trail-O

Originally designed for wheel-chair bound people this form of orienteering is equally challenging for anyone. The course follows a set path. For each control marked on the map there will be a viewing point from where it is possible to see several control kites. The competitor has to select which of the controls is the one marked on their map.

Trail Quest & Mountain Bike Orienteering

Orienteering can also be carried out on bike.

A Typical District Event

This section describes a typical district event using pre-printed maps and SportIdent electronic punching as used by HH and most clubs in the South East. Local events will often also be very similar to this.

When you see an event advertised it should give you directions how to get there. Often there will be red and white signs to guide you from a major road. Parking is normally in a field close to the area. You may be asked to make a small contribution to cover the cost of hiring the field.

Registration

The first thing to do on arrival is to find registration (usually a car or tent close to the entrance of the car park). You will need to fill in an entry form; in addition to information such as name and course entered this will usually ask for club (enter "IND" if you are not a member of any club), British Orienteering membership number (leave blank if not a member), age class, whether you are hiring or using your own SportIdent (SI) card (also known as dibber) and its number if you are using your own. After handing in the entry form and paying you may be directed to another tent to collect a hired SI card, otherwise you can now go to the start. The entry fees for non-members will typically be £7 for adults and £2 for juniors with an additional £1 for SI card hire if required.

At registration you may be given a set of control descriptions; these are also usually printed on the map. These descriptions tell you in which order the controls must be visited, on which feature the control is located and also a number which is also marked on the control so that you know that you are at the right one. Results are usually available on the organising club's website shortly after the event, however for some events paper results are still available. If so and you want a set of results sent to you then address an envelope, put the requested amount in and drop it in the box. Signs will direct you to the start.

Start

When you arrive at the start the first thing to do is clear your SI card. There will be one or more control boxes marked "Clear" - insert the SI card into one of these and wait until it beeps and the light start flashing (this may take several seconds). There will then be a series of boxes taped out on the ground. When told to by one of the start officials enter the back box (if several people running the same course have arrived at the start at the same time there may be a short wait). While in the start boxes you SI card will be checked with a hand held unit. Each minute a whistle will be blown (or a clock will beep) and you move forward into the next box. Finally you will get to the start line and someone will say '10 seconds to go, step over the line' (this is simply to stop you tripping over it!) and then the whistle will blow and it is time to go. Immediately after the start there will be a control unit marked "Start"; you should punch this (i.e. insert you SI card and wait for it to beep and flash); this records the start time for your run.

The Map

Something is missing! You still haven't got a map. Not far from the start will be a series of boxes containing the maps for each course. Find the box for your course and pick up one map (and check it is the right one). On the map the triangle marks the start control and the double circle the finish. The lines joining the control circles are simply to help you see which order to do the controls in. You do not have to follow the line but you must do the controls in the right order. Normally the maps for the white and/or yellow courses are available before you start (either at registartion or the start boxes) so parents can help small children.

Course

You can now start the course for real. Nearby should be a orange and white kite. On the map this is in the middle of the triangle. Either using a compass or by aligning features on the ground with those on the map 'orientate' your map. Decide how to get to the first control and then go! On the easy courses you should be able to take a route along paths. As you move, try and keep the map pointing the right way and identify features on the map as you pass them. When you get to each control check that it is the right one using the numbers shown on your control descriptions. Then punch the control unit with your SI card.

Finish

When you have punched the last control either follow the tapes, or navigate the short distance, to the finish. At the finish there will be a control unit and when you punch this it records your finish time. You should go to the download tent where the times are downloaded from your SI card and you will be given a printout of your split times. Provisional results are often displayed near the download. Then help yourself to a well-earned cup of squash.

The golden rule of orienteering is you must report to download whether or not you complete your course. If you don't, the organisers will spend hours out in the forest looking for you after the event has ended. On your control descriptions you will find the time at which courses close. Make sure you are back before then, even if you don't complete the whole course, so that the controls can be collected in.

Variations

Some events use the Emit rather than SportIdent electronic punching system. Most of the information above applies equally for both systems, however there are a few differences to be aware of. The indication that a control has been successfully punched is different and varies according to the type of Emit card and control unit - if you are not familar with the system you should ask. Also it is not necessary to clear an Emit card before starting

Occationally events still use pin punching or master maps. Although the general format remains as described above both of these result in a number of differences in the details.