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WHAT IS ORIENTEERING ?
Orienteering is an outdoor sport where you navigate using a map and a compass. It is suitable for the young and the old, the fit and the not so fit, the beginner and the expert.
The object is to run (or walk) to a series of points (controls) shown on a map as quickly as possible. For the beginner, the controls are likely to be on a path, for the expert the control could be almost anywhere. At each control you find a red and white box-kite and a punch that is used to prove that you have visited the correct control. Each control will normally be located on, or at, a distinct feature, such as a path junction or a hilltop.
The sport involves three key skills, map reading, route-choice and navigation. Most maps used in orienteering have been specifically designed to give competitors enough information to enable them to know where they are all the time. The two most common scales are one centimetre to one hundred meters and one centimetre to one hundred and fifty meters. The map will include distinctive features such as paths, boulders, ditches, fences and vegetation boundaries.
Orienteering is a sport that anyone can take part in, regardless of age or experience. At most events there are courses suitable for a complete novice. Parents often walk round with young children. Courses at regional (badge) and national events range from those for the children aged 10 and under to those for the over 80's. Something for everyone.
At SWOC, we organise about 10 events a year. These can vary from small local events, that may attract less than 20 competitors, to (occassionally) a large national event attracting several thousand competitors. In addition to events in South Wales, most club members will also travel to events organised by neighbouring clubs, such as Swansea Bay and Bristol, and even further for some of the really large events.
There is a lot of jargon related to the sport. Most experienced orienteers take the jargon for granted, but it can be confusing to the inexperienced. We have provided a jargon busting guide, that is also hopefully informative, to help you.
Orienteers are generally very friendly and approachable. Certainly at local events, most will help you relocate (see what I mean about jargon) if you get lost and there is always someone at registration willing to spend time with a novice.
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