What is orienteering then?
It's a
fun, energetic sport, in which competitors have to run around a course
with the aid of a map and compass. A number of control points are
marked on the map; at each of these there is a marker flag, and a
electronic punching unit. The runner carries a chip/dibber/electronic
card with them and uses this to 'punch' at the unit to prove that they
have visited the control.
Where does it take place?
Traditionally
orienteering takes place in forest and woodland areas, although events
also take place on fell and moorland areas, or even on sand
dunes. Small local events can be found on commons and parkland. Some
areas, particularly around here, are quite flat, but in other parts of
the country you'll find yourself having to run up and down steep
slopes. Recently urban races have become very popular. CUOC organises the Cambridge City race every two years.
How long are the courses?
There is a
large range of course lengths available, which depend both on the type
of event and the terrain on which it is run. A beginner might start
with an orange or red Colour Coded course between 3 and 6km long,
while a long Regional Event course might be 9-12km for men, and 7-9km for
women. These lengths may sound short if you are used to road or
cross-country running, but they are measured in a straight line
between controls, which is often not the fastest route, and do not
allow for getting lost!
What do Colour Coded and Regional mean?
These are the most
common types of events. Colour Coded (Level C) events are smaller,
and have a series of six or seven courses, classified by
colours. These range from white (extremely short and trivially easy)
through yellow, orange, red, light green, and green to blue or brown
(long and hard). Runners of any age can enter whatever course they
like on the day.
Regional (Level B) events are larger, and attract competitors from
further away. They must usually be entered at least two weeks in
advance, online or by post. Courses are again classified by colour, but
there is a wider range (normally 12 courses). Each course also has allocated
age classes, so that you can compete directly against your peers. The
relevant age classes for students are M/W [men/women] 18 (aged 16 or 17 on
1st January), M/W20 (aged 18 or 19) and M/W21 (aged 20 to 33 on 1st January) -
this is the longest and hardest class). Maps are printed on waterproof paper.
What other sorts of events are there?
Below Colour Coded events are local and fun events, which take
place on small areas such as Coe Fen. For such events, there are often
different extra rules to make small areas more challenging, such as
having to remember your route and complete the course without a
map.
At the top level, there are several National Events a year, which
attract competitors from all over the country, and have separate
longer and harder "elite" courses for the very best orienteers. At Easter,
there is the 'Jan Kjellstrom Festival of Orienteering', a
four-day event, and the British Championships are sometime in late
spring. Over the summer there is a 5 or 6-day event in either Scotland,
Wales or the Lake District, and there are many similar summer events
all around Europe if you're feeling adventurous.
There are also variations on the usual simple course, such as
mass-start relays, night events (in case you think navigation is too
easy when you can see), score events (at which you have to visit as
many controls as you can in a fixed time), and of course the legendary
Sprint-O, which CUOC organise.
Do I need lots of special clothes and equipment?
You don't need special clothes to start with, but
you will need trousers rather than shorts, and often a long-sleeved
top. Unless the weather is cold, you will want thin clothes so you
don't get too hot. Trainers are fine for shoes, but don't wear
anything too nice as they will probably suffer from undergrowth in the
forest, as well as getting wet and muddy - this applies to clothes as
well. Once you become a regular, you might want to buy some special
CUOC orienteering kit, and some hard-wearing O-shoes.
The only fairly expensive equipment you need is a compass, but you can borrow
one from the club stock if you don't have one. A whistle is advisable
in steep or exposed areas to call for help if you fall over and injure
yourself. Safety pins are useful for all sorts of things. If you come
to larger events you'll soon get used to seeing the Ultrasport and
Compass Point vans, both sell a large range of orienteering kit and
equipment.
So what happens when I've got to an event?
You'll probably start with a Colour Coded event, where you will
need to register for your chosen course, usually at a car window, and
buy your map, either from the same person or from another car. You will
also need to hire an 'E-card'. As well as the map, you'll have your E-card
and some control descriptions, which tell you what
feature each control is on. You need to remember to clear your E-card (at a special unit) before you
start. Having changed and got your compass ready, make your
way to the start, leaving plenty of time to watch what everyone else
does.
You will be called up a couple of minutes before your start time,
and kept waiting in a taped box. A minute before your start time, you
will move into the final box, and you will be told where to find your map.
With ten seconds to go, you are allowed to step over the
front line, and you are started either by a whistle or electronic
bleep. Pick up a map with your course marked on it straight away.
On the way round the course, each control is marked on the ground
by a red and white marker, and has an electronic unit (for electronic punching)
at it with which you
have to touch with your E-card. Each control is identified by a
two or three figure code (givn in the control descriptions) so
you can't (shouldn't) punch the wrong one by mistake. Once you've
visited all of the controls in order there's just the short (usually)
sprint to the finish, giving you a chance to show just how fast you
really are...
Sounds great! But all this fun must cost loads of money, right?
No, it doesn't! Students only have to pay junior entry fees, which for colour coded is usually only around £3.00. Even big events will usually only cost four or
five quid. And if you travel in the CUOC minibus, transport to events can cost as little as three pounds. Bargain!
How can I find out more?
The best way to find out more is to come and meet us! Ask to be added to our e-mail list to find out when and where or
get in touch with someone on the committee to find out what the next event is.