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New to Orienteering? Click here for a video or read on....
Well..... the basic idea is to navigate your way around a course, usually in the woods, using a specially drawn map which shows features such as streams, fences, boulders and crags. You have to start at the Start (!), finish at the Finish (!!) and visit a series of control points along the way, but it's entirely up to you how you get from point to point and whether you run hell for leather or bimble round with the kids and dog and have a picnic en route. If you like treasure hunts and the outdoors then give it a go. Where do events take place and how to find them? Our events list shows what's happening where and when and gives you a grid reference and a link to Google maps online maps so you can find us. When you get close to the event carpark you'll probably see red and white orienteering signs to show you the way. The summer events are particularly ideal for beginners being either in or close to Aberdeen and hopefully warm enough that it doesn't matter if you take a while to get into the swing of it. What to bring? Trainers or lightweight boots and tracksuit bottoms or similar that you don't mind getting a bit mucky; a large clear plastic bag to put your map in; a compass if you have one for orientating the map; a drink/snack for afterwards; a few £s to pay for your map. What to expect at your first event.... Having parked, look out for a queue of people by a car or tent waiting to register. You'll be asked for your name (so we can keep track of who's out there and the time taken for keen competitors) and which course you want to try. Don't be afraid to ask advice about which course is the best for you. To begin with try the yellow/orange courses as they are based on tracks or other linear features such as walls. Eventually you'll work up to a light green and beyond where things start to get a bit more technical. You'll be issued with a map, a set of control descriptions and usually an electronic timing device called an emit brikke (the system comes from Scandinavia.)
The map.... will look a little strange at first with colours and symbols that might as well be hieroglyphics, but you should be able to recognise tracks, paths, streams and contours. There should be a legend printed down the side to explain the other features but for beginners courses you'll be using linear features so make sure you know what a track, path, stream, fence and a wall look like and forget about the rest for the time being. The other thing you should note about your map is the scale - we use 1:10,000 or 1:15,000 scale maps to get the necessary detail in. That means that 1cm on the map represents 100m or 150m on the ground respectively. Imagine what the 100m dash looked like on the school playing field and that should help you judge the distance you need to go between controls. The control descriptions.... will show a list of controls and you must visit them in that order. Control sites are marked by special orange and white "kites" to make them easier to spot at a distance. Each control on the list will have a number or letter code next to it. When you actually reach that control, it will have a code physically attached to it so you know you've got the right one. The list also gives a brief description of the feature that you're looking for, e.g. path/stream junction, fence bend, to help you home in on it once you're in the right area on the map. The desciptions are in the form of a pictorial code - just ask someone for a translation or ask for one of our cards explaining the different symbols.
Finish.... once you've punched the Finish control, go to the download point (often the same place as registration) and hand in your brikke. You will be given your time on a slip of paper which also shows how long it took you between each control. IMPORTANT - Even if you don't finish your course, you must still go to download to hand in your brikke - this is the only method we have of knowing that you're back safe and sound and we don't need to call out International Rescue. Back to Gramp homepage FAQs What should I wear? Do I need to know how to use a
map and compass? Who can take part? Is it really competitive? How much does it cost? Is it always the same kind of
courses described here? Can I practise anywhere else
apart from the organised events? Where can I look up all these
new terms and abbreviations I keep coming across? Back to Gramp homepage Last updated 11/12/2009 Grampian Orienteers Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Huntly Stonehaven Scotland Orienteering |
So you want to know what this
orienteering thing is all about?
The brikke.... should
be attached to your finger using the strap and fits snuggly in the palm of your
hand, orange side facing outwards. Every time you get to a control,
including the Start and Finish, place the brikke onto the base plate, orange to
orange, and make sure that the red LED on the control flashes. At the Start, as
soon as you lift your brikke from the control, any previous timing data is wiped
and the timing starts for your run. (So don't punch the Start again by mistake
instead of the Finish if you're bothered about timing!) Again, don't be
afraid to ask for help on the use of these - there is always someone hanging
around to help beginners.
Starts.... generally you
can start whenever you like after you've got your brikke and map
but there will be a last start cutoff time and also a time when all courses close, as obviously
the people organising would like to get home sometime the same day! If you want
you can leave your car keys at registration before setting off.