Orienteering
Frequently Asked Questions
Orienteering is a sport in which competitors navigate their way around a course with a map and compass. Courses are marked by a series of orange and white control flags.
Where did orienteering originate ?
Orienteering originated in Scandinavia over a hundred years ago, although it didn't get started in the UK until about fifty years ago. As you may have noticed, SROC were the first club in England.
Is orienteering a global sport ?
Yes, the International Orienteering Federation now has almost 60 member federations.
Are there many orienteers in Britain ?
The British Orienteering Federation is made up of twelve regions with approximately 5000 members.
Does orienteering only take place on foot ?
Not any more. There's now Mountain Bike (MTBO), Ski and Trail orienteering, which was devised for disabled competitors. Unfortunately there aren't too many of these types of event in Britain.
Yes. That's the great thing about orienteering, it's a sport that everyone can enjoy. It doesn't matter whether you're an elite runner or someone who'd like something slightly more challenging than a ramble through the woods. Courses are available for ages 8 to 80, so there's something for all the family.
Is orienteering an individual sport ?
In most events, competitors compete alone. However, if you're just starting you could go round with a friend.
Originally events were held on common land and in woods and forests. More recently the sport has evolved to include open fell and city parks. The last few years have seen rapid growth in urban events, run using highly detailed maps of cities and towns.
Events are often held on a Sunday morning around the region. SROC events may also be held on Saturdays or on midweek evenings. For example, here are the current SROC Fixtures. Visit the Event Types page for more information.
Does orienteering have a season ?
Events are held throughout the year, although the majority occur between September and June / July.
For a basic event, an adult entry fee would be around £6. This increases to around £25 for the National Championships. Junior (under 18s) and Student entry fees are approximately half this.
Not to start with, outdoor clothes will be fine. If you enter more events then at some point you'll probably decide to buy a compass. Beyond that there's specialist O-kit and O-shoes but there's no need to worry about them at this stage.
If you're new to the sport and just want to try it, no. Further details regarding club and national membership can be found on the SROC Membership page.
Last Updated : 26.01.20