Event Structure
Mainstream orienteering provides a packed calendar of events at all levels. Schools will normally be very welcome to take a
group to participate but is advisable to contact the organiser first if it is your first time attending club events
or you want to take more than say six children. Parents may also be interested because Orienteering is an ideal family
activity: at most events there will be courses to suit all ages and there will be help for newcomers.
C5 Local events
Small introductory events.
Sometimes known as SMILE (Sat/Sun Morning Introductory Lowkey Event)
Usually 3 or 4
"Colour Coded" courses only.
Entry on the day.
Maps usually overprinted with the course, but may have to copy your own course from a "Master Map" onto a blank map.
Pin Punching or Electronic Punching
"Low key".
C4 District events
Usually includes 7 or 8
"Colour Coded" courses.
Entry on the day.
Maps usually overprinted with the course.
Electronic Punching
C3 Regional events
Juniors have courses by ability, distance and gender; Seniors Long & Short in age/gender groups.
Pre-entry, usually around 3 weeks before the event.
Maps usually overprinted with the course.
Multi - day events in the summer holidays.
Electronic Punching
Usually include limited range of entry-on-the-day colour coded courses.
C2 National events
Juniors have courses by ability, distance and gender; Seniors Long & Short in age/gender groups.
There are Elite courses for Men and Women.
Pre-entry, usually around 3 weeks before the event.
Maps overprinted with the course.
Electronic Punching
Events may include limited range of entry-on-the-day colour coded courses.
C1 Championship events
as per C2 events for the major events of the year:
- British Orienteering Championships.
- Jan Kjellström Trophy (The "JK").
At Championships the Juniors run in age/gender groups with a shorter easier alternative available for each group.
Each event also has a separate Relay Championship for teams of 3 (or 4 for top classes).
Other terms/events:
String courses (suitable for very young children)
Primary Sprint
(described with guidelines)
Summer evening events (C5s held on Wednesday or Thursday evenings)
Cross-Country
(described)
Norwegian
(described)
Score event
(described)
Night event (any event staged during darkness)
Relays
(described)
League ("Galoppen") (are based on placings at a series of District events within a region)
Junior Inter-Regional Championships
Harvester Relays - an overnight race
Junior Club Relays ("Peter Palmer Trophy") - this is an overnight race just for juniors
Junior Inter-Club competition ("Yvette Baker Trophy")
Inter-Club competition ("Compass Sport" Cup and Trophy)