Age Class | M stands for Men, W for Women, L for Long, S for Short. The xx is then the age group. These are 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 for Juniors, 21 for competitors age 21 through 34 The groups then go up in 5 year spans. E.g. M40 will have male competitors age range 40 to 44. Note that you enter the age range at the start of the year that you attain that age |
Badge event | Now known as a Regional Event |
BOC/BEOC | British Orienteering Championships / British Elite Orienteering Championships. These are the annual championships for the whole of GB. Each age class is run. The Elite championships are now a separate event for those at the pinnacle of the sport. |
BOF | British Orienteering Federation – The governing body of the sport, based in offices in Matlock, Derbyshire. |
Championship event | The sports premier events. The British Orienteering Championships and the JK weekend comprise these events. |
| Colour Coded event | Now known as a District or Local Event depending on number of courses (5 or more courses incl Blue = District, 4 or less = Local) |
| The standard local orienteering event. Usually 7 courses are provided ranging from White (very easy and short) to Brown (technically very hard and long). These are events where you can just turn up, pay and run a course. Usually master maps are used. A brief description of the distances and technical standards is shown on a separate page. For a fuller description pick up a copy of the ‘Lets Go Orienteering’ leaflet at any Claro event. |
Compass Sport | The national magazine devoted to Orienteering. Six issues every year to keep you informed of all that’s happening and all that’s new in the orienteering world, both nationally and internationally. Also contains listings of events throughout the country. |
Compass Sport Cup | An inter-club competition. Every member of the club can take part in this competition. The course you run is determined by your age group, with a total of 8 different ‘teams’ making up the full complement. Your position within that team then counts towards the club score. The club with the best combined score wins |
Compasspoint/ Ultrasport | The two main suppliers of Orienteering equipment. They often turn up at Regional events and some larger district events with mobile shops. |
Control Card | The card that you need to punch, in the correct order, at each control that you visit on your course. It may be made of thin card or, more usually “tyvek” which is waterproof and reasonably tearproof |
Description sheet | The sheet that tells you the ‘control number’ that you will find at each of your controls and the description of the feature (e.g. ditch end, depression). |
| District Event | The standard local orienteering event. Usually 7 courses are provided ranging from White (very easy and short) to Brown (technically very hard and long). These are events where you can just turn up, pay and run a course. Usually master maps are used. A brief description of the distances and technical standards is shown on a separate page. For a fuller description pick up a copy of the ‘Lets Go Orienteering’ leaflet at any Claro event. |
Emit | An alternative electronic punching system more popular on the continent. Used for international events. |
EPS | Electronic Punching System. Orienteering with Technology! EPS removes the need for control cards. Electronic punching has been gradually introduced over the past couple of years (2000, 2001) and many YHOA events and national events now use the system. There are two systems available – Sportident & Emit. |
Kites or Control kites | The shaped markers that hang at and thereby identify the location of a control. Made of red and white triangular pieces of material supported on a cane – identification number marked on them. |
| Local Event | A smaller local orienteering event. Where up to 4 courses are provided ranging from White (very easy and short) to Red or Light Green (somewhat technical and medium distance). These are events where you can just turn up, pay and run a course. Usually master maps are used. A brief description of the distances and technical standards is shown on a separate page. For a fuller description pick up a copy of the ‘Lets Go Orienteering’ leaflet at any Claro event. |
M/Wxx L/S | Courses at regional events and higher are identified by the competitors age group. |
Master Maps | These are the maps marked with a specific course. At most local and district events, competitors set off from the start and copy their course from these maps to his/her own ‘blank’ map A red pen is essential. White and Yellow courses usually have Master Maps prior to the start so that children’s course drawing can be checked. |
National event | A series of ‘top quality’ major orienteering events held each year throughout the country. These events are held on the most technically challenging terrain. |
Peter Palmer relays | A national inter-club relay competition for Juniors. Takes place at the end of September. The first couple of ‘legs’ are in the dark! |
Pictorial description | At major events, the description sheet uses pictorial symbols to describe each feature, rather than a textual description. These are internationally defined and standardised. |
POC | Permanent Orienteering Course. A course, usually in public access areas, where the kites (usually wooden posts) are left at control points permanently. |
Punches | The device used to mark your control card at each control. They contain a number of spikes in a set pattern. This allows your control card to be checked to ensure that you actually visited the correct control sites |
| Regional Event | Regional events are organised around the various orienteering age groups. For each age group there will be a long and a short course available. These events are more expensive than District or Local events and it is possible (advisable if you want to be sure of a run) to pre-enter. Entry on the Day (EOD) is sometimes permitted but usually with a surcharge. |
SEF | Standard Entry Form. The larger events (Regional events/ national events) usually require competitors to pre-enter, by post. A standard form is used to ensure all the relevant details are included. |
SportIdent (SI) | The main electronic punching system used in the UK. The system consists of a box which is placed at each control point and an individual ‘dibber’ that the orienteer carries around. At the control point the dibber is inserted into the hole in the box and this is recorded electronically on the dibber. After finishing the “contents” of the dibber can be ‘downloaded’ to a computer. The software checks that the correct controls have been visited and in the correct order and the competitor is presented with a set of split times. |
The ‘Harvester’ | A national inter-club relay competition, held annually. The first legs start very early in the morning. |
The ‘JK’ | The Jan Kjellstrom International Festival of Orienteering. This is the main ‘social’ orienteering event of the year. It is named after the young Swedish Orienteer who made a great contribution in establishing orienteering in the UK and who was tragically killed in a car accident. It is held over the Easter Bank Holiday, in a different region every year. Good Friday is the training’ day, Saturday and Sunday see individual events and Monday is when the relay events are held. |
The Clarion | The regular newsletter of CLARO. Giving information on all forthcoming events and news of what’s happened, especially involving club members. |
Wilf’s | A mobile vegetarian catering company. Attends all the major national events and a very popular and welcome source of nourishment. Good value for money. |
YHOA | Yorkshire and Humberside Orienteering Association. Regional governing body. |
Yvette Baker Trophy | A national competition for Juniors. Regional heats are used to select a club from each region. This is based on teams of 7, but everyone who runs can count. |
