Orienteering schools league opens
A new Orienteering Schools League (OSL), coordinated by the South African Orienteering Federation (SAOF), is planned for the Kensington, Bedfordview, Edenvale area and neighbouring suburbs for the first term of 2015.
Orienteering is a walking and running sport of map-based navigation. Participants are required to navigate and choose routes between checkpoints, called ‘controls’.
The fastest runner, with all the correct controls, is the winner.
“I always think of orienteering as treasure hunting. The map tells you where to find the ‘treasure’; the challenge is taking efficient routes to locate the controls,” said Ms Lisa de Speville, the project manager for the SAOF.
Orienteering has its roots in the forests of Scandinavia, where orienteering events were held at the end of the 19th century as part of military training. Orienteering was subsequently formalised, and the sport, as defined by the International Orienteering Federation, was introduced into South Africa in 1981.
Although orienteering is a stand-alone sport, the skills learnt can be applied in many other ways. Being able to navigate with confidence and find your way is useful for driving – in cities or on road trips. Hikers and adventure racers use orienteering to practice and improve their navigation techniques.
A Schools League has been running for over 10 years in the northern suburbs.
“With traffic being what it is, getting out north to venues like Bryanston, Fourways and further out on a Monday afternoon – and getting home – is a challenge for schools in this area,” said Ms de Speville. “We have received enough interest to create a new league here.”
Local schools are invited to participate in the four OSL events, which will be held on consecutive Monday afternoons in February 2015.
The events take place at different school venues in the Kensington, Bedfordview and Edenvale areas.
“We also welcome individual participation,” said Ms de Speville.
“Sometimes schools are already committed to many different sports, yet individual pupils are keen to give orienteering a try. This is also perfect for home-schooled children.”
Girls and boys from grades five to 12 are welcome. At the end of the league, the highest ranked orienteerers will be selected for a competitive final event, against the northern OSL runners.
Additional information is available at www.orienteering.co.za
OSL – EAST is coordinated by Ms Lisa de Speville, a local from this area.
She has 15 years of orienteering and adventure racing experience, as a participant, navigator and coach. She is also a qualified British Orienteering Federation Level 2 coach.
Email o4schools@orienteering.co.za for more information.
