Local team on course to greater heights
Limpopo's Orienteering team came close to snatching a victory at the National Orienteering Championships in North West recently where they won silver in their category.
POLOKWANE – The team also managed to claim top positions in the Light Green categories, however there are no rewards in this class.
Team Limpopo failed to defend the title they won in 2015 in the long course category to Gauteng.
They obtained position two and four in long course and position four and five in middle course.
According to the Provincial Orienteering Development Officer, Ephraim Chuene, the performance displayed by local athletes at the nationals obliged the South African Orienteering Federation to host the International Orienteering Championships in Limpopo.
The tournament is expected to start some time in December until January 2018.
Orienteering is described as a family sport that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed.
“The orienteering board appreciated the effort team Limpopo put into the sport and honoured us by granting the province an opportunity to host an international tournament,” he said.
He is the senior coach at the Polokwane Orienteering Club and a South Africa level one coach. As the provincial development officer, Chuene has to oversee everything in the province and assist other coaches to understand the sport better and promote players. Three local players were selected to be part of the National Orienteering Squad after impressing the scouts at the national tourney, they are: Lesedi Chuene, Tebatso Ramodike, and the sport’s mastermind, Ephraim Chuene. He pointed out Male o/21 21 Elite (M21E) as one of the toughest courses in the sport, and explained that it requires someone who is fit and can run fast on hills and rocks. This is a 21 km course and needs certain techniques for an athlete to excel.
Chuene encouraged young people to join the sport to enjoy the fun of walking and running through forests and fields.
Orienteering is a sport open to people of all ages and abilities.
Events will often incorporate different courses for competitors based on their age, physical ability and experience.
