Spotlight on our University Orienteering Clubs: Leeds University Orienteering and Fell Running Club (LUUOC)

What advice would you give to freshers/newcomers to the sport?

It's important to understand that to do orienteering you don't have to be a good runner at all, you can walk the courses if you prefer and it's a very inclusive sport, accommodating newcomers to experienced orienteers, with different difficulties and course lengths.

Can you share any of your highlights as a club over the past year?

The main highlight as a club was taking part in BUCS orienteering and English university competitions. On the social side of the club, we had quite a few exciting socials over the year but beerienteering was definitely the hightlight.

What do you value most about being a member of your club?

Being part of an inclusive community where everyone shares a love for exploring the outdoors! 

Are there any key skills you have gained in being a committee member and a volunteer for the club?

Organisation, teamwork (with rest of committee) are the main key skills I have improved but also gaining more confidence and love for the sport.

The British University Orienteering Championships take place each year. Can you tell us more about your experience from this year’s event and why they are a great opportunity for university clubs across the country to come together to compete?

BUCS was a great opportunity to compete with people your age which was so much fun, the social in the evening was also fun to meet new people from other universities and being able to dress up in our designated fancy dress theme!

What are your aims as a club in the upcoming year?

Try to increase participation in the orienteering side of the club for BUCS, because LUUOC is a joint fell running and orienteering club, so just trying to introduce more people to orienteering!

Find out more about LUUOC by visiting their Facebook or Instagram pages where you will find more details of their events and how to join.
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Still thinking of getting into orienteering but want to give it a go first? Try it out at one of Airienteers upcoming events!

Airienteers have interacted with Leeds Beckett and the University of Leeds over many years. They have club members who are/ have been staff members as well as former students who have stayed in Leeds after graduating and made their lives here.

As part of their event programme, although they have to rotate around their club area, they do try to have 2 or 3 consecutive events in a smaller radius, giving people who may not travel after 1 experience more of a chance to get into the sport!

These four upcoming events are suitable for newcomers to come and give orienteering a go – so if you are interested in learning more about orienteering, and are in the area, please come along!

Burley Park is a very small park the main mapped area is urban and this is an area which is the heart of student residential area.

Beckett Park is park and woodland surrounding and including the main Leeds Beckett Uni campus and sports facilities for which it is famous. The club also has a permanent course and FYW courses there.

Woodhouse Ridge is a mixed Woodland and Residential map the residential again being largley student residents of the Hyde Park area.

Woodhouse Moor is contiguous, the park part is over the road from the Leeds Uni campus and was part of area used for British Sprint Champs 2022 held on the campus.