The British Orienteering Championship season heads off to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Saturday 11 June 2016 for the first day of a Championship weekend which starts with the British Sprints. 

Organised by British Orienteering, Southeast Orienteering Association and Chigwell and Epping Forest Orienteering Club, the British Sprint Championships will be hosted for the very first time at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.  The event promises an excellent day of running and navigation. 

The following day, Sunday 12 June, orienteers will head further south to Surrey for the British Middle Orienteering Championships which will take place on Leith Hill near Dorking. 

Orienteers from across the UK will have the opportunity to run through a variety of terrain at both venues and at the end of each day of competition worthy British Champions will be crowned.

Jennie Taylor, Marketing Manager, at British Orienteering, said: “Our aim is to raise the profile of the sport of orienteering. We are very excited to be holding our British Sprint Championships this year in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.  We welcome spectators to this event and we will be providing the Xplorer Challenge for newcomers to the sport to have a go for themselves.”

David Goldstone, Chief Executive, London Legacy Development Corporation, said: “With 560 acres of beautiful parklands, what better place to hold this prestigious event than Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park? It’s great that the British Orienteering Championships are coming to the Park for the first time. Orienteering is an excellent challenge for the mind and body, and I’m sure all participants will have a fantastic day.”

Both events offer great activities in which the whole family can be involved.  British Orienteering encourages everyone to come along and have a go!  At the British Middle Championships there will be beginners’ colour-coded courses ranging from very easy ones following paths, to others requiring the basic use of a compass. All these will be suitable for individuals and family groups. Also available at Leith Hill will be string courses for very young children on their own, or together with their parents, grandparents or guardians. They will have their own map and follow a string which takes them around a set of controls marked by fun characters. 

The Xplorer Challenge, which will be at both events, will provide a fun family challenge aimed at primary and pre-school children. Using a simple map the aim is to find the points marked on it, and write down the name of the secret animal or colour shown on each marker on the ground. No experience of map reading is necessary and parents are encouraged to join in the fun! 

For further information about the event and travel directions to either location please visit: http://www.britishsprintchamps.org.uk/ and http://www.britishmiddlechamps.org.uk/

Item posted by Jennie Taylor, Marketing Manager