The first was Airienteers Holden Park (#785) in Oakworth. The second was Ribble Valley Borough Council’s Clitheroe Castle (#786) (South Ribble Orienteering Club/Pendle Forest Orienteers) and familiar to me from the excellent South Ribble Orienteering Club Sprint Series. The map is notable for the innovation of multiple concentric coloured circles to mark controls being on the various suggested courses.

I have now returned home from a Permanent Orienteering Course tour on the back of the Southampton Orienteering Club’s 50th November Classic over the weekend. I have taken part in and completed 3 events and 14 Permanent Orienteering Courses since leaving home on Thursday 2 November means I have tonight logged POC #800, fittingly being a permanent Street-O course at Seaton, Devon, done with headtorch! 6 POCs required 19 miles of running, albeit very slowly.”

Paul continues: “Being at the Greater Manchester Orienteering Activities Committee meeting last night reminded me of how I was encouraged to take up the CompassSport challenge quite a few years ago by my club colleague Beryl Blackhall and I began with a bulk purchase of about 20 of GMOA’s permanent orienteering course maps.

I expected to finish the challenge when I ran out of having a stock of maps for new areas to visit. However, I’ve not yet run out of maps as new permanent courses continue to come on stream. It was pleasing that my adventure last week began with a visit to Mirrlees Fields being the latest addition to the GMOA portfolio of over 50 actively managed permanent orienteering courses around Greater Manchester.”

On behalf of South East Lancs Orienteering Club, member Stephen Round said: “We've watched Paul's progress with a mix of awe and bewilderment, thinking it would peter out after he'd completed Greater Manchester O.A.'s 50 local permanent orienteering courses - but it didn't! To get so far beyond that has required not just the time spent completing the courses, usually after another hard race or tagged on to a long business trip, but much planning and effort in locating permanent orienteering courses, obtaining maps and all other practicalities. Though no doubt much easier now with British Orienteering’s extensive listing on the website, it will take someone with Paul's application and tenacity as well as his fitness to beat what must surely be a world record of 800 and still rising. But we think he enjoyed it!

British Orienteering would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Paul on his incredible achievement! Paul has since added #801 and #802 to his tally already.

Permanent Orienteering Courses are a great way to get outside and go orienteering at a time and place that suits you. Courses offer a huge range of variety, from urban courses in city centres to rural routes through beautiful scenery. They are on your doorstep or further afield helping you to discover new places. Whether it's a walk with the family, exploring the area whilst on holiday or simply just adding variety to a training run, Permanent Orienteering Courses can help you explore.

Permanent Orienteering courses are listed here.

Photo credit:  Mark Sammon, SELOC