We are pleased to announce that orienteers attending this year's JK festival will seen the return (and chance to participate!) in Biathlon Orienteering. 

What is Biathlon Orienteering?

Biathlon Orienteering is a combination of orienteering and rifle shooting. 

How it works

You begin with an orienteering course then come to the range, get your breathing and heart rate under control, and take 5 shots - with penalties of running loops or time if you miss. Next it's time for another orienteering loop before you return to the range and shoot a further 5 shots. The same type of rifle is used, where five targets at a distance of 50 meters should be hit. 

Some smaller competitions will use air rifles or electronic/laser rifles. Targets are, in simple terms, the size of a golf ball for prone, a tennis ball for standing.

The rifle is not carried in a harness on the back but is placed in a rifle rack at the shooting range and is picked following an orienteering loop. Shooting accuracy is important as time penalties are quite severe. They are:

Classic distance: two minutes time penalty for each missed target

Sprint, mass start and relay: one penalty loop for each missed target.

Biathlon Orienteering at JK 2024

There will be a demonstration of the sport on days 1-3 at JK 2024 by one of our colleagues from the Swedish Multisport Federation.

It will be a simplified set up with laser rifles and a small course/penalty loop, so that as many of you as possible - juniors and seniors - can have a go. Most importantly, there will be no charge for this, so do come and try and have a go!

Some of you may recall that we did this in 2018 and it was very popular, we very much hope for the same this year! 

Biathlon Orienteering will be located in the Assembly field on Days 2 and 3 and nearby assembly on Day 1.

Anyone who want to know more please feel free to contact Bob Dredge at: bob_dredge@hotmail.com.

A fuller explanation of the sport is available here: Information on Biathlon Orienteering.

Biathlon Orienteering - your new challenge at JK 2024