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Track to Terrain returns for 2019

The very successful orienteering training course tailor-made for adult beginners, Track to Terrain, is starting again soon in Bristol. Organised and run by Bristol Orienteering Klub (BOK), the course is designed to teach adults how to orienteer confidently up to an orange standard in just four weeks.

Starting on Tuesday 30th April at 6.30pm in Ashton Court Estate, a beautiful country park and mansion with 850 acres of woodland and grassland right on the edge of Bristol City centre, the course will be limited to just 25 spaces so that the trainers can give each student individual and practical attention. The session will run for two hours and will start by introducing students to the aims of orienteering and the unique maps we use.

The four-week course will cover a wide range of skills such as reading an orienteering map, learning the symbols, using a compass, orientation and route choices needed to enable confident running in an orange level orienteering race (up to about 4km). There will be plenty of practical opportunities to give it a go and then later to discuss how it went with the trainers and other participants in the local pub.

Ashton Court will also be the location the second week when navigational techniques will be developed and these will be advanced and continued for the remaining two weeks at Leigh Woods, a national nature reserve on the edge of the Avon Gorge, just north of Ashton Court. Leigh Woods contains diverse woodlands and pastures, superb views of both the City and its famous Clifton Suspension Bridge and with very different terrain to the previous two weeks training in parkland, gives the opportunity to experience a taste of forest orienteering.

One of last year’s students said:  "I attended this course last year and found it really friendly, relaxed and useful. I really appreciate all the time and enthusiasm given by the leaders and I am now a member of BOK, running Green courses and am really enjoying it.”

Track to Terrain is free to BOK Members and just £10 for non-members which is refundable on becoming a member. Last year a large number of the students joined BOK as a result of the course.

Alan Honey, BOK Chairman added:  “It’s a great pleasure to offer this training course for adult beginners again. Last year it was very successful not only in terms of getting more people aware and participating in orienteering races, but also to add members to our highly competitive and sociable BOK team.”

Alongside Track to Terrain, the BOK Urban orienteering series starts on Wednesday 24th April at the University of Bristol and Stoke Lodge, providing the perfect opportunity for the students to try out their new skills and to progress their orienteering throughout the summer in and around the Bristol area.

More information can be found here.

Places allocated on a first come first serve basis.  Register online for the first event in the series to be registered for all four in the course. For more information please email Track to Terrain.

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