Mapping is the one of the most rewarding and enjoyable roles. Not only does it improve your navigation skills, but it can also provide you with a different and new type of orienteering challenge.  

The British Orienteering E-Learning Mapping Courses, Introduction to updating Forest Mapping and Introduction to Sprint and Urban Mapping , developed with the expertise of David Olivant (Nottinghamshire Orienteering Club) and the educational robustness  of Pauline Olivant (Nottinghamshire Orienteering Club) .

Both courses are based around learners having access to either of the two most widely used mapping programs, Open Orienteering Mapper and OCAD.

We strongly advise that you seek an experienced mapper as a mentor to support you through your journey towards being a competent mapper.

Both courses are based on updating an existing map and rather than creating a new map from a previously unmapped area.

Course objectives

• To provide an introduction and basic understanding of the processes involved in how to update and amend an existing Orienteering map.

The course content is designed to only address the course objective rather than attempting to cover the full scope of Mapping. As we recognise that Mapping is a skill that takes much time and practice to hone.

The course should only take around 45- 60 mins to complete and for the whole of May is only £6.00

To access the course and find out more information about our other E-Learning courses, please visit the E-Learning homepage.

Interested in learning about our other E-Learning courses on offer? Visit the E-Learning homepage and access information on all the other resources we provide.

AIRE and CLARO look forward to seeing you all at the British Middle Championships this coming weekend. 

You have entered in greater numbers than we anticipated, but we have adapted to cater for you all as best we can.  Both Danefield and Kilnsey Moor is a lovely places in the Spring sunshine and we really hope the weather is kind so that you can enjoy it at its best.  The technical woodland of Danefield is in sharp contrast to the fast open areas of Kilnsey.  You should enjoy some great orienteering on both days.  Str8 compasses is sponsoring a lot of prizes for the Northern Championships and the British Middles so run well and good luck.

Start times and final details are published, maps are printed and lots of equipment is ready to move.  No controls are out yet, but we have been busy at Kilnsey as you may be able to see from a picture.  There are a variety of crossing points on Kilnsey Moor – many of you will only encounter this one.  There are no stiles to cross at Danefield you’ll be relieved to know.

We will be able to accommodate you all in the parking areas for both events, but as always, it would help if you car shared as much as possible.  The Danefield field has remained in good condition throughout the winter, but as some rain has been forecast over the coming days we will have some tracking available.  Kilnsey has the delight of hard standing in the quarry.  We can’t promise that you will keep your feet dry, but at least cars should not get stuck in the mud as might have happened at some recent events.  We’re hoping that’s true for Danefield.  Definitely true for Kilnsey!

Anyone wanting to carry a club tent to Danefield, could reduce the distance to carry the tent by 800m by using the drop off point suggested in the event details.  It would need to be a rapid drop-off as there are often no parking bays available. They are all quite uneven, and the road is very narrow.  To get back to the parking field it is best to not attempt a 5 point turn but to drive in an anti-clockwise route with LH turns for 2.5k to get back to the parking field.  This should take no morfme than 5 minutes.

Have a great weekend.

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Full details on the British Middle Championships are available via this link. Visit the CLARO website for more details regarding the Northern Championships. Good luck to everyone taking part!

As agreed at the AGM 2023, from 1 May 2024 British Orienteering would like to offer an exclusive part-year Membership to new members.

New members are individuals who have not been members of British Orienteering in any of the previous four calendar years.

Part year membership fees 2024

Seniors – £10

Young adults – £7.50

Juniors – £3.00

Families – £25.00 (all members must be new members and not on the database to take up this offer).

No memberships will be merged with existing memberships.

Please note from 1 January 2025, any “new” members will need to renew their membership for 2025.

Find out more about how to join online today. 

The long-distance race took place in the same forest as the relay in Heřmánky. The tough challenging long-distance course in the sandstones tested the orienteering skills of all runners. High speed, strength and endurance were needed as each athlete started individually with a 3-minute start interval to the next competitor. The highest ranked athletes started last, and the fastest time wins.

There were 59 women and 68 men competing with in the women's 21 controls on the 9.5km course with nearly 700m climb and in the men's 13.6km long with 29 controls.

Great Britain were represented in the Women's Long distance by Grace Molloy, Jo Shepherd and Megan Carter- Davies and in the Men's with Hector Haines and Ralph Street.

Grace Molloy started 15th out of the 59 competitors as the lowest ranked Brit, but produced a fantastic performance to hold the fastest time for a good amount of time before finally finishing in 15th spot.  Jo Shepherd had a solid performance to finish 30th, but the story of the day was outstanding race by Megan Carter-Davies who finished in 6th position in an event which was won by Tove Alexandersson her 3rd Individual gold and 5th gold of the week.

Women’s Long distance - Results

1st          Tove Alexandersson (Sweden)                

2nd        Natalia Gemperle (Neutral)                 

3rd         Simona Aebersold (Swizerland)           

4th             Andrine Benjaminsen (Norway)               

4th         Lisa Risby (Sweden)                

6th         Megan Carter Davies  (Great Britain)         

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25th            Grace Molloy (Great Britain)         

30th       Jo Shepherd  (Great Britain)

In the Men's Ralph Street put in again a solid effort to finish in 18th place and Hector Haines in 33rd place with Kasper Harlem Fosser from Norway taking the World Orienteering Long distance title.

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This event rounded up the week at the World Orienteering Championships where Great Britain is returning home with a 4th in the Individual Sprint from Alice Leake, 6th in the Sprint Relay and 6th in the Individual Long by Megan Carter-Davies.