Quid Games II: Taking Orienteering to New Audiences at Kendal Mountain Festival
27 November 2025
Quid Games returned to Kendal Mountain Festival for its second instalment and once again demonstrated that orienteering can be bold, energetic and highly relevant to new audiences. The format followed a classic 60-minute score course with 16 checkpoints, but the experience was anything but traditional. From the moment the clock started, maps were flipped and hundreds of runners streamed into the dark streets of Kendal, unaware of what was to come.
Developed by British Orienteering’s Partnerships Manager, Kay Hawke and Ben Mounsey, Senior Marketing Executive at SportsShoes, Quid Games is designed to be different, it is designed to be disruptive and it’s designed to put the word ‘orienteering’ out there’. The premise of the events are simple Score Courses, get as many points as you can in the time limit. The event experience, the ‘before and afters’, the prize pots and unusual control (or for Quid Games ‘checkpoint’) locations, all chosen for the same purpose – to get the sport noticed.
Quid Games II was delivered right at the heart of the Kendal Mountain Festival on Friday evening, when all eyes were on the town for the largest outdoor festival in the UK – the sport was front and centre. Curious festival goers mixed with orienteers as the event centre filled, and saw unfold – organised chaos – as participants raced off into the night holding an orienteering map.
Welcoming Everyone to the Start Line
One of the most significant successes of the night was the diversity of the field. Complete newcomers stood shoulder-to-shoulder with British Orienteering members and GB athletes. Trail runners, club runners and recreational festival-goers all shared the same start line. All discovered the route as they went. All experienced orienteering on equal terms.
Exactly the environment we want to create: open, inclusive, and enticing to those discovering the sport for the first time or watching from the side-line.
Image credits: Nathan Phua, Dan Bentley and Tommy Leeming.
A Festival Atmosphere
The Event Village played a huge part in the experience. Buoyed by the Passenger Party Bus, it provided a place to enjoy great food, music, conversation and post-race stories late into the evening. It was vibrant, social and memorable.
Leading outdoor brands brought an incredible level of support and engagement. Silva, Red Bull, ASICS, Passenger, Gore-Tex, SunGod and Maurten provided prizes, giveaways, and the chance to trial equipment on the night. Their involvement reflects the growing recognition of orienteering as a modern, versatile sport with commercial appeal.
Unforgettable Checkpoints
The checkpoints were designed to create memorable moments and conversations long after the race was over. Courses flowed through unexpected and exciting locations including:
- Kirkbie Kendal School
- Kendal Dojo
- Bowness Bay Brewery
- Kendal Castle, which was especially ‘de-lit’ for the occasion so that Quid Games branding could take centre stage, including the lighting of the Beacon – let’s hope nobody thought a war was being started!
- And most notably, the top of the Kendal Ski Slope
Transformed into a Red Bull Après-Ski checkpoint complete with Red Bull DJ van, party lighting and kids cheering racers on after their lessons were moved to support the spectacle. The perfect mix of wild, weird and wonderful, and absolutely unforgettable.
These weren’t just checkpoints, they were stories waiting to happen, content waiting to be captured and the sport ready to be talked about...
A Sport on the Rise
Live for the Outdoors Magazine perfectly summarised the changing perception of orienteering via events like the Quid Games:
“That myth [of outdated orienteering] is being crushed – and fast.”
For many outdoor enthusiasts, it is quickly becoming clear that orienteering offers challenge, discovery and excitement that traditional running events cannot replicate.
“It’s the unpredictability that hooks you.”
Co-creator of the Quid Games concept, Ben Mounsey, reinforced that ambition:
“We wanted to disrupt the trail running scene, bring all disciplines together, and help the sport grow. Honestly… I think we’re only just getting started.”
Changing Perceptions, Not the Sport
Kay Hawke, British Orienteering Partnership Manager, highlighted the purpose behind the series:
“The biggest issue orienteering has is either a lack of awareness it exists, or the wrong perception of it. Orienteering is an incredible sport, exciting and full of unexpected moments, but far too many people still feel like it is not for them.”
“The Quid Games concept is simple: create an event where people go away wondering what just happened! Where newcomers and elites start together with it’s unpredictable by design, and that’s exactly what makes it exciting. Our aim is to open orienteering up, not replace it, not dilute it, but show people that you don’t have to arrive as an expert. You can learn mid-race, find checkpoints by instinct, and surprise yourself with what you’re capable of.”
The Participant Reaction
Kate Allen, writing for RunUltra after taking part, summed up the impact:
“High-energy, wildly creative, and exactly the kind of event that injects fun and freshness into trail running.”
She continued:
“Kay and Ben’s mission, opening orienteering to new audiences, works. I’m now addicted. You don’t need to be an expert (coughs discreetly). You don’t even need to be particularly confident. You just need curiosity, a headtorch, and a willingness to run around a town centre on a cold night, laughing at yourself.”
And importantly:
“Next year? I’ll definitely be going back. Quid Games is something special, and they’re only just getting started.”
Why Stop Now?
Well, Quid Games has already achieved what it set out to do:
- Orienteering is being talked about in new circles, including global brands, influential personalities and across wider realms of the sporting world.
- Outdoor communities are recognising the sport’s energy, potential and creativity
- Misconceptions are being challenged head-on
- New audiences are engaging with the sport for the first time
This is not about changing the sport, it’s about Changing Perceptions.
It is about showcasing a format of it at its very best.
British Orienteering, in conjunction with SportsShoes, is proud to deliver Quid Games and support a format that is already creating significant impact and interest.
Orienteering is modern.
Orienteering is relevant.
Orienteering is growing.
So why stop now? Well, we’re not, QGIII will return in 2026, and as always –
Expect the unexpected...
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