Harlequins Orienteering Club - Community-O Page

Starting off...

Unfortunately the recent Community Orienteering initiatives in the West Midlands have had to be curtailed prematurely , but instead we'll be using this page to show event details and other information which newcomers to the sport might find useful. On the right there are links to some aligned but non-O activities which may also be of interest.

Neighbouring club COBOC holds club nights every Wednesday from 6.30pm to 8.00pm at Birmingham Outdoor Education Centre (BOEC), Clifton Road, Sutton Coldfield B73 6EB (next to Sutton Park). This provides orienteering coaching and fitness training for all ages and abilities. For more details call or text Dave Ellis on 07714094427

What do I do?

Find your way round a course marked on a special map as fast as you can
At each Control Point find an orange and white flag and a numbered electronic box
Check the number matches the one you want
Insert your electronic card (strapped to your finger) in the box until it beeps and the light flashes
Race off to your next control
From the Finish, return to the Event Centre to get your results and return your electronic punch
If you "retire" you MUST return to the Event Centre so we know you are safe, and to return your electronic card
The cards are expensive; if you lose it you will be charged Ł30 to cover the cost of replacement
Sometimes lower-tech ways of verifying that you've visited the controls are used; either pin-punches on a card or writing down a code number
Sometimes other formats are used; for example, visit as many controls as you can in any order within a set time

What do I need? small child punching control

Trainers & suitable clothes, for running in
A whistle, if you have one
A compass, if you have one
Money for entry fee

This website contains mapping data licensed from Ordnance Survey with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number PU43423U.

Please note that information, views, statements and images forming part of this site are subject to the site disclaimer.

Branching out...

HOC members don't just spend all their spare time orienteering or doing behind-the-scenes work to support the sport. Obviously there's a strong crossover with athletics and other outdoor pursuits, such as...

parkrun - regular Saturday morning 5km runs. In HOC's area, parkrun takes place at Edgbaston (Cannon Hill Park), Redditch (Arrow Valley), Walsall and Worcester.

Local athletics clubs:

Halesowen Athletics & Cycling Club

Dudley Ladies Running Club

Dudley & Kingswinford Running Club

Black Pear Joggers, Worcester

Open Street Map - free mapping, surveyed and maintained by volunteers. Orienteering's Ollie O'Brien is a contributer and has developed the Open O-Map version which allows anyone to get map extracts in a format suitable for urban and street events.

Some Orienteering video links:
Sky Sports Get Involved...

London City Race