Permanent Orienteering Courses

Desperate to get back into orienteering as lockdown eases?

Looking for a new outdoor activity for today’s weird world?

Permanent Orienteering Courses might be something to try.

Find out more

Watch the BOF video to see what its like

Courses are available locally near Horsham, Crawley, Brighton and Eastbourne – more details here

These courses cater for all ages, levels of experience, fitness and skill. All have options for buggies and wheelchairs.

List of Trail Runs

Below is a list of Summer Trail Runs that have been set up. Groups of up to six can run together on a Thursday evening (with social distancing), use the Doodle Poll to sign up for a particular time slot. Alternatively do the run whenever you want. Each run will also be set up on MapRun (for those now addicted to their beeping phone) and can be found in the UK/Sussex/TrailRuns folder. A new run should be added every Wednesday.

List of available MapRunsRecently added: Friston, Crowlink, Piltdown

Below is a list of runs that are available using the MapRunF app (see previous news item for further details on how to use this). Some use orienteering maps while others use OS maps of open access land. The government is encouraging us to get out and exercise and have deemed it acceptable to drive to access suitable areas for exercise. When participating in any of these runs please follow our recommended safety advice.

Evening Trail Runs

The regular summer evening trail runs are starting again but with some changes to allow compliance with Government rules. Notably:

i) No groups of more than 6

ii) Social distancing to be maintained between runners

iii) Please print and bring your own map

To facilitate i) a Doodle poll has been set up where you can book a slot on a Thursday evening, if you would like to run with others. Note that if 6 individuals/households have already signed up for a slot you will have to choose another.

Tilgate Colour Coded MapRun

For those members that "don't do score or sprint" here is a more traditional colour coded 'event' set up for MapRun. See previous news items for instructions on using MapRunF and please read the safety advice. Short brown, green and orange courses have been set up - details can be found on the list of available runs page.

Southdowns 10mile Trail Challenge

The latest MapRun offering is a more extreme linear course using a combined Wolstonbury/Newtimber/Devil's Dyke map. Two courses are on offer the main one being approximately 10 miles long (actual distance), the shorter one 6 miles. Although aimed at runners there are route choices to be made and some simple navigation. See previous news items on using MapRun or a GPS devise to record your run and advice on safety.

2020 Annual general meeting postponed

Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, the Southdowns Orienteers Annual General Meeting planned to take place in June 2020 has been postponed. It is hoped that the meeting will take place, subject to the easing of the current COVID-19 restrictions, later in the year.