News
Archive of News and Information stored under the News category.
Friston Event - rescheduled for 19th December
This event will now take place on Saturday 19th December.
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Heading to the area this morning the planner found the roads leading to the forest closed due to flooding, and alternative routes would likely clash with Beachy Head marathon traffic. Given the poor weather forecast for later this morning the decision has been made to postpone the event until a later date. Information on carrying entries forward or getting refunds/credits will be provided later.
SO Junior Camp near Horsham - 7th to 8th Nov
Come and join in a weekend of training, fun and team activities. The event is run by our team of Coaches and is suitable for all SO juniors. We currently have fifteen juniors signed up (aged 8-17) and would be very pleased to welcome more. There is the option to stay overnight in a warm scout hut (food and night activities provided), or just come to the daytime sessions.
To sign up and for further details contact Anna Chapman or Bea Waters.
SO 50th Anniversary top
Southdowns Orienteers will be 50 at the turn of the year.
Our committee have decided to mark the occasion with a one-time anniversary top. This incorporates our traditional colours, a one-time badge on the front showing a combined map of Stanmer Park (left half from our very first event in 1977, right half from the current map), and some contours from one of our most popular venues.
Autumn club nights 2026
Autumn club nights return on Tuesday 22nd September.
Courses have been risk assessed according to this document.
SO 4th at CompassSport Cup Final
We couldn't quite match our third place position at the 2019 final at the same venue, it always looked like it would be a good race for third place behind FVO and SYO and so it proved. In the end we were pipped for 3rd by SN (who beat us in the qualifier) but held off strong challenges from BOK and HH. The club captain has the maps for those members who left before 1pm. Results can be found here.
Summer Trail Runs 2026
Summer trail runs returned on 16th April 2026. Courses have been risk assessed according to this document
We will meet as a group at 6:30pm each Thursday although we hope to make the activities available online to attempt at your leisure. Courses will be saved in the Trail Runs folder on MapRun (UK/Sussex/Trail Runs).
Please sign up using the Strawpoll and indicate (when appropriate) whether you would like a map provided (cost £1) or are happy to print off your own.
FIRST AID TRAININGFree to SO Members
0900hrs – 1700hrs Saturday 2nd January 2027 at Ringmer, near Lewes.
The course is free of charge to SO members.
Tea/coffee and biscuits will be provided, please bring a packed lunch.
To book your place contact Steve Blount.
Peter Palmer Junior Team Relay Success
Our two Southdowns Junior Teams ran to podium positions at the recent Peter Palmer Junior Team Relay which took place on Ashdown Forest. The seven person PP team took 2nd place and the five person daybreak team took 3rd place. Our junior teams ranged from age 10 to 18 and included seven newcomers to this event.
Pre-season training open to allChailey Common venues
Ahead of the Peter Palmer Relay competition, we have organised two opportunities for all club members to get out into the terrain. Each evening has two mass-start training competitions. A short 15-minute score in the twilight and then a 2.5km or 4 km line competition as it gets darker. The main events of the evenings start at 19.30 and courses will close at 21.00. The activities take place on Saturday 5 September 2026 and Wednesday 9 September 2026 on different parts of the Chailey map. It’s free to take part, but you must sign-up in advance with your details: https://doodle.com/sign-up-she...
Juniors love being out in the woods with a torch and a map. Whatever their age, bring them along for a walk or jog round Chailey Common. Older juniors can run on their own if they wish, but most younger juniors enjoy being with a parent or friend.
Calling all juniors M/W12 and over to take part in Peter Palmer Junior Team Relay - Sept 13th
We're currently putting teams together for the Peter Palmer Junior Team Relay which takes place in the early morning of Sunday Sept 13th. We're hosting it this year and it's at Broadstone Warren on Ashdown Forest - Winnie the Pooh country!
We have ten juniors signed up and are looking for more. In particular, the yellow leg on each of the two relays can be run by up to three people, with the quickest time scoring, which makes it a great opportunity to experience the relay without too much pressure.
In Memory of Little Dave Cumins
It’s with a heavy heart that we are sharing the tragic news of the passing of Little Dave Cumins, our friend and treasured member of Southdowns Orienteers. On Friday 12th June Little Dave very sadly lost the battle he had been fighting. We will miss so much about Dave, his kindness, his generosity, his undaunted enthusiasm and not least his willingness to always collect the furthest away controls. Rest in peace Little Dave.
SO win medals at British Sprint relay and British Sprint Champs
In a great weekend of racing around Bristol's two University sites, SO claimed medals in both the Sprint Relay Champs and the Sprint Champs. At the relay champs the super vet team of Neil, Julia and Alan claimed Bronze medal position in a nail biting finish, with just 5 seconds between 2nd and 4th position! In another close finish James, Emma and Ed claimed the Bronze medal in the Ad-Hoc competition, with fourth place just 6 seconds behind.
Run Sussex 2026The urban adventure series
Run Sussex is a series of summer evening urban adventure races. The challenge is to navigate between electronic checkpoints in the correct order and in the fastest time. Urban orienteering is an accessible form of the sport and is ideal for newcomers as well as experienced navigators.
Competitors start at one-minute intervals and pick up the map for the first time after they start the event. The fastest man and women on each course are awarded 100 points with second places receiving 99 etc. At the end of the series, the overall course winners will be the runners with the highest total scores across their four best results.