News

Southdowners reap rewards at JK2025 Festival of Orienteering over Easter

The Easter bank holiday weekend is always the time for the JK International Festival of Orienteering. This year it took place in South Yorkshire and many club members took part. Our notable results at the Sprints were Roger Maher M85 Silver, Emma Chapman W14 Bronze and Mark Johnson M10 Bronze. For the overall two day competition Roger Maher M85 Gold and Emma Chapman W14 Bronze. James Curtis showed great skill in the Trail-O and claimed top spot in the juniors. For the relays the Men's Short team won silver and the Women's short team got bronze.

SO triumph at UK's first civilian Biathlon Orienteering competition

SO members won five medals at the Biathlon Orienteering competition held at JK2025 in Sheffield over Easter. Anna Chapman won Gold and Jane Lambert won silver in W50+. Peter Chapman won silver in M50+. Ben Chapman won bronze in M16- and Emma Chapman won bronze in W16-. The Competition is a mix of orienteering and electronic rifle target shooting.

Sign up for SO Junior Camp 28-29 June

The SO Junior Squad are running a junior camp from 12noon on 28th June to 3pm on 29th June. It will take place at the private woodland at Knowlands and all SO junior members are welcome to take part from younger to older.

It's an opportunity to take part in some great training exercises, mini competitions, fun games, camp fires, tasty food and camping. It’s also a great place to get to know friends and have a bit of fun.

Check out details and photos of the last camp we did here https://www.southdowns-oriente...

Summer Trail Runs 2025

Summer trail runs return on Thursday April 3rd. 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.

Junior Team compete at YBT Heat

Brilliant team spirit today by our junior team at the South East heat of the Yvette Baker Trophy. It took place at Knole Park near Sevenoaks on 24th March 25. Results can be found here

Our juniors came second to HH, but, due to their result in the top 5 in last year's final, SO secured their place in this year's final which will take place on 6 July at Capite Wood, on home territory. Juniors aged 10 to 18 - please put your name down to run in the final. We really need more older juniors to take part. It will be a fun occasion as we'll be hosting the other junior teams from across the country. Contact Anna or Will for more details.

British Middle Distance Championship success

SO Club members didn't have to travel far to take part in the British Middle Championships on 15th March 2025. Held in dry and sunny, but cold weather at Holmbush and Buchan Country Park, near Crawley.

Huge congratulations to our three medal winners:
Roger: Gold M85
Emma: Silver W14
Ruth: Silver W80

A massive "well done" to all SO competitors for navigating their way around the rhododendrons.

Results can be found here

Read on for more photos.

Success at Southern Champs in Wiltshire

Congratulations to our Southern Champion Roger Maher M80. Six other members also had great runs and made it onto the podium to receive a jar of local honey! Congratulations to Maddie 2nd W20E, Julia 2nd W55, Jill 2nd W65, Jasmine 2nd W70, Emma 3rd W14.

SO members were greeted by beautiful sunshine and warm weather in Wiltshire where the Southern Championships were taking place. Sarum Orienteering Club organised the event at Great Ridge Forest on 9th March 2025. Full results here

Read on for more photos.

Spring Club Nights 2025

Spring club nights returned on Tuesday January 16th. Courses have been risk assessed according to this document.

We will meet as a group at 6:30pm each Tuesday although we hope to make many of the activities available online to attempt at your leisure. Courses will be saved in the Club Night folder on MapRun (UK/Sussex/Club Nights).

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.

Southdowns has eight new South East Long Champions

Congratulations to all SO members who took part at the Blackheath and Farley Heath SE Long Distance Champs in the Surrey Hills on 2nd February 2025.

Eight of our club members became South East Long Distance Champions in their age categories. They were Mark Johnson M10, Ben Chapman M16, Nick Jarvis M21, Kenny Leitch M60, Roger Maher M85, Emma Chapman W14, Anna Chapman W50 and Jasmine Bennett W70. Six SO members won silver medals and four won bronze medals. Read on for more info about the courses and the medalists.

Emma, Julia & Will selected for the England Team

Congratulations to Emma Chapman, Julia Jarvis and Will Heap who have all been selected to run for England at the Interland Cup 2025 on 2 March in Steenwijk, Netherlands. The Interland Cup is England’s only international competition outside the British Isles. England competes annually in this six-cornered match against two Belgian teams (Flemish and French speaking), the Netherlands, the French Ligue des Hauts de France de Course d’Orientation (LHFCO) and Luxembourg . The competition is truly a team effort spanning age groups from M/W14 to M/W60+: 42 team members in all.

Club competitions 2025

It's that time of the year when the club captain has to start sorting out entries for the various interclub competitions that are taking place in the first half of the year, namely the CompassSport Cup heat, the JK Relays and the BOC Relays. As in previous years I will be taking entries via Racesignup, please use the links below since these will not be visible on the Racesignup home page.

Start the New Year with a new membership

We've just updated the membership information on our website. In addition to Family, Adult and Junior membership, British Orienteering (BOF) have introduced a new Young Adult category for 21 to 25 year olds. See more here.

Senior: £29
Young Adult: £19
Junior: £10.50
Family: £65.50

Read more about the benefits of membership.

SO members win more medals at SE Middle Distance Champs 2024

Congratulations to everyone who took part at the SE Middle Championships which were held on 22 Dec 24 at Newlands Corner.

There was a festive feel to the event with lots of competitors wearing tinsel or festive outfits and the top three were awarded with medals. SO had another successful event with 12 medalists, including some first time medalists.

Check the list for the winners.

SO XMAS Score Winners 2024

Congratulations to the SO Xmas Score 2024 winners:

• Elizabeth Brown Memorial Trophy – Kenny Leitch
• W14 - Emily Waters
• W18 - Emma Chapman
• W Open - Samantha Martin
• W50 – Julia Jarvis
• W65 – Chris Jepson
• M14 – Christopher Warner
• M18 – Ben Chapman
• M Open – Ali Masson
• M50 – Joe Barrett
• M65 – David Young

Well done.

SO has 10 new South East Long Champions

Congratulations to all SO members who took part at the Black and White Hills National event, near Bagshot on 1st December.

Ten of our club members became South East Long Distance Champions in their age categories, three won silver medals and 3 won bronze medals. Read on for more info about the courses and the medalists.