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Southdowns Orienteers is a large friendly orienteering club with around 300 members ranging in age from 1 to 80+. We have a range of abilities amongst our members, from absolute beginners to British Champions.
The club puts on a large number of regular events and activities in woodland and downland across Sussex. Our regular series of local events are well attended and highly competitive, while also being suitable for novices. We run a series of informal midweek sessions with running and navigation elements to them and adult navigation training can be incorporated into the monthly junior training sessions as required.
We have a highly successful Junior Squad who meet for training on a monthly basis and compete as a team in national events.
The club exists because of the hard work put in by its members. All members are encouraged to take a turn at helping and it is a great way to get to know new people. We are always looking for new members of all ages and no one is too old or too young. Newcomers can just turn up and try an event and are encouraged to become members after two or three events. Visit our membership page for more information.
Joining Southdowns Orienteers
Southdowns Orienteering Club (known as SO) is a friendly and active club covering the whole of Sussex as part of the South East Orienteering Association (SEOA). We organise many events during the year with all details and locations displayed on the Events section of the website. If you’d like to know more before you come, contact Samantha Gibson our membership secretary [email protected]
SO is very keen to encourage their juniors (aged 20 or below), so all junior members get a free entry to all SO events.
The club is affiliated to the British Orienteering Federation (BOF), the sport’s national governing body, and you join the club via the British Orienteering website. The link below will get you going.
NB. When completing the online prompts chose SO (Southdowns Orienteers) as your club from the dropdown menu. Also note also that there is a declining fee structure dependent on when you join in the year.
Membership Levels and Fees for 2026
There are three levels of British Orienteering membership:
o Senior – any member aged 26 or older on 31 December of the membership year
o Young Adult - any member aged 21 to 25 on 31 December of the membership year
o Junior – any member aged 20 or younger on 31 December of the membership year
Seniors Total cost £30 (BOF £17. SEOA £3. SO club £10)
Young adult (born between 2001 and 2005)Total cost £20 (BOF £11. SEOA £2 and SO club £7)
Junior Total cost £10.50 (BOF £5. SEOA £1 and SO club £4.50 )
Family (2 adults, 2 children living at same address): BOF membership £37 + Association (SEOA) £7 + club £21.50 = £65.50
Associate: For orienteers already a member of another club: Senior £10; Junior £4
Many orienteering competitions are based on age classes (eg. 50-55). To find out your orienteering age class (separate classes for Men and Women) use the table below.
Clothing and Club Kit
We have a range of club kit available to purchase. To place an order or make an enquiry either email or talk to me at an event (Ian Curtis in a grey BMW 1 series).
Please note that there is a separate junior squad top which can be purchased via the junior team manager. This is generally offered when a junior is running yellow courses on their own or has represented the club in a competition.
Club History
Southdowns Orienteers was formed in December 1976 in a split from SAXONS and held their first event in Stanmer Park in January 1977. The club has won the trophy for the best club in South East England continuously since 1997. We also regularly qualify for the final of the National inter-club competition (the CompassSport Cup). SO has produced British Champions in a wide range of age groups and members have represented England and Great Britain at international competitions including the World Championships.
Safety
The club has clearly defined procedures for mitigating risk associated with events and for dealing with incidents that should arise. Information about how to keep yourself and your children safe at an event.
The club has a designated Safety Officer and a Child Protection & Welfare Officer. Contact details.
Privacy Notice
Club Trophies
The club has a number of junior and senior trophies that are awarded each year at the AGM.
Clubmark
Southdowns Orienteers first attained Sport England Clubmark accreditation in 2008 and the club is currently working towards revalidation in 2018. Clubmark is the Sport England cross sport quality accreditation for clubs with junior sections. Clubmark accreditation is awarded to clubs that comply with minimum operating standards in four areas:
Club Logo
The current club logo is a representation of Chanctonbury Ring on the South Downs near Washington. Previous logos have included the Devil in reference to an iconic SO area Devil's Dyke.