What happens at a typical Dunedin Orienteering Event...

As you drive towards the event, watch for distinctive roadsigns indicating turnoffs and directions to the parking area. Events may be cancelled due to bad weather, in which case announcements are made on local  radio Stations 97.4 More FM and Newstalk ZB 10.44 AM  by 9 a.m.

Starts at normal club events are staggered, rather than massed. Typically there will be between 20 and 60 people at an event. Go to the distinctive Dunedin Orienteering Club caravan. The noticeboard has information about the day's courses (such as lengths, difficulty, any hazards, course closure time). Decide which course you want to do. The Organiser in the caravan can help you decide and will sell you the appropriate map, clipcard and control descriptions (see below) for your course.

These are the items you buy at the caravan: a coloured orienteering map (note this would not yet have the red handwriting on), a blank waterproof clipcard and a set of black and white control descriptions (in English for beginners, pictorials only for advanced orienteers). You take these materials around the orienteering course with you. The examples shown here shown here are for a long yellow course at Waikouaiti. Yellow courses are for "improving orienteers with a little experience". The webmaster's boys ran yellow courses when they were 9-11 years old. Click on the images to view the cards and maps at closer to actual size (they open in a new window). All orienteering maps and pictorial control descriptions use these same symbols and colours. The grid lines on the map point to magnetic north.

Before you go to the Start area, fill out the card as shown. The name and address parts are important in the event of a search and rescue operation. Numbers 1, 2 3, 4 etc are the order in which you have to visit the controls. The three digit numbers refer to the numbers on the control stakes (see below); most orienteers write these numbers on their card. In addition, this orienteer has copied the control symbols to the card (not essential). For safety reasons, you must carry a whistle with you on the course. These can be bought at the caravan.

After completing preparations, go to the table near the Start banner. The starter will give you a start time and tell you when to go.

 

Only after starting, are you allowed to copy the positions of the controls from a master map onto your blank map. These are the red handwritten annotations on the map above, copied carefully from a master map on the tarpaulin.

Then you're off to follow the map and navigate to the first control (e.g. 303 on the Waikouaiti map). Run hard to measure your performance against others, or walk with friends or family, it's up to you.

These are what you're looking for! The control stakes sport three digit numbers and distinctive orange and white flags. Control stakes and flags are never hidden, but are placed at the exact feature described on the control description sheet (e.g. at a fence bend for Waikouaiti 303), and also at the centre of each control circle on the coloured map. When you get to a control, use the clippers to punch the appropriate square on your clipcard. This proves you've actually been there. Then move on to control 2, 3 and so on in order to the finish.

At the finish, give your clipcard to the person at the table. He or she will calculate your course time and check your control punches. You get to keep the map. Even if you don't complete a course, you must report to to the finish. This is so we know you're not lost or hurt.

As results are calculated, the clipcard stubs are hung on a "washing line". Full results are emailed out in the evening to club members and participants, and a summary is printed on the Sports Results page in Monday's Otago Daily Times.

Contrary to popular opinion a compass is not necessary to start orienteering. In fact no specialist equipment is needed at all. Just come with comfortable outdoor clothes and footwear. Most people pick up map-reading skills as they go.

 

"How did you go? What route choices did you make? Which legs did you find harder than others?" It's great fun to share your experiences with other orienteers after the event. For orienteers looking to improve their performance, post-event debriefs are essential.

We hope this has given you some idea of what happens at a typical Dunedin Orienteering Club event. Orienteering improves fitness, outdoor and navigation skills, mental alertness and decisiveness. It also gets you to different corners of Dunedin and Otago and is a lot of fun. We look forward to seeing you at an event soon: remember, non-members are always welcome.