Orienteering Schools League (OSL) may be wrapped up for this year but that doesn’t mean that there is no more orienteering. O events run throughout the year on Sunday mornings – usually every second weekend.
Coming up on Sunday, 27 May is the second last of our short course events for the year. These are similar to what you’re used to for OSL and the event takes place at President Park, in Springs. There are four courses: mens (4km, medium difficulty), ladies (3km, medium difficulty), novice (2km, easy) and a kiddies course for young children.
Registration opens at 08h30 until 09h30 with starts from 09h00 to 10h00. Courses close at 11h00.
As a junior, your entry fee is only R30, including EMIT. The full event sheet, with directions, is available on the orienteering website.
What’s that? You don’t drive yet? Here are two solutions:
- Ask your parents to bring you to orienteering and they can try a course too. O events make for a really fun family morning and each member of the family can do different courses depending on their ability. Parents, you’ll love it! This is a brilliant way to spend some time with your child/ren outdoors in a safe, friendly and active environment.
- Send an email to Karen (karenchambers@wol.co.za) letting her know where you live. If one of our regular orienteers lives near you, they would be happy to give you a lift.
The final event of the short course series will be on Sunday, 17 June at University of Johannesburg (UJ) in Auckland Park. This one is closer to get to than the Springs event but the terrain is more urban, with lots of buildings. The event sheet will go up on the event calendar on www.orienteering.co.zaabout two weeks before the event.
If you’re wondering what the ‘colour coded‘ events on the calendar are about… we also call them cross-country events. Each event offers five or six courses ranging from about 2.5km to over 10km. Shorter courses are generally easier technically. The longest courses, ‘blue’ and ‘brown’, are challenging both in distance and navigation; it will take you some time to reach this level. Controls can be really hidden and are difficult even for experienced orienteers to locate.
Other events coming up between now and the end of August are:
| 27-May | Presidents Park | Springs | Short Course |
| 10-Jun | Hedianga | Pretoria | Middle |
| 17-Jun | University of JHB | Johannesburg | Short Course |
| 15-Jul | Riversands Farm | Johannesburg | Training Event |
| 29-Jul | Northcliff | Johannesburg | Ultra |
| 19-Aug | Thabankwe | Magaliesberg | Ultra |
| 26-Aug | Groenkloof Nature Reserve | Pretoria | Mountain Bike |
Remember to check our Facebook page (/OSchoolsLeague) for news and event information.
Lisa
South African Orienteering Federation
www.orienteering.co.za
This post is from the newsletter sent to OSL participants and their parents.