11 May 2016 was the first-ever World Orienteering Day.  South Africa contributed to the setting of a new world record. Globally over 250 000 participants took part at one of 2013 registered locations in 81 countries and territories.

In South Africa we had 14 registered locations and 1124 people taking part.  For more details about the activities in South Africa information check out the dedicated page on this website or go directly to the World Orienteering Day website.

The SAOF invites all members to contribute to setting our Strategy for the next 5 years.  We would like all interested parties to join us to explore ways to move towards establishing Orienteering in South Africa as a vibrant, growing sport for all.  The session will be held at SASCOC House in Johannesburg on January 16, 2016.  Please download the event details here.More information about our current strategy can be found in our Expansion Plan.  Members are encouraged to read these pages and our more detailed Development Plan. Whilst much progress has been made in implementing this plan, it is time to learn from what has worked and what has not worked.

Further information can be found in the SAOF’s Annual Reports over the past few years.  In particular it is clear that despite our efforts, club membership and participation levels have remained largely static.  It is time to adapt our approach. It is time to find new ways to work together to achieve our vision of Growth, Development Excellence.

Garry Morrison

President

South African Orienteering Federation.

At the cusp of the New Year, the third edition of the biennial Big Five Orienteering event will play out in the forest plantations around Kaapsehoop, Mpumalanga.  As with previous events, South African orienteers will have the chance to test their mettle against a number of visitors from overseas.  Competitors from over 13 countries, including from such far flung places as Latvia, Estonia, Canada and Australia will join participants from the orienteering giants of Scandanavia and Switzerland, attracted no-doubt by some quality orienteering, warm weather and the event location being near the gateway to the Kruger National Park.

The elite classes have attracted some of the worlds top orienteers, including a number with recent and not-so-recent World Championship medals.  Two of the events have World Ranking Event (WRE) status and as such the elite orienteers have the opportunity to score some points towards their international ranking. For South Africa this is a great opportunity as many of our M21 and W21 athletes don’t have the chance to travel overseas and compete on the world stage.

But the event is not all about the elites.  Competition in all the age classes will be promises to be fierce.  Whilst the Big Five O event is small by the standards of many of the large multi-day European events, it is the biggest Orienteering event in South Africa.  As such it provides local orienteers with an excellent exposure to the bigger world of orienteering.  It is for this reason that the SAOF is very happy to support a number participants from our Polokwane orienteering club (POC).  We hope their participant continues to provide motivation for POC to carry on with development efforts in the Lebowakgomo region of Limpopo.

In addition to five high-class orienteering events, the Big Five O this year includes a trail running series.

Daily updates and results can be found at the event website.