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Orienteering

Welcome to the Homepage of

  Simao Teachers' College Orienteering Club

思茅师专定向运动俱乐部

What is orienteering?

Orienteering (定向运动) is a sport where competitors navigate around a course marked on a map in the shortest possible time. Competitors race separately, making their way from one control flag to the next, using the map. Orienteering is a sport which exercises the brain as well as the muscles, combining map reading skills with fitness - the fastest runners do not always make the best orienteers!

Simao Teachers College Orienteering Club holds events in the campus grounds using the 1:1,350 scale black and white map shown above.

The college grounds, although relatively small (400m x 200m) and un-forested for a conventional orienteering venue, make an interesting and diverse area to compete in. Buildings, roads, paths, trees (depending on height and stature), and boulders are all mapped to a suitable level of detail. The terrain includes open parkland and student dormitory blocks (above left) and the college running track (above right).

What is involved at a STC Orienteering Club event?

Our events always start and finish at the Twilight Zone, the English Language Resource Room attached to the College Library. Here, student volunteers at Registration (above left) will write down your name and give you a race number and copy of the map. Next, find the Master Map with the course controls marked on it and use the red pens provided to copy the course onto your copy of the map (above right). The controls are the places (e.g. tree, boulder, path junction, part of a building) that you have to find and navigate between - they are marked by a red flag on a stick.

Next, make your way to the Start (above centre) where you will be given a start time (competitors set off at one or two minute intervals). Check your map and decide which way to run to the first control - the starter will tell you when to set off. Then all you have to do is find that control flag (above right)!

Here is an example of a control flag at a palm tree beside the running track. The flag will not be deliberately hidden, but you may not see it until you are exactly in the right place!

The organisers need to know whether you have found the correct controls or not. So to prove this each control has a needle punch which competitors must use to mark their map (or a special control card) in the correct place. The punch marks the paper with a unique pattern of holes which the organisers can check at the finish.. These competitors (above) are marking their maps with the punch in the correct box on their maps. It is important to make sure that you punch the correct control in the correct box. To help you, each control is identified by a two-letter code, also marked on your map, so you can confirm that you have found the correct control.

Some controls, such as this one (above) at a tree in the Rose Garden, may be harder to get to. Wear sports shoes and light, stretchy clothes suitable for running. The course may have as many as 20 controls to visit, though 15 is more typical for a 1.5 km (straight line distance) course. When you reach the Finish, announce your race number and hand over your map (or control card) for checking). Then have a well-earned rest, a drink, and wait for your results to be posted!

Behind the scenes

Organising an orienteering event is not too difficult, but it takes a lot of planning and preparation! Here are Ali and Edie (above left) about to put out the control flags. We are lucky to have an experienced helper, Chen Qiankun (above right) from the PE department. He has orienteered in the forests around Kunming and is a Yunnan champion! He can often be found at events offering help and advice! If you would like to help at Registration, the Start or Finish, please get in touch with Ali or Lesley. Being a volunteer helper does not prevent you from competing!

Some more scenes from the campus. Come and have a run around...