Keep on Running

Orienteering is a great sport for people of all levels of fitness to try. To celebrate the tenth running of the National Forest Orienteering Trophy on Sunday 25 March 2007, Leicestershire Orienteering Club hopes to introduce more families and adults to the fun and challenge of orienteering.

The event starts at Groby Community College at 10am and runs until 12 noon. Thanks to sponsorship from the National Forest Company, the Club is able to reduce fees for families and novices, as a way of encouraging newcomers to ‘have a go’. Participants just need to turn up with suitable clothing and footwear and help will be on hand from the club’s coaching team to explain what to do.

An orienteering course takes competitors between control points using geographical features such as a hollow in the ground, a bend in a stream or a prominent rock formation as shown on a specially marked map. This National Forest event uses several woodlands managed by the Woodland Trust, and gives participants a great opportunity to see just how The National Forest is growing and transforming the landscape. Courses vary from just 1km for youngsters and beginners, to 15km for the serious athlete, and will take between 30 and 90 minutes to complete. The very young can follow a string trail.

“Orienteering is a great leisure activity,” said Roy Denney, of the Leicestershire Orienteering Club. “It’s an easy and painless way of staying fit or getting into shape, and it’s a great sport to take up with friends and family, as there’s always plenty to talk about and share afterwards. At the top level orienteering is a highly competitive sport involving intense concentration, skill and fitness, where you can run against the best in the world at international competitions.”

Those interested in finding out more about orienteering or the event in March should contact Roy Denney on 0116 233 8604.