Club Description
Orienteering is a sport for people who enjoy challenge and adventure.
The aim is to navigate around a set course using a map as fast as possible.We travel all over the country and even the world, orienteering in forests, over moors and through cities. We've got lots of trips lined up this year - come join us!
Many of our members enjoy Fell Running as a hobby and as great physical training for orienteering. We support members who want to take part in local fell races, including in the Mendips and South Wales, and provide the option to go for a fell run on our training weekends which take us across the country from Dartmoor to the Lake District
The club meets up regularly for training, socials and competitions. Our members cover the full range of ability and experience. Everyone is welcome!
Club Training
There is an easy run round The Downs every Monday evening at 19:00, finishing just after 20:00, at a different pub each week for food and drink - meet next to the Downs Water Tower near the top of Blackboy Hill. It's a great chance to have a chat with people and for you to get to know Bristol as the route changes every time. We went to a lot of pubs last year but there are still more to go to! (don't worry about going to the pub in your running kit, everyone does and they know us now).
Wednesday Training is our main orienteering navigation and running session and is at 2.30pm. This moves to a new location each week so keep checking your emails. It could be on the Downs, Brandon Hill, Ashton Court or in the city itself.
Almost every weekend we have opportunities to train or race in orienteering and fell running somewhere reasonably close. This includes the Mendips, Cotswolds, Forest of Dean and South Wales usually, with occasional trips further afield to go training.
Weekends Away
Our occasional weekends away are most members' highlight of the club. We meet up with students from other universities for two packed days of orienteering training and racing with a quality social on the Saturday night. This year we will be going to Dartmoor, New Forest and more - you don't want to miss out! The club organises transport and accomodation so all you have to do is turn up. We try to keep costs as low a possible and weekends normally cost around £20-45.
Competitions
The club competes in competitions most weekends all year round. But the highlight of the year is the BUCS Inter-University Championships, usually held in March.
The city of Bristol itself has access to four excellent orienteering areas within a few minutes running from the city centre. We're also seeing new urban maps added every year. Regarding transport to events, we normally arrange lifts with members of Bristol Orienteering Klub (BOK) which keeps the cost down. At competitions there are courses planned for all abilities where the length gets longer and the navigation harder as you improve. Total cost is normally well under £10.
Socials
Our Social Secretary is in charge of ensuring we all have a good time when we're not running. We have pub meets, club meals and will be at the SCORE sportsnights if there is demand for it.
** Events coming up **
There's a lot going on at the University of Bristol Orienteering Club. This term we will be going on a trip to the November Classic in the New Forest, training in the Lake District and Dartmoor and filling in the weekends in between with some quality orienteering and fell races.
For more information, check out the club website.
Please join our weekly email mailing list by emailing orienteering.bristol@gmail.com saying "please may I be added to the mailing list".
You should also join our Facebook page to find out what's going on day-to-day.
