First steps back to O
Orienteering’s governing body British Orienteering (BOF) has announced (14 May 2020) that individuals and households in England and the Isle of Man can begin taking part in certain types of orienteering activity following the Coronavirus lockdown. These need to be undertaken without breaking physical distancing and anti-Covid19 hygiene rules.
BOF's full guidance can be downloaded here. It includes a code of conduct for orienteers to clarify our responsibilities to each other and the wider public.
Activities appropriate for MDOC
Activities appropriate for MDOC’s mapped areas could include permanent orienteering courses (POCs) in public parks, MapRun and Countryside Score courses where the mapped areas visited are open to the public and physical distancing can be safely observed.
There will be no club-based activity involving other members or orienteering equipment at this stage and all activity will take place at your own risk.
Permanent orienteering courses
To find out about the range of POCs in our area, please visit the GMOA website www.gmoa.org.uk (a joint MDOC/SELOC initiative) to download maps of your chosen area. GMOA will email you soon detailing how club members can download maps free of charge. There is a small charge if you choose to have printed maps posted to you.
Please check beforehand that the park is open and note that public facilities such as toilets and cafes are likely to remain closed.
MapRun
MapRun is an app which enables a runner carrying a smartphone to visit controls that have been preset on a map and record the time and route taken between controls using GPS technology.
Nine courses are available in parks around Manchester: Queen’s Park (Bolton), Chorlton Water Park*, Dove Stone (Oldham)*, Heaton Park*, Lyme* (closed), South Park (Macclesfield), Reddish Vale, Sale Water Park and Wythenshawe Park*.
To download the MapRun app, visit the appstore on your smartphone.
MapRun course ‘bundles’ including printable maps for the parks marked (*) and instructions on using the app are available from the shop on the GMOA website. For maps and instructions for other parks, contact GMOA.
Countryside Score
It may be possible to run along many footpaths used on past Countryside Score events if you still have the map and clue sheet, but please respect social distancing rules with other users as well as those through whose land the paths may cross. Clue answers may also have changed since the course was set. As meetings were usually based at pubs, which remain closed, an alternative start/finish and parking location will need to be found for your individual or household run.
A Countryside Score MapRun is currently in preparation based around Higher Poynton and more may follow.
No Urban or Street League
Though maps are available from past Night Street League events, these are mostly in urban areas where it may not be possible to observe social distancing. Indeed, BOF suggests that urban events will not be possible for some time to come.
We will be in touch as and when new opportunities are developed within the BOF and Government safety guidelines. In the meantime, we hope you can enjoy some of the courses on offer.
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