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Leisure and tourism in Adur
Orienteering in Lancing
Orienteering means maps, varied terrain and adventure. It doesn't matter how young or old or fit you are. You can run, jog or walk, you decide your own pace. Orienteering is a sport where competitors navigate their way between control points marked on a specially drawn map. There are various orienteering disciplines, foot orienteering is the most common.
Orienteering can be a leisure activity. It is an easy, painless way of staying fit or getting into shape. A great sport to take up with friends and family, allowing you to share your adventures afterwards. At the competitive and elite level Orienteering is a highly competitive sport involving intense concentration, skill and fitness running against the best in the world at international competitions.
Lancing first introduced a fixed Orienteering course over 15 years ago which had lasted very well, but some of the posts had rotted away in the ground whilst others had been engulfed by the vegetation and could no longer be found.
Adur Watch working with the Southdowns Orienteering group (www.southdowns-orienteers.org.uk) have now replaced 12 of the posts and re-marked the appropriate letters to each post. The Southdowns group have also reproduced the course map.
Lancing’s course starts in Lancing Manor Recreation Ground next to the leisure centre car park.
The course can be broken into separate parts, suitable for children and adults to build up their skills before attempting the whole course. This also helps if you have limited time.
If you want to find out more contact Miles Cary e-mail : miles@milescary.co.uk
What to do next
The Southdowns Orienteering website (www.southdowns-orienteers.org.uk) is very useful and they are a happy and sociable group so give them a go.
A guide to orienteering in Lancing : Permanent course
What is orienteering?
Orienteering is a sport in which you use a detailed map to navigate around a series of control sites set out in woods and parks. You proceed at your own pace. which can be anything from a gentle stroll to a vigorous run.
What is permanent course orienteering?
Permanent courses facilitate 'do-it-yourself orienteering'. The control sites are fixed and can be used at any time provided you have the appropriate map.
You can choose a course to suit your personal needs and there is only competition if you want the added challenge.
What is a control site?
A control site maybe one of many things, e.g.a pit, a stream, a fence, or a vegetation boundary. When you reach a control site you will find a red and white orienteering top to a post, which carries a one or two letter code. The symbol is normally displayed on a stake about 1 metre high or is attached to a piece of park furniture, such as a bench.
The same control site is marked on your map by a circle and a number. Attached to, or alongside your map you will find a control card with numbered boxes. Copy the letters shown on the symbol into the appropriate box on your control card.
With the development of computers, most groups now ask participants to e-mail back their results.
The map
Orienteering maps are drawn with Magnetic North pointing to the top of the map. The scale enables you to calculate distances between points on the map by the following :
- Scale 1:10,000 means that 1 cm on the map equals 100m distance (the length of a football pitch)
- 1:7,500 means that 1 cm on the map equals 75m real distance
- 1:5,000 means that 1 cm on the map equals 50m real distance
- 1:2,500 means that 1 cm on the map equals 25m real distance
The Key or Legend will explain what the coloured areas and symbols mean. For instance open land is shown as yellow and tracks as brown/black lines.
Selecting a course
Most permanently marked orienteering sites offer a selection of courses to match the experience and time available to the participant. They vary in length from 1.5km (5-10 control sites) to 573km (20-30 control sites). If you have not orienteered before, try a short course to get the hang of things before setting off on a more demanding longer course.
How do I get started?
The majority of courses start and finish at the main car park, or somewhere near it, and are marked on the map by a triangle over a double circle and on the ground as a wooden post with the same symbol etched on top. Where there is no starter post the start point is usually taken as the junction between the car park and the main site track.
Many permanent courses offer specific instructions to help novices to set up their map and navigate their way to the first control.
Lancing’s course starts near to the Leisure centre car park in Lancing Manor Recreation Ground off the A27.
Navigation
Although you may choose to use a compass most permanent courses are designed for participants with just enthusiasm and the map. It is recommended that novices stick to paths and tracks as much as possible and head toward controls by taking the correct direction at junctions.
N.B. When you cross the brown lines on the map you will be going up or down. These lines are called contour lines and play a significant role in advanced orienteering as they show land shape.
Safety and etiquette
Most permanent courses are under the direct management of a Borough or District Council and are at sites where many other users use the area. Please respect all users. Controlling authorities accept no responsibility for accidents, injuries, or losses or damage that may occur. All 'Out of Bounds' must be adhered to.
If you are working with children, it is essential that young children go out in groups with an adult and that older children are at least in pairs. Children should never be isolated at sites as a result of orienteering organization.
Always follow the Countryside Code :
- The Countryside Code is available on the Natural England website (www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/enjoying/countrysidecode/)
Damage
Most maps identify the controlling agency. Please notify the controlling agency of any damage to the course, site or surrounds which you may discover. A telephone number is normally printed on the map itself or with the accompanying site information.
Equipment
You are advised to wear a sturdy pair of shoes as paths can sometimes be muddy. Long trousers will prevent scratches to leg's and a pen will enable you to fill in the control card. Compasses and whistles are only required if the site is fairly large and densely wooded.
People with disabilities
Several sites have courses specifically designed for semi-mobile or wheelchair users. Please check with Southdown Orienteerers for full details (see the Southdowns Orienteering website (www.southdowns-orienteers.org.uk)).
