13th October 2011

POUNDBURY: Orienteering event a step in the right direction

Poundbury recently hosted an event involving one of the more interesting sports that has not yet been snapped up by the Olympics.

More than 100 competitors took part in the South West Orienteering Association Sprint Orienteering Championship held around Prince Charles’ model estate, and was hailed a tremendous success by the organisers.

Brilliant sunshine greeted those taking part, attracting more than a little interest from local residents in an activity more common to a forest environment than an urban one.

And Wimborne Orienteers offered Poundbury residents the chance to take part in this interesting and challenging navigation activity by devising a route around the little nooks, crannies and alleyways that help make this development so unique.

The course could be tackled at a slow ambling walk or a fast trot and was suitable for all ages and abilities.

Two different routes had been mapped out, one for the morning and another for the afternoon, and registration was held at the Thomas Hardye School in Coburg Road.

Although not many residents took up the gauntlet, there were novice orienteers from the local area along with some students from Kingston Maurward College.

Orienteering technology has developed for the 21st century, and proof of which control boxes were found and the time taken is electronically recorded, with an instant print out given when the course is finished.

Orienteering is a great deal of fun and a wonderful way to keep fit whilst making the most of your environment.

The fact that more than 100 people took part in the Championship shows just how popular it has become.

PICTURE: STUDENT Neal Burton tackles the orienteering course Picture courtesy of Simon Branford