The next Member's chat will take place at 8:30pm this coming Thursday. I'm planning to give a short demo of how to create your own street event using Open Orienteering Map and how easy it now is to then share that with others using the MapRun app. We'll then follow that up with an orienteering themed quiz. The club has now purchased a Zoom license so we won't get cut off mid-flow this time! More details here. If you have any suggestions for future sessions then please webmaster [at] socweb.org (let me know).

Also, a reminder that Rob's Southampton Sports Centre challenge is now live until the end of the month! We've had a few takers but it would be great to see more participating. Having tackled the light green myself, the area definitely holds some challenges. Using a smartphone is entirely optional: it's fine to just record your time and the control codes.

Missed getting out Orienteering? Want a new challenge in "lockdown"? Want a competitive race again? Want to explore somewhere new? Have a go at our new Virtual Orienteering Challenge. 

We have converted our Permanent Orienteering Course at the Outdoor Sports Centre to be Smartphone compatible. The Permanent Course consists of a number of posts or plaques attached to features. They have an orienteering symbol on (orange and white triangles in a square) with a distinct number and letter on. The aim of the game is to go around the course as fast as possible. 

The Outdoor Sports Centre in Southampton (just off the Avenue) has 3 colour coded courses and a Score now available. They have all been converted to be smart and use the MapRunF app and your phone's GPS to record where you have been. The 3 colour coded maps are currently available from the BOF portal if you want to download and print a copy (Score to follow shortly). 

If you do not have a SmartPhone, you can time yourself and record the letters at each control and submit them after using this form: https://forms.gle/f5H7LXV3ELffaZo88

Please follow all relevant Government advice at the time. Take part individually, maintain social distancing (the area is predominately open with a few narrower paths) and avoid contact with the controls. This is not an official event.

More info here on the Permanent Course and how to download a map here:  https://socweb.org/permanent-courses/southampton-outside-sports-centre 

More info on MapRun here: https://socweb.org/maprun

You have from now until the end of June (30th) to take part and challenge yourself. We will then do a debrief and chat through the challenge at one of our Club Zoom sessions.

Hope you enjoy them!

With orienteering once again on hold, there are still other opportunities to get out there and enjoy the essence of the sport, whether you're a seasoned orienteer looking to hone their skills, a runner seeking an alternative to that cancelled race, or a family looking for something to keep the children entertained.

Permanent Courses 

The club has five permanent courses spread throughout our area. Each has a selection of pre-planned courses making use of the permanent marker posts that you can tackle at a time of your choosing. For most, maps can now be downloaded for you to print at home. See the individual page for each area for more details.

MapRun

MapRun is a free mobile phone app which, having selected a course, will notify you when you're in the correct location for each control (unlike a permanent course, there is no marker on the ground). The club has a back catalogue of MapRun courses available which you can participate in at any time. Most use urban areas with a simplified map which you can either view on your phone or download to print out. Once completed, you can compare your time and route with other participants.

Whether you choose a permanent course or MapRun, please be courteous to other users of the area and make sure you follow the government guidelines, particularly with regard to social distancing.