Coaching Sessions

CANCELLED - Saturday 9th March 2013 - Tudor Grange, Solihull

Unfortunately this session (along with the main orienteering event) has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

The next coaching session will take place at the Saturday morning event on 9th March at Tudor Grange in Solihull. The event details can be found in the usual place on this website (and possibly from a link visible to the left of this article).

The coaching will be run by Chris Mackenzie and Andy Emmerson.

The session will be aimed at both adults and juniors with limited or no experience. It will consist of a few short, simple exercises and map related explanations as appropriate.

There will also be an opportunity for anyone to discuss aspects of technique with the coaches and to practice new ideas.

After the coaching participants should be able to tackle the pre-planned Saturday morning coures with improved confidence.

The session will start at 10:00am but assistance will be available across the morning.

It would help for map printing and exercise preparation if anyone intending to come would email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with their names, their age (if juniors) and their current level of orienteering experience.

There is a charge of £1 per person for the coaching.

Pleas note that juniors must be accompanied by a responsible adult throughout.

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Unfortunately resource limitations mean this will be the only club coaching session before Easter.

It is hoped to put on at least one further coaching activity in April or May, after which coaching will cease until the Autumn term.

Any coaching in April or May is likely to be a two hour Saturday morning session that is run independently of any club event. One option under consideration is to run a session for juniors prior to the Yvette Baker Trophy qualifier. More details will be emailed out and posted here in March.

Saturday 26th January 2013 - Wainbody Woods

At the request of Debbie Morse (Junior Co-ordinator), the Wainbody Woods session will primarily be aimed at juniors who are new to orienteering. Older juniors who are willing to help out by advising and shadowing are most welcome. I can also accommodate adults who want the basics (and I know from emails that there are a few of you who would like a refresher). The target area is therefore White and Yellow standard courses. The content will include map setting and maintaining map orientation (without a compass), map colours and symbols, and navigation around a network of paths.

The coaching start and finish will be close to the main start (it's a small area) with exact location to be advised once I have planned the session on Phil Kirk's new map. I want to start the session at 10:00am prompt so that people have time to complete it before attempting one of the Saturday courses. If you would like to take part or have a group of juniors that you intent bringing please email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 13th January so I can accommodate everyone. There will be a £1 charge to cover map costs.

Andy Emmerson

For event details see the Event Calendar.

Saturday 12th January 2013 - Pooley Fields

The Pooley Fields session will be based entirely on the slopes around the central mound that dominates the Country Park. It will include aspects of contouring, catching features, attack points and vegetation interpretation. It is therefore suited to those who are either progressing to Orange standard or who would like to practice aspects of their "O" technique outside of competition. There are many club members who could find value in this coaching session but probably not those who are already comfortable navigating TD5 courses on challenging terrain. Please note that this session will not be suitable either for beginners or for younger juniors, partly because of the terrain and partly because of the type of exercises planned. If anyone is interested but unsure of the suitability please contact me in advance to discuss.

The coaching start and finish will be close to and visible from the main event start. For those familiar with Pooley Fields, walk under the motorway, across the canal bridge and a banner will be visible near the base of the central mound about 100m to the NE. I want to start the session at 10:00am prompt so that people have time to complete it before attempting one of Graham Urquhart's Saturday courses. If you would like to take part please email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in the next few days so I can accommodate you. There will be a £1 charge to cover map costs.

Andy Emmerson

For event details see the Event Calendar.

Saturday 17th November 2012 - Abbey Fields & Kenilworth Castle

A coaching session organised by Chris Mackenzie and Amy Sarkies will run in parallel with this event .

Coaching session will start at 10:15
Cost - £1 to cover coaching maps
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to attend or just turn up on the day (subject to maps).
If there is high demand there will be an early and late session and maps will be re-used.

Skills: Following on from compass work using aiming off, attack points, simplification, and an opportunity to try map memory.

For event details see the Event Calendar.

Saturday 3rd November 2012 - Borough Hill, Daventry

Jill and Andy Emmerson are running a coaching session commencing at 10 am.

The top of Borough Hill is flat and grassy and littered with small concrete bases, some flush with the ground and some slightly raised. This provides a good opportunity to do some accurate compass bearing and pace counting work, and as many of you will know these skills are needed by all orienteers from beginners to the elite.

A measured 100m will be marked out to allow people to check their pace counting and three loops demanding careful pacing and bearing work will be available for anyone to tackle. There will also be a competition to pace count on a bearing and plant a marker at the correct spot. A prize will be awarded to the winner, but note you have to take part in the coaching to do this competition!

There will be a £1 charge per person to help cover costs so please bring the correct change if you can.

Andy can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For event details see the Event Calendar.

Saturday 13th October 2012 - University of Warwick

Mark Beverley is running a coaching session in parallel with the event which will be aimed at helping people interpret the map and learn the skills needed to navigate around clusters of buildings when frequent changes of direction can cause confusion and cost time. The coaching is in a small, intricate area with 3 short course variations on offer.

People can turn up on the day but it would help if anyone who would like to spend some time with Mark could email him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ASAP so he can try to accommodate everyone.

Saturday 15th September 2012

At Brueton Park, Solihull, Thelma Spalton will be providing coaching from 10:00 to 10:45 for newcomers to the sport.

It will cover some basic orienteering techniques such as:

Orientating the map
Map symbols and colours including a map walk
Compass bearings
Pacing

Please contact Thelma in advance by email if you are interested.

In addition, following on from the coaching session Thelma would be willing to shadow one or two people on a course if she had a request for this.

For event details see the Event Calendar.