Anytime Orienteering

Keeping the flame burning

During the long lockdown period in 2021, Warwick Davis and Debbie Dodd came up with a new project – to provide a series of colour park maps, each with three Line courses, using features that could be identified with MapRun. The idea was to provide a set of “Anytime” maps, which anyone could use whenever they wished, to try orienteering in a local park. With a Short/Easy, Medium/Moderate, and Long/Hard course for each venue, newcomers could make repeat visits, and progress from one stage to the next, without the pressure of competition. This initiative also gave regular orienteers another training outlet while events were not permitted. The project took several months, as we needed people who lived close enough to each park to do the course checking, without being fined for breaching the travel restrictions! We also wanted to present the set of maps consistently, which took some coordination. Eventually maps for 10 parks were published online, along with instructions for using MapRun6, adding to the already extensive MapLink Library. Anytime Park Map Library

The parks are:

• Brimbank Park

• Cardinia Reservoir

• Darebin Parklands

• Jells Park

• Nortons Park

• Police Paddocks

• Royal Park

• Ruffey Lake

• Westerfolds Park

• Woodlands Historic Park

Some parks have permanent markers (ie physical posts); a MapRun pin was placed on each of these, and courses were designed using them. At other parks, the controls are virtual, but the features are readily identifiable. Several of the courses were used for group training sessions as restrictions were gradually being lifted. The maps and courses are still available