Sarum takes Orienteering to Warminster Schools
On a glorious sunny day in May over 140 children in years 5 and 6 from nine primary schools in Warminster, Westbury and Trowbridge and neighbouring villages took time out of normal lessons to take part in an orienteering competition held in Southleigh Wood, Warminster organised by Sarum Orienteering Club as part of their schools outreach programme.
The children had to navigate round two courses each of 1.8k length visiting 14 control sites each time. The use of EMIT electronic punching and timing captured the imagination of the children who were even more impressed by the cost of EMIT bricks. Children ran in pairs, 5 pairs to a team, with several schools fielding more than one team.
After a short briefing safety from Liz and on map reading from Charlotte and Alan each pair set off to navigate the courses on their own.
For many of the children this was their first experience of orienteering, though some had previously tried the sport at school and a few had taken part. Some elected to go carefully whilst others set off determined to be the fastest only to find the truth of the story of the hare and the tortoise. Whatever the outcome everyone enjoyed their run in the forest.
The courses were planned and set up to minimise risk of anyone getting lost. Although some teachers looked distinctly nervous as their charges set off into the forest without any adult oversight, everyone turned up safely at the finish. Some took their time, others ran flat out and all seemed to thoroughly enjoy being in woods rather than in class.
The first course was used to allow the children to get used to moving through the forest using a map and the second course used for the competition times. Best runs of the day came from Ben Brewer & Archie Lynch from Chapmanslade School. With the best results from three pairs combined, the winners on the day were Chapmanslade School. The best three performing schools Chapmanslade Team A, Chapmanslade Team B, Wylye Valley Team A, will go forward to compete in the Wiltshire Schools Games to be held at Marlborough College on 6th July 2016.