British Orienteering Federation
Encyclopedia
The British Orienteering Federation, sometimes branded British Orienteering, is the national sports governing body for the sport of orienteering
in the United Kingdom
. The federation was founded in June 1967, and is a member of the IOF
. They recently collaborated with the BBC
as part of one of their children's programs.
and Chris Brasher
. The early years were helped by orienteers from Sweden
: in 1962 Baron ‘Rak’ Largerfelt of the Stockholm Orienteering Club came to Scotland to help develop the sport. This culminated in the first championship being held in May 1962 at Dunkeld, and the formation of the Scottish Orienteering Association.
Later visitors from Sweden
included Jan Kjellström
, a son of Silva compass
founder Alvar Kjellström. Kjellström played an important role in the development of the sport and helped to accelerate developments in orienteering
competition
, mapping
and coaching. Kjellström died in a road accident early in the year of 1967.
1967 saw the first Jan Kjellström International Festival of Orienteering
or "JK", held in memory of Kjellström. Later that year the British Orienteering Federation was formed by the amalgamation of the English and Scottish Associations leading to the first British Championships held at Hamsterley Forest.
in schools. The Federation's membership had reached around 10,000 by 1998 and the club membership had increased to more 150 clubs.
, Wales
, and Northern Ireland
; nine for the English
regions; and the British Schools Orienteering Association. The nine English regions are also Members of EOC
.
The associations are:
British Orienteering receives funding from both UK Sport
and Sport England
. With UK Sport awarding £500,000 and Sport England awarding £2,275,000 over four years with the funding being received from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2013. The UK sports money is likely to be spend on the International aspects of the organisation with the Sport England funding going mainly to development of the sport in England.
The Board of Directors is chaired by Lyn West. The Chief Executive is Mike Hamilton and the other members are Philip Baxter, Roger Hargreaves, Jenny Peel, David May, Ed Nicholas, Martin Ward, Mike Forrest and John Woodall. The board meets at least five times a year.
Orienteering
Orienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The federation was founded in June 1967, and is a member of the IOF
International Orienteering Federation
The International Orienteering Federation is the international governing body of the sport of orienteering. The IOF head office is located in Helsinki, Finland....
. They recently collaborated with the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
as part of one of their children's programs.
History of Orienteering in UK before the BOF
Orienteering was introduced to the UK in the 1950s and was heavily supported by renowned Olympians including John DisleyJohn Disley
John Ivor Disley is a former Welsh athlete who competed mainly in the 3000 metres steeple chase. He was born in Corris, a village in Gwynedd...
and Chris Brasher
Chris Brasher
Christopher William "Chris" Brasher CBE was a British athlete, sports journalist and co-founder of the London Marathon.-History:...
. The early years were helped by orienteers from Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
: in 1962 Baron ‘Rak’ Largerfelt of the Stockholm Orienteering Club came to Scotland to help develop the sport. This culminated in the first championship being held in May 1962 at Dunkeld, and the formation of the Scottish Orienteering Association.
Later visitors from Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
included Jan Kjellström
Jan Kjellström
Jan Kjellström was an orienteer from Sweden who played an important role in the development of the sport of orienteering in Great Britain. Kjellström, a son of Silva compass founder Alvar Kjellström, travelled to Great Britain to promote the sport. There, he helped to accelerate developments in...
, a son of Silva compass
Silva compass
Silva compass, or Silva of Sweden, aka Silva Sweden AB is an outdoors products company, most known for their high-grade compasses and other navigational equipment including GPS tools, mapping software, and altimeters for aircraft. They also offer a marine range...
founder Alvar Kjellström. Kjellström played an important role in the development of the sport and helped to accelerate developments in orienteering
Orienteering
Orienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...
competition
Competition
Competition is a contest between individuals, groups, animals, etc. for territory, a niche, or a location of resources. It arises whenever two and only two strive for a goal which cannot be shared. Competition occurs naturally between living organisms which co-exist in the same environment. For...
, mapping
Orienteering map
An orienteering map is a map specially prepared for use in orienteering competitions. It is a topographic map with extra details to help the competitor navigate through the competition area....
and coaching. Kjellström died in a road accident early in the year of 1967.
1967 saw the first Jan Kjellström International Festival of Orienteering
Jan Kjellström International Festival of Orienteering
1967 saw the first Jan Kjellström International Orienteering Festival or "JK", held in memory of Jan Kjellström. The annual JK moved to Easter in 1969, and now regularly attracts a field of four thousand or more...
or "JK", held in memory of Kjellström. Later that year the British Orienteering Federation was formed by the amalgamation of the English and Scottish Associations leading to the first British Championships held at Hamsterley Forest.
After the Founding of BOF
With the growth of the sport BOF was founded in 1967, and continued to develop. There were 12 national and regional associations by 1972; the British Schools Orienteering Association joining in 1995 when it was formed to promote orienteeringOrienteering
Orienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...
in schools. The Federation's membership had reached around 10,000 by 1998 and the club membership had increased to more 150 clubs.
Structure
The federation is made up of thirteen constituent associations, one each for ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
; nine for the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
regions; and the British Schools Orienteering Association. The nine English regions are also Members of EOC
English Orienteering Council
The English Orienteering Council has sole responsibility for the English teams.The 9 English regions of the British Orienteering Federation are Members of English Orienteering Council . Its voting members comprise of representatives of each of the nine English regions of the BOF...
.
The associations are:
| Abbreviation | Full name | Web address | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSOA | British Schools Orienteering Association | http://www.bsoa.org/default.aspx | |
| EAOA | East Anglian Orienteering Association | http://www.eaoa.org.uk/ | |
| >East Midlands Orienteering Association | http://www.emoa.org.uk/ > |- |
>North East Orienteering Association | |
| >Northern Ireland Orienteering Association | |||
| >North West Orienteering Association | |||
| >South Central Orienteering Association | http://www.scoa-orienteering.org.uk/ > |- |
>South East Orienteering Association | |
| >Scottish Orienteering Association | |||
| >South West Orienteering Association | |||
| WMOA | >http://www.wmoa.org.uk/ | ||
| WOA | Welsh Orienteering Association | http://www.woa.org.uk/ | |
| YHOA | Yorkshire and Humberside Orienteering Association | http://www.yhoa.org.uk/ | |
Funding
Some funding comes from the fees paid by individual members and clubs.British Orienteering receives funding from both UK Sport
UK Sport
UK Sport is the UK Government's organisation for directing the development of sport within the home countries.-History:The Sports Council previously had been formed in 1972, and had the motto Sport for All. There was also the Central Council of Physical Recreation. In July 1994 it was decided to...
and Sport England
Sport England
Sport England is the brand name for the English Sports Council and is a non-departmental public body under the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
. With UK Sport awarding £500,000 and Sport England awarding £2,275,000 over four years with the funding being received from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2013. The UK sports money is likely to be spend on the International aspects of the organisation with the Sport England funding going mainly to development of the sport in England.
Governance
The British Orienteering Federation is governed by a Board of Directors, and the members of four subcommittees. These four subcommittees govern coaching, development, event co-ordination and international competitions.The Board of Directors is chaired by Lyn West. The Chief Executive is Mike Hamilton and the other members are Philip Baxter, Roger Hargreaves, Jenny Peel, David May, Ed Nicholas, Martin Ward, Mike Forrest and John Woodall. The board meets at least five times a year.