The Army Inter Unit Orienteering Championships 2025

The aim of the event is to challenge soldiers' navigation, use of ground and aerobic fitness through orienteering. The Harris event on day two also provides junior leaders the opportunity to test their leadership under the pressures of time and competition.

Orienteering directly supports dismounted close combat skills by developing soldiers` ability to `read` the terrain and navigate their way through it. The Army Inter Unit Championships presents a competitive environment to test these skills under physical duress and to promote a `warrior ethos` and will to win.

The Inter-Unit Orienteering Championships 2025 will be conducted in three phases, the first being optional. Coaching is on offer during the morning of Wednesday 21 May, immediately prior to the championships. This will be aimed at those who require an introduction, or refresher. Attendance will not be limited but units must declare their intent to attend when registering.

The second phase is the Spanish Score on Wednesday 21 May. Team members run individually to visit all controls in the fastest possible time. Controls can be visited in any order and the team's time is the cumulative time of every member.

The final phase is the Harris Team on Thursday 22 May. The Harris format is an event where all team members receive identical maps and run simultaneously. There are two sets of controls: `spine` controls, which must be visited by every team member; and `other` controls, which must be visit by at least one team member. Both sets of controls can be visited in any order, and the team`s time is that of the last member to reach the finish, multiplied by four.

Equipment
Full leg and shoulder cover is mandatory. Team Captains are responsible for ensuring that all team members are dressed correctly. Personnel are to ensure they have Off-Road/Trail running trainers – indoor gym shoes / pumps are not sufficient for the competition area.

All personnel must be in possessions of the following equipment:
a. Water/Fluid (Does not need to be carried during the event)
b. A compass (which they know how to use)
c. A whistle (no whistle, no start)
d. A pen (to mark a waterproof map)

Officials
Planner: Maj (Retd) Colin Dickson AOA
Controller: Lt Col (Retd) Colin Metcalfe AOA
Organiser: WO2 Luke Williamson AAC

Results
Results will not be on display at the event but you can access them online at race-results.info.

Facilities
Tom's Food Wagon. Toilets.

Download
From the finish walk back to the EMIT van. Download at the rear of the EMIT van, take your splits print. Retain your ecard so it can be used on Day 2. On Day 2 if you have a hire ecard drop it in the tray under the printer. Spare back-up cards for Day 2 will be at Registration.

All competitors MUST download at the download station, directly after they finish, even if they retire from the course. Team Captains are responsible for informing race registration that their competitors are all accounted for and downloaded before leaving each day. Failure to do so will result in safety protocols being actioned, wasting time and resources.

Civilian Participation
For civilians participating in Army orienteering, Public Liability Insurance is provided by Towergate; individuals are advised to have their own private accident insurance. This event is conducted iaw British Orienteering Rules 2020 and land booked iaw the AOA DIO Licence and JSP907.

Personal Responsibility
Orienteering in the Army is classed as individual military training. Competitors are responsible for their own personal safety and for assessing their own abilities to complete the course.

Use of personal data
The personal data you give at entry/registration will be used by the event organisers and their agents for the purpose of processing and publishing entries and results, conducting safety checks and as required by our insurers to validate our cover. Your information will be managed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).