British Orienteering Federation Record Files

Results files and newsletters of the British Orienteering Federation for the period 1961 to 2009, along with notes, maps, reports and publications collected by the Federation and by individual members.

The collection consists of 228 results files relating to the organised competitions of members of the British Orienteering Federation between April 1961 and March 2009, together with copies of some 50 series of newsletters issued throughout the UK from 1962. In addition, there are 32 files of material collected by Carol McNeill, an active member of the BOF, which include maps, coaching and planning notes, and reports of meetings and events, plus further files donated by the Federation and individual orienteers.

Orienteering is a sport involving navigation with the use of maps at speed through unknown terrain. In the UK, the British Orienteering Federation is the national governing body for the sport. Orienteering began in Scandinavia, where it was introduced as a form of army training, with competitions being held between military garrisons as early as 1895. It came to Britain in the 1950s, with the support of well-known Olympic athletes such as John Disley and Chris Brasher, the latter becoming the first Chairman of the English Orienteering Association. As the sport expanded the British Orienteering Federation (founded 1967) developed, and by 1972 there were 12 national and regional Associations. In 1998 there was a membership of some 10,000, with over 150 clubs taking part. A number of universities have orienteering teams, with the British University Orienteering Championships held as early as 1968. By 1972 30 universities were sending teams to the event.

The University of Sheffield team has played a prominent role in orienteering competitions since the early days, with the Sheffield University Orienteering Club amongst the largest and most active in the country.

As received

Available to all researchers, and members of the British Orienteering Federation, by appointment

Donated by the British Orienteering Federation in 1998, with later accruals

Description prepared by Lawrence Aspden

Outline list

Copyright owned by the British Orienteering Federation Ltd.