Orienteering in the UK is cheap

[Adventure Racer]

£4 or £5 for a local event with SI timing, pre-printed maps etc. Only £10 or so for a bigger ranking event.

Here in Norway where I am right now they want 100 kroner (~£11) for a map for what's effectively a "permanent" ski-o course (it's out from Jan 1 to Easter apparently). I know everything in Norway is expensive and the pound is worthless, but is it just me who thinks that is a bit much? I mean it's not like it cost them anything to put out the course (I've come across a couple of markers - they're pin punches on little square boards attached to signposts), so unless it costs many times as much to print maps over here, somebody is making a huge profit.

[DaveK]

Well, younger daughter paid £22 for a British Military Fitness event today described as follows -

'We have run our Military Series on this particular London course for the past few years. In 2010 we are building more new obstacles and making it more exciting than ever before. The routes for both the 5k and 10k run is designed on a private 4x4 driving course and is definitely 'off-road'. You are guaranteed to finish this race wet, muddy, smelly, exhausted and with a big smile on your face!'

Yes, orienteering is definately excellent value by comparison I reckon.

[frog]

Our Easter Sunday event is £3 or £1.50 with SI controls, some preprinted maps, a quiz, a painted hardboiled egg competition (currently wondering where I am going to put them all if we're mobbed!) and free easter eggs at the controls. It's intended to just about break even and attract new folk though. Must remember to buy party bags to hang the Easter eggs in on the controls and hope there aren't many dogs around to wolf the lot (or the first unaccompanied child doesn't pour the lot into a large bag!).

[mappingmum]

break even

[Angry Haggis]

There's things at all prices for all people.

The Royal Parks Half Marathon is £45 per entry.

The Parkrun events cost £0.

[Jon Brooke]

Are you sure you're not just paying tourist prices Chris?

[Adventure Racer]

<shrug>

Well it's the price according to the poster in the shop. Does that make it tourist price? I don't think there's a non-tourist price though. Is the price you pay for a permanent orienteering map in a visitor centre tourist price, and if not, why not?

If it was a bit cheaper I'd buy a map out of curiousity, but from the control boards I've seen I doubt it's interesting enough to bother doing.

[youngladdie]

The JK entries were certainly NOT cheap - especially for a family.

Never mind comparing them to other sports; what about the large increases in the fees every year? added on top the cost of travel, accommodation... ...

[Adventure Racer]

Never mind comparing them to other sports

I wasn't

[graeme]

Good to see there are still trolls in Norway

[ryeland of doom]

I paid quite a bit for the Trim package in Tromsoe last year - well worth it, as 1) I am a map geek, and two it gave me some great runs in amazing places and a great rest from slogging up tottering piles of gabbro boulders on the local hills.

As for orienteering being cheap here - this should be lauded and advertised. A really enjoyable adventure sport/X-C race for a small amount.

And look what was served up for us today at The Trossachs. Well worth every penny - got more minutes gripped on crags, and up to my neck in glaur for my entry than usual and loved every (rather too many) minute of it.