Orienteering is a challenging outdoor adventure sport that exercises both the mind and the body.

The aim is to navigate in sequence between control points marked on a unique orienteering map and decide the best route to complete the course in the quickest time.

It does not matter how young, old or fit you are, as you can run, walk or jog the course and progress at your own pace.

Orienteering can take place anywhere from remote forest and countryside to urban parks and school playgrounds. 

It's a great sport for runners, joggers and walkers who want to improve their navigation skills or for anyone who loves the outdoors. 

North Gloucester Orienteering Club (NGOC) starts its 2009 fixtures with a one hour score event on January 1st at Parkend in the Forest of Dean.

Alan and Ann Brown have devised a course where competitors have to find as many controls as they can in one hour, the winner being the person with the highest number of points collected. There will be a mass start at 11am and more details can be found on the website http://www.ngoc.org.uk">www.ngoc.org.uk