Jargon

Pace counting - A technique for estimating the distance travelled by counting the double (just count the steps taken by one leg) strides taken. Pacing allows an orienteer to know when the required distance has been travelled. It is not as easy as it sounds. Before you can use this skill at an event you need to count your strides over a measured distance, say 100 meters. During the event your need to be able to vary your calculation to take into account the variable terrain, thick undergrowth, uphill and downhill etc.

Permanent orienteering course - A course in a public place with control markers permanently in place. Sites in the SWOC area can be found on the link on the home page.

Pictorial Control Descriptions - Control descriptions in standard format, as defined by the IOF. You can look at them all on the link on the home page.

Planner - One of the three main officials at an orienteering event, the others being the Organiser and Controller. The planner is responsible for setting the courses, providing the maps and the control descriptions, and for getting the controls into the forest in the right places. The wors tpart of the job is probably collecting them all in at the end of a long day.

Platform - A small level patch of ground, typically circular and about 3m in diameter. Often caused by charcoal burning. A common feature in the Forest of Dean, particularly at Sallow Vallets.

Platform - The SWOC newsletter that is published, with a bit of luck every 2 or 3 months. It includes a list of local fixtures, a ranking list and any articles contributed by members. Copies can be found on the members pages of this site.

Point feature - Anything on the map that is not a line feature, such as a knoll, pit or a depression.

Pre-marked map - A map with the courses already marked on that you pick up just after the start. The map is normally in a sealed plastic bag. Almost all badge events and higher use pe-marked maps. Make sure you know the number of the course you are running and pick up the correct map.

Punch - A device, either manual or electronic, for marking your control card to prove you have visited the correct control.

Ranking List - There are plenty of ranking lists available. These range from club rankings (SWOC has a ranking list published quarterly by the club captain in our newsletter) to national rankings and are based on performance over a period of time. The debate is out over how useful most of them. See BOF site for national rankings.

Re-entrant - A re-entrant is a contour feature. It is an indentation or small valley in a hillside. The opposite of a spur. Often used as a control site as the kite can be hidden from sight until the orienteer is ust about on top of it. Devious!!

Registration - The place where entry fees are collected and control cards, control descriptions, and (if master maps are being used) maps are given out. The place to ask for help and advice.

Relay event - A team event, usually for three people each running a separate course, or lap.

Relocation - Finding out where you are after having got lost. A skill I still have to master, particularly in the middle of sand dunes that all look the same.

Relocating Feature - A distinct feature used to identify one's position if lost. The problem is that there are often not too many distinct features in so called technical areas.

Route choice - The option of selecting the route that is most suitable for you when there is more than one (sensible) route. It is often a choice between up and over or a longer route through easier terrain and a direct route over more difficult ground (white v green on the map).