According to the club constitution, OUOC exists to 'further the sport of orienteering within Oxford University' but more importantly it is about having fun. A quick glance at the calendar for this term shows a mixture of training (from short runs for the unfit to longer ones for the elite), orienteering events and socials. Our membership fluctuates around about 30 people which means the club is very friendly.

Almost every Sunday we hire a minibus and go to an orienteering event. We try to have a reasonable mix of local colour-coded events ('District events') with Regional and National events further afield. Some of the other features of the OUOC calendar are listed below. There is an annual subscription of £12 for newcomers and £18 for others but you will only have to pay this after attending a few events and deciding you want to do more.

If you would like to find out more contact the Club Secretary or just turn up to Club Run.

Along with the club constitution there are two other important documents that are comcerned with the running of the club. The Code of Conduct contains a brief outline of the club's activities, accident and emergency procedure and training courses. The Risk Assessment provides information regarding safety at events and also the level of competence required by members before attending an event.

Freshers' Event

In first week of Michaelmas term we hold a low key event to introduce beginners to the sport. This event has recently been held on our University Parks map using the Permanent Orienteering Course. There is also a free Freshers' Drinks event one evening in this week to allow prospective members to meet the committee and find out more about the club.

OUOC Hosted Events

Once a year the club holds an event, most years it is only a colour coded event although in 1997 we held a Badge Event on Bernwood. This makes the club some money and raises our profile within the orienteering community. Being only a small club everyone is need to help run this event. In the past we have held a park race, The Stoat, but in 2006, 2007 and 2012 we organised the famous Oxford City Race. In 2004 and 2009 we hosted the BUCS Championships.

Cuppers

Come and represent your college at orienteering (and possibly win a meal at high table!). Cuppers are usually held towards the start of Trinity Term, and there are prizes for both individuals and college teams of three. Anyone can compete, so get as many of your friends to turn out as possible.

BUCS

A few years ago, a meeting was held to discuss some aspects of student orienteering. It was generally agreed that it would help if a revamped Churchill Cup had the BUCS tag attached. Tentative plans involving preliminary league matches being held at colour coded events have failed to materialise, and so the BUCS championships, organised by OUOC in 2004 and 2009, remain the key inter university competition.

University clubs from around the county compete in the individual event on the Saturday and relay on the Sunday. A huge social is held on the Saturday night including the beer race which OUOC or JOK have been known to win. The orienteering event has traditionally been won by Sheffield or a small town near Glasgow, but in 2009 we came second overall, the first time any university other than Sheffield and Edinburgh had finished in the top two. In 2013 the team of Ben Stevens, Alan Cherry and Peter Hodkinson won the men's relay for the second year in a row

Annual Dinner

This is an event not to be missed. The Annual Dinner takes place at the beginning of Trinity Term (late April). The venue and formality can vary from Colleges to local restaurants. Recently it was held at The Big Bang.

The dinner sees the handing over of the Diced Carrot award to the person who has done the most chundering over the past year! The outgoing president used to have to wear a costume specially constructed by club members, usually in reference to something they had said or done during their time with the club. Click here to see the beautiful outfit made for former president Tom Cochrane (2003-04)

Annual General Meeting

Your chance as a member of the club to exercise your vote for the new committee or alternatively to put in lots of silly motions. The AGM is constitutionally held near the start of Trinity Term - for an idea of the procedings see the minutes of the last meeting.

Varsity Match

Orienteering is a half blue sport within the University (with discretionary full blues) and once a year we meet up with Cambridge for the Varsity Match. The organisation of the event alternates between Oxford and Cambridge with JOK organising the event on behalf of OUOC. When OUOC hosted the event in 1996 it was held in Fountainbleau, France, and JOK hosted the 2002, 2005 and 2008 Varsity Matches in Sweden; but usually we compete in a top area in Britain. The match itself is held on the Saturday followed by a social in the evening. The Sunday heralds a fun relay/hangover cure with mixed Oxford-Cambridge teams. Results from previous years are available.

CUOC Sprint-O

Cambridge University Orienteering Club organise this event consisting of two rounds. In the first round everyone starts at the same time, running round two short loops. On the basis of your postition in this you will end up in the A or B final, again with a mass start for each. There are separate races for men and women.

Then the real event begins. The Alc-O takes place on a very confusing map and instead of a punch at each control you will find a drink to down. Once again a fairly large social takes place in the evening back in Cambridge.