Welcome to OBOPs newest event: The 2026 Sprint Series is here!
Come along and enjoy these Sunday morning Sprint courses in the Western Bay of Plenty during August. A perfect lead up to the AIMS Games Orienteering events.
Come along and enjoy these Sunday morning Sprint courses in the Western Bay of Plenty during August. A perfect lead up to the AIMS Games Orienteering events.
About the Sprint Series
The OBOP Sprint Series are a series of two sprint events set in the local schools, parks and streets of Tauranga and Mount Maunganui.
A Sprint is an individual competition, with staggered start times, where you must visit all the controls in a prescribed order in the fastest time. Sprints are normally held in urban environments, such as campus, school grounds or camp, with route choices being created by buildings and urban obstacles. Navigationally easier than forest orienteering events, fast decisions are the key. Competitors self start for this event, and turn over their map at the same time the clock starts (ie, no time for planning your route before your start). Competitors navigate from the start triangle to control #1 then #2 etc. The clock stops when they punch the finish control.
In these linear sprint courses you have the choice of the following level of challenge:
If you have never done an orienteering event before ask one of the event officials at registration to give you some pointers.
You can do these sprint events individually, as a family, or with other friends. You can go as easy or hard as you like. If practising for the AIMS Games Orienteering competition in September it is recommend to complete the Easy or Moderate level course as an individual.
Note: No dogs are permitted at any events. Limited access to toilets and water
Enter HERE:
A Sprint is an individual competition, with staggered start times, where you must visit all the controls in a prescribed order in the fastest time. Sprints are normally held in urban environments, such as campus, school grounds or camp, with route choices being created by buildings and urban obstacles. Navigationally easier than forest orienteering events, fast decisions are the key. Competitors self start for this event, and turn over their map at the same time the clock starts (ie, no time for planning your route before your start). Competitors navigate from the start triangle to control #1 then #2 etc. The clock stops when they punch the finish control.
In these linear sprint courses you have the choice of the following level of challenge:
- Easy - 10-year-olds and under or first timers. Students new to Orienteering who are practising for AIMS Games
- Moderate - 12-year-olds and under who have progressed on from Easy. Confident first timers. Students with some experience who are practising for AIMS Games
- Difficult - Anyone who has progressed on from Moderate.
If you have never done an orienteering event before ask one of the event officials at registration to give you some pointers.
You can do these sprint events individually, as a family, or with other friends. You can go as easy or hard as you like. If practising for the AIMS Games Orienteering competition in September it is recommend to complete the Easy or Moderate level course as an individual.
Note: No dogs are permitted at any events. Limited access to toilets and water
Enter HERE:
Event Schedule
Timings
- Registration opens 9.30am.
- Start times from 10am - 11.00am.
- Course closure 12 noon.
Entry
Pre-register or turn up and enter on the day. Pre entries close midnight the Wednesday before the event
For those of you planning on doing both of the events we encourage you to pre-register. This saves you money (with further discounts for OBOP members) and avoids you having to bring cash to each event
Entry fees are as follows:
For those of you planning on doing both of the events we encourage you to pre-register. This saves you money (with further discounts for OBOP members) and avoids you having to bring cash to each event
Entry fees are as follows:
Timing System
SPORTident will be used for these events. The SI card (dibber) is a small electronic chip worn on your finger. On the course each control will have a number that corresponds to the control number on your map, an orienteering flag and an electronic control box. When reaching a control the competitor will need to insert their chip into the control box to register that they have been to the control. If 'AIR' mode is enabled the control box will register a chip that is within 3 meters. In both regular and AIR modes the SI card will beep and flash to indicate the control box has registered the chip. You will be advised at registration if AIR mode will be enabled for each event.
If you have your own dibber we suggest you pre-register with this number and bring it on the day. If you do not own one you will receive a SPORTident dibber (SIAC) at registration and, if not pre-entered, you will need to enter your details on a tablet. Follow the instructions provided.
Schools Entries
If you are from a school and bringing a large school group (5 or more people) you must complete the attached Pre-Entry Form HERE and hand it to the event officials at registration.
If you have your own dibber we suggest you pre-register with this number and bring it on the day. If you do not own one you will receive a SPORTident dibber (SIAC) at registration and, if not pre-entered, you will need to enter your details on a tablet. Follow the instructions provided.
Schools Entries
If you are from a school and bringing a large school group (5 or more people) you must complete the attached Pre-Entry Form HERE and hand it to the event officials at registration.
- OBOP will invoice your school separately for the amounts owing. You do not need to pay cash on the day.
- Students will still need to come to registration to receive a SIAC dibber and self register on the tablet.
What to Bring
- Suitable running or walking clothing and footwear.
- Water - there will be no water provided.
- Cash for your entry.
- A compass can be useful, but not essential.
- Note, there are generally no toilets available
Bad Weather Arrangements
The events will go ahead even if it is raining or in the case of other general bad weather.
However, in the case of a serious or extreme weather event, which potentially puts the safety of competitors and competitors at risk, OBOP will postpone or cancel the affected event. A post will be put up on the OBOP Facebook page prior to 7am on the day of the event.
However, in the case of a serious or extreme weather event, which potentially puts the safety of competitors and competitors at risk, OBOP will postpone or cancel the affected event. A post will be put up on the OBOP Facebook page prior to 7am on the day of the event.
