To get more out of orienteering, and maybe make it more enjoyable, it is necessary to have a toolbox of skills to call upon. Each skill in itself is simple, it is putting them together in the right order that will give you greater satisfaction and hopefully improve your performance.

As orienteering is an individual sport most orienteers are self-taught and are not aware of the range of skills that are available and easily learnt. In this series I hope to introduce you to some of these skills, which I hope you will go into the forest and try.

The first is very simple, but many do not do it. At each control make sure the map is orientated to north so that you leave the control in the direction you wish to travel. It sounds simple, but how many of you do it?

Andy Thornton

HANDY ANDY'S TOOLBOX 1.

HANDY ANDY'S TOOLBOX 2 & 3.

HANDY ANDY'S TOOLBOX 4, 5 & 6.

HANDY ANDY'S TOOLBOX 7.

HANDY ANDY'S TOOLBOX 8 & 9.