New Year's Day Orienteering Levee 2026
January 1st 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Organizer: Scott Sheldrake (Event Director)
Map: Beacon Hill Park
Start off the New Year right! MEET the new club officials! BRING your leftover Christmas snacks and enjoy nibblies for everyone to share! Run through one of Victoria's finest Orienteering Maps! This event is a Score-O format, you have 60 minutes to collect as many controls as you can, in ANY ORDER!
Courses: There will be three course options for New Year's Day :
#1 - Beginner Course - a short Score-O course for kids or those very new to orienteering. This course features controls located mainly on trails or prominent features. Access and navigation will be straightforward using the map. Collect thecontrols in any order - the more controls you collect, the more points you get. There are 12 controls on this map!
#2 - Intermediate Course - a full park Score-O course. This course is best suited to those who have run an orienteering race before, or are up for a challenge! Collect the controls in any order - the more controls you collect, the more points you get. There are 24 controls on this map, plus 4 bonus "mystery controls" not marked on the map, but identifiable via photos.
#3 - Memory O - this is a special Advanced Score-O course in which you will not carry a map, but rather will be required to visit "filling stations" where a map is posted showing all control locations. You may study the map for as long as needed, then venture out to visit controls, returning to the map as many times as needed. There will be 2-3 maps located around Beacon Hill, and the locations of these "filling station maps" will be posted at the start! There are 24 controls, plus 4 bonus mystery controls. Can you handle the ultimate challenge of Orienteering from Memory?
What to Bring:
Warm clothes suitable for running in the brisk January weather. Good trail running shoes are recommended, especially for the Intermediate and Advanced courses which may take you off-trail.
Cost/Registration:
$5 for Junior participants, $15 for Adults. No SI chip is required for this event. Registration, waiver and payment are all done in one location using our Zone4 system using the following registration link : https://zone4.ca/register.asp?id=40681
Meeting Location:
At the "Sport Hut" located in the center of Beacon Hill Park near the large playground. Vehicle parking available close by - or park on Dallas Rd and walk in - See map located at the bottom of this page. If you are lost call 250-885-7772
Start Time: Jan 1st (New Year’s Day) 2026
Check-In: 12pm-1pm
Mass Start: 1:00pm SHARP
Course Closure: 2pm SHARP. Please return to the Start/Finish area before course closure so event staff can begin course cleanup. Set a 10 minute alarm on your phone or watch! 1 point will be deducted for each minute you are late.
Transit Options for Getting to the Event:
1. Public Transit - VICO encourages you to utilize Public Transit to arrive at the event. See https://www.bctransit.com/
2. via Bicycle - VICO encourages you to travel by Bike to the event! Increase your health, and lower emmissions.
3. Walk - if possible, please leave your car and bike at home and walk to Beacon Hill Park.
4. Carpool - Why not team up with your friends and take 1 car? Parking is limited and you can catch up with your friends
SPECIAL NOTE:
MYSTERY CONTROLS
This year we will bring back the elusive mystery controls - there are 4 controls hidden around the park that are NOT marked on the map. You will need to study the photographs and try to deduce their locations. On the day of the event, they will be valid controls that count towards your total points, but not marked on the map! Good luck!
Mystery Control #1
Mystery Control #2
Mystery Control #3
Mystery Control #4
