The colour line is a form of gauging orienteering standard at events providing colour coded courses. The colour courses themselves are planned to a set of guidelines which try to make a common standard of technical/physical difficulty for each colour whatever the terrain. Runners appearing above the colour line are considered to have achieved that colour standard at that event. Achieving runs above the colour standard in three separate events is considered an indication that the runner's orienteering skills have reached that standard. There exists an award scheme (using different calculations) which can recognise this "three runs" achievement.
The line boundary is calculated at 150 per cent of the winner's time for each course OR drawn after 50 per cent of the number of entrants to the course, whichever is the more generous. There is some discretion in the calculation in the yellow / orange range and in others if the leading time is significantly faster than the other leaders (for instance if someone was running seriously out of standard)
There is a similar standard scheme (Championship, Gold , Silver, Bronze) which operates when age group rather than colour courses are provided.
For details of current events click
here or
ring NEOA answer phone 01670-736242
during the week before the event.
To return to the club website click here