What is Checkpoint Challenge Schools League?

Checkpoint Challenge Schools League is a new schools league based in the eastern Joburg suburbs.This is arunning (and walking) sport. We place a total of 20checkpoint flags in the event area (a school property) – participantshave to find a specified number of them, depending on theirage group. We evenprovidea mapthat shows where the flags are!

Fastest finishers win and overall results are determined from each entrant’s best three scores after four events.

2015 Dates & Venues

  • Monday, 2 February: #1Jeppe Boys
  • Monday, 9 February: #2 Sacred Heart College
  • Monday, 16 February: #3 Queens High School
  • Monday, 23 February: #4Edenvale High

The following events are not part of the Checkpoint Challenge Schools League but they are an add-on for selected participants.

  • Monday, 2 March: Preparation for FINAL (@ Jeppe Boys)
  • Monday, 9 March: FINAL Kloofendal Nature Reserve (selected participants, limited numbers)
  • Weekend: 13 to 15 March: Annual Schools Camp @ Bushtrails (selected participants; limited numbers)
  • Sunday, 22 March: Gauteng Orienteering Clubs & Schools Relay (three-person teams; all welcome)

Ages & Grades

Grades:Grade 5 to Grade 12 (approx. 10 to 19 years of age)

Categories:Primary (Grades 5-7), Junior (15 and younger), Senior (16 and older) – girls and boys

Course distances

  • Primary (Grades 5-7): approx. 1.5km
  • Junior (15 and younger): approx. 2km
  • Senior (16 and older): approx. 2,5km

Distance varies with each venue and participant route choice.

To register

Register through a teacher, if your school is participating in the League. Alternativelyregister directly with us.

Please complete and return your indemnity form (signed by a parent) together with confirmation of transfer of your entry fees (bank details on the form).

Fees: R20 per event or R60 for all four events

Contact

Lisa de Speville | 082 936-2509 |

Teacher FAQs

How do we join Checkpoint Challenge?
Contact Lisa directly.

Must we have a minimum number of participants?
No. We don’t mind whether you have one entrant from your school or a bus load.

What do we have to do?

Get buy-in from your school, promote the League (we'll give you a poster), recruit participants, collect their entry forms and fees (or EFT confirmations), get in your bus and rock up at the events. We'd appreciate your help with the starts and finish timings.

How do the scores work?

A point score is assigned to each runner according to how far they are off the winning time, where the course winner is awarded 1000 points. At the end of the League, each runners Top 3 scores will be added to obtain overall rankings.

Do schools compete against each other?

Although this is an individual sport, there is a school category where the overall scores of each school's Top 5 runners in each category are combined to get an overall school ranking.

Checkpoint Challenge only runs over four Mondays. What can we do for the rest of the term?
We have a bunch of games and activities that you can do with your students on the remaining Mondays of the term. We provide these to you – FREE!

Who gets to attend the FINAL on 9 March 2015?

The top ranked runners in each age category are invited to participate in a final event against runners from schools in the northern-based Orienteering Schools League (OSL). Places are limited.

How are learners selected for the annual camp?

Places for this annual coaching weekend are limited to 30 and this includes the OSL participants. We look at both results and participation and level of interest in the sport.

Teachers are asked to nominate students for the few available places. The cost for the camp is R200. This includes transport, catering, accommodation and coaching plus entry to a club orienteering event. Primary school learners are not eligible.

Can we award Colours to participants for this sport?

Yes. Checkpoint Challenge is part of the sport of orienteering. We have posted Colours guidelines on our website ( under the Development > School Resources tab.

Parent FAQs

My child’s school isn’t participating in the League. Can my child still enter?
Of course. You can register directly with us. Please complete and return the indemnity form with your confirmation of transfer.

How can I get my child's school to join the League?

Speak to your favourite teacher and bounce the idea off them. Ask them if you can pass their contact details on to Lisa - she'll make contact directly with them.

My child is younger than 10. Can they take part?
Yes, but you will need to accompany them at least for the first event. Children 7 and younger would certainly require you to accompany them at all events.

If I'm bringing my child to the events, can I hang around?

Although this isn't much of a spectator sport, we can always do with extra hands to assist with starts, finish timing and hanging the results. So yes, come along.