Hertfordshire Orienteering Club
Orienteering Age Classes
Orienteering classes are based on gender and age. The gender part is quite straightforward: male classes start "M" and female classes start "W". The age is part is more complicated and depends on your age on your birthday this calendar year so that at the beginning of the year one's class is based on an age you won't attain until your birthday later in the year! Then for juniors the classes proceed in two year bands from 10 to 20 with the age being the maximum for your birthday that year. Senior classes start at 21 and then run in 5 year bands from 35 with the age being a minimum for your birthday this year.
Hopefully the following table and example will make the working of the system clear.
Age this year's birthday | Male | Female |
---|---|---|
10 or below | M10 | W10 |
11 or 12 | M12 | W12 |
13 or 14 | M14 | W14 |
15 or 16 | M16 | W16 |
17 or 18 | M18 | W18 |
19 or 20 | M20 | W20 |
21 to 34 | M21 | W21 |
35 to 39 | M35 | W35 |
40 to 44 | M40 | W40 |
45 to 49 | M45 | W45 |
50 to 54 | M50 | W50 |
55 to 59 | M55 | W55 |
60 to 64 | M60 | W60 |
65 to 69 | M65 | W65 |
70 or older | M70 | W70 |
Example: You are a 14 year old girl entering an event in May. On your birthday in August you will be 15. So your age class this year is W16.