A LANCASHIRE Orienteering club has won a prestigious national award for encouraging more people to get active and enjoy the outdoors.
Pendle Forest Orienteers were named Club of the Year by British Orienteering beating clubs from all over the UK.
The team celebrated with the award at the JK Orienteering festival in South Wales recently.
The club have been recognised for going "above and beyond" with the work they do for the local communities, schools and the general public in creating activities for all ages and abilities to engage in their local spaces.
They worked closely with School Sports Partnerships in Rossendale, Pendle and Burnley in addition to Active Burnley and the recent initiative of ‘Beat The Streets’ which took place in Burnley.
Judith Wood, chair of the club, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to be recognised for our hard work around East Lancashire.
"To beat many other larger clubs which have hundreds of more members than we do at PFO, just shows it's quality and not quantity that shines through.
“We are trying to move orienteering from what people may think of, as somebody wandering around a forest wearing a rucksack with a compass, to shine it in a new light and deserving of what it is, an exciting, adventurous sport which relies on brainpower just as much as physical skill.
“We have seen a huge increase in families, club and fell runners turning to the sport in the past year, who have become hooked on the challenge of having to choose the best way around the course and are finding it is not always the fast runners that have the most success, it's no use running fast if you're heading the wrong way.”
Julie said the club was keen to invite more people to get involved.
She added: “We hold free Club Nights each Wednesday at locations around East Lancashire where anybody can come and be introduced to the sport in a welcoming atmosphere.
"Not only that, we have events throughout the year with courses to suit all ages, experiences and fitness levels.
"We are looking forward to welcoming more people to the sport in 2022 and are proud to put East Lancashire on the map.”
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