The JK
Easter weekends
The Jan Kjellstrom International Festival of Orienteering (or the JK for short) is held every year somewhere in the UK over the long Easter weekend. This year, it's in the Midlands, so relatively close by. It has proved popular with a nucleus of QO members over the years and some have had a great deal of success in it.
Although very competitive at the top end, it also has a nice social feel.
Format
The JK consists of four days, the first being a sprint event, generally held at a university campus, the second and third days are middle and long distance events, and trophies are awarded depending on the combined time of both your runs. The fourth and final day is a relay event where teams of three enter and compete head to head, with the first runner on each category being set off at a mass start.
Origins
The JK has been for more than 50 years. It is named after a young Swedish man called Jan Kjellstrom, who played a major part in introducing orienteering to the UK. Soon after, he died in a car crash. The annual festival is held in his honour every year.
Chronology
Take a look at some of the areas that have been used over the years via the following link, which also contains maps, routes and results:
Year | Location | Links |
---|---|---|
2026 | Scotland | |
2025 | Yorkshire | Sheffield City centre (sprint) Tankersley (middle) Wharncliffe (long) Wombwell (relays) |
2024 | The Midlands | Results |
2023 | Lake District | Reviews & discussion: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 |
2022 | South Wales | QO article Results & discussion: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 |
2021 | Cornwall & SW | Cancelled due to Covid-19 virus |
2020 | North Yorkshire Moors | Cancelled due to Covid-19 virus |
2019 | Aldershot/ Newbury | Website Review |
2018 | West Midlands | Website Review Results |
2017 | West Sussex & Uxbridge | Website Review Article Results |
2016 | Yorkshire | Website Review Results |
2015 | Lake District | Website Review Article Results |
2014 | South Wales | Website Review Article 1 Article 2 Results |
2013 | Chilterns / South East | Website Review |
2012 | Scotland | Website Results Article |
2011 | Northern Ireland | |
2010 | Devon | Article |
2009 | Northumberland | Website Review Results |
2008 | Surrey | |
2007 | Forest of Dean | Article |
2006 | Ilkley Moor | Article |