Brescia House orienteer claims senior girls title at the 2026 Orienteering Schools League

Brescia House School athlete Abigail Hughes (17) has emerged as one of Johannesburg’s top young orienteers.

She claimed first place in the senior category, as well as securing the overall senior girls title, in the 2026 Orienteering Schools League (OSL).

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Held across different venues across the city, including HeronBridge College, Helpmekaar Kollege, Delta Park, St John’s College, and Alberts Farm from February 2 to March 9, each course challenged competitors to interpret maps, plan routes, and adapt quickly to changing terrain.

Abigail’s achievement also contributed to Brescia’s overall league victory, marking a historic and successful season for the school. “When I first joined Brescia, I saw that orienteering was offered as a sport. I had never done it before, but I really wanted to try something new. I went to the first session and I quickly fell in love with the sport. I have never looked back since.”

Orienteering is a sport that blends running with problem-solving. Athletes navigate their way through parks and natural terrain using a detailed map, locating checkpoints in the correct order while choosing the most efficient route.

For Abigail, mastering the sport was not easy. “My journey with orienteering at Brescia has been filled with ups and downs, but I’ve had a really positive experience with the sport.”

Having started in Grade 8, Abigail believes her years of participation, along with competing in club events beyond the school league, gave her a competitive edge. “It felt really good to win the title, considering this my last year in the schools league. It was a great way to end off my school career.

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“I think what sets me apart from other competitors is my experience. I’ve been doing the sport since I was in Grade 8, so that’s five years now. I’ve also participated in lots of club events, outside of the schools league, which I think gives me an advantage.”

She added that her preparation strategy includes reading ahead on the map, which helps prevent her from stopping and looking at the map during the race.

“Number two is having a clear head, so I don’t let other people around me distract me, and number 3 is to run as hard as I can. I balance the different aspects of the sport by training physically, while also training my map reading skills at the same time. So, this would include quick map reading while racing against others and similar exercises.”

Despite her success, the league was not without challenges. One of her toughest moments came during a race at Delta Park. “I got lost in the beginning, but I was able to overcome the challenge and find my way back onto the right path.

“My family has always been my biggest supporters, and have helped me train and get back up when I fall down. The school’s orienteering coaches Tania Winberly and Garry Morrison have also supported me immensely through the ups and downs in my orienteering career so far.

“I am in matric this year and I would definitely love to continue with orienteering in university, wherever I go.”

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