The parkrun Compass Club Challenge involves completing parkrun events that contain the words North, East, South and West. I’ve documented the UK parkrun Compass club in this post and this page includes all Compass Club events outside of the UK.
To be eligible for the Compass Club badge the event name must have the words north, south, east or west in the title. It counts even if the word is part of the name rather than a compass position (e.g loWESToft). parkrun challenge apps tend to use the short name of the event so if the compass position is in the long name it might not count on the app that you’re using. For the purposes of this page I’ve included all compass positions in both the long and short names.
Graphics show parkrun events that are open to the public. Note that Mount Pleasant, the most southerly parkrun event in the world is a closed event on an MOD facility and not accessible to the public so it is not listed here.
Russian parkrun events were suspended in early 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine. Prior to this Russia was home to the most northerly parkrun event in the world at Vorkuta Borodskoy Park and two events containing “north” in Russian language: Lesopark Severny and Severnoe Tushino.
I update this page whenever I spot a new one pop up and do an annual check. Let me know if I’ve missed any or you spot any errors and I’ll donate £1 per update to parkrun.
Global Compass Club
The most northerly event in the world was Vorkuta Borodskoy Park, Russia prior to the 2022 suspension of parkrun events in Russia. The current most northerly event is Pokkinen parkrun, Finland
The most easterly event in the world is Gisborne, New Zealand
The most southerly public event in the world is Cape Pembroke Lighthouse, Falkland Islands. Mount Pleasant parkrun, Falkland Islands is further South than Cape Pembroke however it is in a closed MOD facility and not open to the public.
The most westerly event in the world is Courtenay Airpark, Canada
Local Language Compass Club Points
Local language spellings of the compass positions typically don’t count to the badges on the apps. I’m no language expert but I’ve done my best to include local language Compass Club events where I’ve noticed them. Let me know if you have any corrections to the table below or if you spot any additional local language events to include.
| parkrun Country | Local Language | North | South | East | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | German | Nord | Süd / Sud | Ost | West |
| Denmark | Danish | Nord | Sør / Syd | Øst | Vest |
| eSwatini | Swati | Nyakatfo | Ningizimu | Mphumalanga | Nshonalanga |
| Finland | Finnish | Pohjoinen | Etelä | Itä | Länsi |
| France | French | Nord | Sud | Est | Ouest |
| Germany | German | Nord | Süd / Sud | Ost | West |
| Ireland | Irish / English | Thuaidh | Theas | Thoir | Thiar |
| Italy | Italian | Nord | Sud | Est | Ovest |
| Japan | Japanese | Kita | Minami | Higashi | Nishi |
| Lithuania | Lithuanian | Šiaurė | Pietūs | Rytai | Vakarai |
| Malaysia | Malay | Utara | Selatan | Timur | Barat |
| Netherlands | Dutch | Noord | Zuid | Oost | West | New Zealand | Māori | Raki | Tonga | Rāwhiti | Uru |
| Norway | Norwegian | Nord | Sør / Syd | Øst | Vest |
| Poland | Polish | Północ | Południe | Wschód | Zachód |
| Russia | Russian | Sever | Yug | Vostok | Zapad |
| Singapore | English | North | South | East | West |
| South Africa | Afrikaans | Noord | Suid | Oos | Wes |
| Sweden | Swedish | Norr | Söder | Öster / Ost | Väster / Väst |
Global East
Excluding Australia, South Africa and New Zealand (scroll down for these):
(local spelling) OOSTerhout, Netherlands
(local spelling) OOSTerplas, Netherlands
Global North
Excluding Australia, South Africa and New Zealand (scroll down for these):
(local spelling) FukaKITAryokuchi, Japan (Deep North Green)
(local spelling) KITanagase Mirai Fureai General
(local spelling) Milano NORD, Italy
(local spelling) NORDE Fælled parkrun, Randers, Denmark
(local spelling) Lesopark SEVERNY, Russia (event currently suspended)
(local spelling) SEVERNOE Tushino, Russia (event currently suspended)
Global West
Excluding Australia, South Africa and New Zealand (scroll down for these):
Global South
Excluding Australia, South Africa and New Zealand (scroll down for these):
(local spelling) Gdańsk POŁUDNIE, Poland
(local spelling) ZUIDerpark, Den Haag, Netherlands
(local spelling) ZUIDerpark, Hoogeveen, Netherlands
The Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge parkrun (Canada) was originally called SOUTH Riverfront Trail for the first few runs but then changed its name
Australia Compass Club
Australia East
The most easterly event in Australia is Kingscliff
Australia North
The most northerly event in Australia is Nightcliff
Australia West
The most westerly event in Australia is Baxter
Australia South
The most southerly event in Australia is Geeveston
New Zealand Compass Club
NEW ZEALAND East
The most easterly event in New Zealand is Gisborne (also the most easterly in the world).
NEW ZEALAND North
The most northerly event in New Zealand is Whangarei
NEW ZEALAND West
The most westerly event in New Zealand is Lake2Lake Trail
NEW ZEALAND South
The most southerly event in New Zealand is Invercargill
South Africa Compass Club
South Africa East
The most easterly event in South Africa is Hluhluwe
South Africa North
The most northerly event in South Africa is Louis Trichardt
(local spelling) NOORDwyk, South Africa
There was a parkun event at Aliwal NORTH, but it has now been permanently cancelled and replaced by Aliwal North Golf Club
South Africa West
The most westerly event in South Africa is Kai Kai
There were parkrun events at WESTbury, WESTonaria, and Somerset WEST in South Africa but they are now permanently cancelled
South Africa South
The most southerly event in South Africa is Cape Agulhas
(local spelling) BeZUIDenhout, South Africa
*compass position is in the long form of the event name. This may not be counted in the Compass Club in some parkrun challenge apps.
More parkrun posts
parkruns are free, weekly, community 5k events all around the world. I started in December 2012 and have been obsessive about it ever since. See my parkrun Collection page for details.
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