OS Map Scoops Product Of Year Award

The Ordnance Survey Explorer Map series won the Product of the Year category in the Go Outdoors Awards 2003 it was announced at the Ordnance Survey Outdoors Show at the NEC last weekend.

The re-vamped 1:25,000 series maps saw off strong competition from Petzl's Tikka head torch - eh, is that really a new product? - and Smartwool socks to triumph in the award which is sponsored by prestigious trade rag 'SGB Outdoor'.

"To be recognised for our innovation and investment by the outdoors industry is truly rewarding" commented Paula Langfod-Smith, OS brand manager for the outdoors ' and we continue to be committed to providing the best mapping in the world for our users."

There was a look at the future on the OS stand at the show, with visitors being able to produce their own maps highlighting local routes and features that were useful to them. Customised map building in other words.

Meanwhile PR Agency Karol Marketing picked up the Promotion of the Year Award for promoting, yes, the 2002 Ordnance Survey Outdoors Show. Sprayway won the award for best web site and Berghaus won out in the Training Initiative of the Year category.

Before you get all cynical and note that just about anything connected to the Outdoors Show won an award, apparently the Product of the Year was decided exclusively on voting by specialist outdoor retailers. So there.

The Explorer Series is the OS's new country-wide 25,000 scale series of maps aimed at outdoors people. It comprises 403 sheets and incorporates the existing yellow OL - Outdoor Leisure - maps and the green Pathfinders. More info on the OS web site.