Club members orienteered around the country and achieved some good results in and around Sheffield, Yorkshire and Bracknell, Berkshire.
On Saturday at Beeley Wood, the South Yorkshire Regional Middle Distance event, Graham Gristwood (M21) came 1s
t on the Black 5.2k 255 metre climb course in 30.31mins clocking up 5.9mins per kilometre. Sophie Kirk was 1st W18 on the Brown 4.2k 170m climb course in 40.06 mins, 9.5min per kilometre and Bruce Bryant was 4th M50 on the same course in 36.47mins.
The national event including the Northern Championships were held on Sunday at Calver, south west of Sheffield, on a new orienteering area. The large open moorland of Big Moor edged with very steep boulder strewn wooded slopes challenged all our runners. Rachel Emmerson came 1st in 27.33mins and sister Julie joint 3rd, just behind, on 27.55mins on the 3.2k with 145m climb W14A course. Sophie Kirk on the W18 Elite 6.4k 170m climb course came in 1st place in 58.08mins over 5mins ahead of her nearest rival. Jill Emmerson was 4th on the W45S course in 49.14mins and Sheila Carey 3rd on the W60L in 57.06mins.
Harrison McCartney (M12) ran up a class and finished 2nd on the M14A 3.9k course in 36.04mins and new member Daniel Kotecky finished in 1st place on the M16B course in 52.88mins. Robert Gardner M20Elite, 9.2k course 75.46mins, and Graham Gristwood M21Elite, 12.8k 345metre climb 80.01mins, both achieved 2nd places on their courses. On the M40L 9.2k 250metre climb course Chris McCartney came in 5th in 94.43mins and Robert Brandon was 4th 60.18mins just ahead of Mike Hampton 5th in 61.01mins on the M60L 6.3k course. John Ward came 2nd on the M65L 5.2k 160m climb course in 65.21mins.
Meanwhile members travelling south to compete in the Concorde Chase regional event on Sunday achieved some fast running times at Upper Star Posts, Swinley forest near Bracknell, Berks, resulting in Barry Elkington being second placed M50 on the 10.8k Black course in 1.27.18, Lesley Ross also 2nd W40 on the Short Brown 7.3k course in 1.02.05, Matthew Elkington 2nd M16 on the Blue 5.8k course in 40.33mins and Stephen Elkington 4th M14 on the Light Green 3.3k course in 38.30mins.
NEXT EVENT
Octavian Droobers welcome runners and walkers to Burton Dassett on Saturday 6 February 10.30am – 12noon. Come along and try out this adventure sport with difference. Maps and electronic timing units are supplied, bring a compass if you have one. Families and individuals of all ages 5 – 85 years are welcome to try out short easy and harder longer courses. Ring 01926 632189 or see website www.octavian-droobers.org.
