FULL WEEKEND OF ORIENTEERING
Starting with the urban event around the University of Warwick campus, other events included City of Ely Urban, Cademan Woods, Leicestershire, Perham Down, Basingstoke, and a beginner’s event at Draycote Water, club members had many opportunities to test their running, navigational and organising skills.
Anne Straube organised an excellent urban event at Warwick University which attracted over 70 runners and alongside the event there was a coaching session for junior and senior club members run by Andy Emmerson and Thelma Spalton. Winners were: Short Yellow 1.6k course Felix Lunn M12 in 14.52mins, 2nd Olivia James 23.43mins and 3rd Stephen Hickingbotham 25.43mins, both from King Henry VIII School. Matthew Elkington M20 won the Middle 3.6k course in 25.19mins, Nathan Lawson M18 2nd in 27.42mins and Suzanne Humphries W50 3rd in 37.27mins. On the Long 5.2k course Andy Simpson M40 won easily in 33.35mins well ahead of Leicester’s Ian Wilson M45 44.21mins, David Leadley M50 was 3rd in 44.33mins.
Meanwhile at the City of Ely event Chris McCartney M45 came 2nd on the Mens Veterans course of 6.09k in 32.34mins only 8 seconds behind the winner. Mike Hampton M65 came 3rd on the Mens Ultra Vet 3.62k course taking 26.35mins and Liz Phillips W50 was 5th on the Womens Vet 4.7k course in 39.10mins.
Sunday’s event, the East Midlands Championships, at Cademan Woods in Leicestershire was well attended by Droobers, several of whom came top in their class. On the longest Brown 5.1k course Andy Simpson M40 was the fastest club member coming second overall in 35.51mins and also winning his age class. On the same course Matthew Elkington was top M20 in 41.18mins and Dan Kotecky 3rd in 65.04mins, Nathan Lawson 2nd M18 in 42.23mins and father David Lawson 2nd M50 in 48.16mins. Ellen Simpson was 2nd in the W10 class taking 23.08mins on the 1.5k course. Julie Emmerson was 1st W18 taking 46.53mins and Harriet Lawson 1st W20 in 64.27mins on the 5.1k course. Anne Straube W35 won the 4.3k course in 44.12mins and Lesley Ross won the W40 race on the same course in 42.26mins. Suzanne Humphries was 1st on the 3.8k course in 43.46mins and Liz Phillips 2nd in 45.20 in the W50 class. Jane Stew was 2nd W55 in 74.32mins, Margaret Willdig 3rd W60 in 58.08mins, Janet Richardson 2nd W65 in 61.24mins and Hilary Simpson 1st W75 in 69.37mins, all on the 3.3k course.
The Perham Down event organised by Berkshire Orienteers attracted Harrison McCartney M16 who won the Green 4.8k course taking only 36.13mins over 12 minutes ahead of nearest rival and father Chris McCartney M45 came 5th on the long Brown 8.9k course in 1.01.11mins.
Will Gardner M21, will this week be flying to Portugal with the GB team to compete in the European Championships. The club wishes him every success.
The Draycote Water for beginner’s event, part of the Warwickshire Big Day out, was very popular and ably organised by John and Sue Bowman, with help from Chris Dwyer and Karin Kirk. Around 90 participants competed around the two short courses and on the permanent course at the Park.
8 April 2014.