Club News by Karin Kirk news@octavian-droobers.org
RUNNING THROUGH FLOODED VENICE
Amazingly the 33rd annual Venice street orienteering event was not cancelled despite runners ploughing through ankle up to waist deep water across flooded streets, canals and through St Marks Square. Despite the highest floods for over 160 years Mike Hampton M65 from Rugby did not let it hinder his great second place running the 4.2k course in 36.45mins behind the Norwegian winner who clocked up 34.56mins. Of the 4000 entrants only 75% were allowed to start as shopkeepers complained about the wash created by the orienteers rushing past and police stepped in to curtail the event.
After 8 events in this year’s West Midlands Orienteering Association League Octavian Droobers had a healthy lead scoring 6545 points ahead of Harlequins 6102 and Wrekin 6014 going into the 9th event at Castle Vale, Birmingham. The Urban event attracted 37 club members who competed on eight different courses.
Top ten placings were achieved as follows: on the 9k Course 1 Will Gardner M20 was 2nd in 47.52mins, Matt Elkington M18 5th in 51.13mins and 7th Iain Embrey M21 51.31mins. On Course 2 7.2k Chris McCartney M40 was 4th and took 40.41mins, in 6th place Riina Kuuselo W21 41.51mins and 7th Tom Jeffries M40 41.55mins. On Course 3 6.6k 4th Barry Elkington M55 took 38.16mins, 9th Andy Emmerson M55 40.24mins and 10th Richard Gardner M55 40.51mins. On Course 4 4.8k Peter Carey M65 was 8th in 34.06mins. On Course 5 4.5k Sheila Carey W65 came 1st in 36.47mins, 2nd was Sue Hallett W65 47.01mins and 4th Hilary Simpson W70 50.59mins. Stephen Elkington M16 came 1st on the 4.1k Course 6 in 27.00mins, Aimee Morse W16 came 2nd in 29.45mins and Trevor Simpson M70 was 6th in 46.08mins. Alfie Bullus came 1st on the 2.9k Course 7 in 26.13mins and making her debut Debbie Morse W35 won the 1.9k Course 8 in 24.10mins.
The club sends their best wishes to all junior club members who are travelling to compete for their schools in the British Schools Championships at Delamere Forest, Cheshire this weekend. Selections will be made at this event for school team and individuals to represent GB at the World Championships to be held in Portugal in April next year.
13th November 2012
SUCCESS AT WEST MIDLANDS CHAMPIONSHIPS AND FURTHER AFIELD
The West Midlands Championships held at Saltwells Nature Reserve near Dudley and organised by Harlequins orienteering club attracted orienteers from around the region. A hilltop start provided stunning views of the surrounding area. Octavian Droobers had a successful day with 48 members attending and many achieving podium places. Top finisher on the Brown 9.0km course was Tom Jeffries M40 coming 1st in 87.32 mins finishing over 15 minutes ahead of the 2nd placed runner.
On the Blue 6.1km course Matthew Elkington M18 achieved 1st overall in 51.24 mins, Barry Elkington finished 1st in age class with a time of 66.29 mins followed by Alan Halliday M55 finishing 3rd in 85.15 mins. Steph Howarth W21 was 2nd in age class with 89.07 mins and Anne Straube W35 1st in class in 68.19 mins.
On the Green 4.3km course there were many good results - Hamish Rogers M16 finished 1st overall in 35.39 mins, Stephen Elkington M16 2nd overall in 40.24 mins. The top 3 places in the W16 class all went to OD: Aimee Morse 1st in 53.42 mins, Rachel Johnson 2nd in 78.33 mins, Zoe Nicholson 3rd in 82.37 mins. Liz Cross came 1st in the W40 class with a time of 53.21 mins, Suzanne Humphries W45 1st in class in 49.42 mins, Jane Halliday W50 1st in class in 52.09 mins, Lin Page W55 3rd in class in 87.27 mins and Peter Carey M65 3rd in class in 52.34 mins.
On the Short Green 3.4km course Sheila Carey W65 finished 1st in class and 3rd overall in 42:02 mins and Hilary Simpson W70 came 1st in class with 59.34 mins. Trevor Simpson M70 was 2nd in class with 44.19 mins and Roger Hailey M75 1st in class with 46.40 mins.
The younger juniors added to the success with Heather Rogers W14 finishing 1st in class and 2nd overall in 36.44 mins on the Light Green course and Alfie Bullus M12 1st in 29.27 on the 2.8km Orange course.
Several members travelled to the Peak District for the White Peak Weekend. Congratulations to Iain Embrey M21 who came 2nd overall in 58.54 mins on the 7.0km Brown course in the Goyt Valley on Saturday, Andy Emmerson M55 who finished 2nd in age class on the 5.3km Blue course in 61.16 mins and Jill Emmerson W45 who also finished 2nd in class with a time of 69.05 mins on the 3.2km Green course.
Others took part in the Fat Rascal Weekend near Leeds. Mike Hampton M65 came 1st in the Men's Ultra Veteran class at the Saturday chasing sprint style event with a time of 31:28 mins. Julie Emmerson W16 achieved an excellent 2nd place on both days in the Women's Open class with a time of 37:37 mins on the Saturday followed by 39:06 mins for the 5.6km course on Sunday. Mike Hampton made it a double victory with another 1st place finish in the Sunday event on the 3.5km course. Recently elected club Chair Liz Phillips W45 finished 3rd in her class on the 5.6km course in 49:15 mins.
Intrepid club members headed further north to the Howgill Fells for the Original Mountain Marathon. The OMM is a 2 day mountain marathon type event for teams of 2 who carry all clothing, equipment, tent, sleeping bag and food for 36 hours, navigating their own route and including an overnight camp. The weather was very cold but clear on Saturday contrasting with wet and no visibility on Sunday.
Brothers Will and Robert Gardner finished in an excellent 2nd place in Class C with a combined time of 7:54:05 hours over the 2 days. Andy and Dave Marr completed the Long Score event taking 6:37:56 hours on day 1 then 6:17:47 hours on day 2 and finishing 23rd out of an entry of 180 pairs. Recently elected club Secretary Dave was competing in his 29th consecutive OMM. Newcomers to the club Mike and James King completed the Class C course in a combined time of 11:57:32 hours and Amy Sarkies finished 33rd in 11:02:58 hours.
30th October 2012