Club News by Karin Kirk news@octavian-droobers.org
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
JUNIORS THROUGH TO NATIONAL INTER CLUB FINAL
Forty three Octavian Droobers juniors competed in the West Midlands qualifying round of Yvette Baker Trophy, the premier Junior Inter Club competition for English and Welsh clubs. The event was held at Oakley Wood and Ashorne Hill and organised by Richard Gardner and many club helpers.
The juniors, many running for the first time for the club, produced a comprehensive win and the top 9 counters scored 897 points out of a maximum score of 899. OD won 6 of the 8 classes earning 100 points each and had many second places scoring 99 points. The 100 point scorers were Alfie Bullus winning on the Yellow 2k course, Francesca Slade top girl on the Orange 3k course, Harrison McCartney and Heather Rogers on the 4k Light Green Course, Matthew Elkington and Aimee Morse on the Green 5k course. The 99 point scorers for coming second in their classes were Daniel Kotecky, Light Green, Rachel Johnson and Stephen Elkington both on the Green course.
Debbie Morse OD Junior Squad leader thanked all the juniors who came and ran for the club and hope that this success can be replicated in the final on Sunday 9th December which will be held at Collingbourne, near Salisbury. She also reminded all juniors to enter on behalf of their school and compete in the British Schools Championships taking place at Delamere Forest, Cheshire on Sunday 18 November.
Seniors, 140 of them from around the West Midlands, also enjoyed the challenges of Oakley Wood and on the long Blue 7k course Chris McCartney M40 was top club runner coming 3rd in 49.31mins.
On Sunday 28 October Harlequins Orienteering Club is inviting all West Midland Club members to the West Midlands Orienteering Championships to be held at Saltwells, near Dudley. The club is keen to retain and win as many trophies as possible at this event and is encouraging members of all age groups from 10 years and upwards to compete. Entry is available on the day.
23rd October 2012