CLASSIC WEEKEND OF EVENTS
The first weekend of November saw a range of high quality orienteering events taking part around the country. From the open parkland event at Memorial Park, Coventry to the Wrekin’s hilly courses in Shropshire and the annual November New Forest Classic race Octavian Droobers had plenty of opportunities to take part.
Mike Hampton M65, from Rugby, celebrated his weekend by organising the Memorial Park Race in Coventry on Saturday, coinciding exactly with his 40 years in the sport and competing on 3185 courses all around the world. He thanked John Ward and the many orienteers who helped him at the event celebrate this anniversary.
Memorial Park results: Sam Hart M12 was 1st on the 2k Yellow course in 15.55mins, Olivia James W12 King Henry VIII School 2nd in 21.24mins and Luke Cherry M10 3rd in 21.28mins. Paul Furness M55 was 1st on the Orange 2.5k course in 17.46mins, Martin Hancock M50 2nd in 17.50mins and Ellie Beach W16 3rd in 18.56mins. Chris McKenzie M18 from Warwick University was 1st on the Green 4.7k course in 22.54mins, Harrison McCartney M14 2nd in 23.19mins and Calum Barnetson M18 3rd in 23.37mins.
Over a 1000 competitors, including 30 from Octavian Droobers, ran around the New Forest at Busketts Lawn near Lyndhurst in bright sunshine through the forest amongst the ponies and deer at the annual November Classic event. The meeting is used as an England selection race and several members achieved good results: Most notable were the double firsts achieved by Harrison McCartney M14 on his Light Green 4.2k course in 31.06mins and Julie Emmerson W16 on her Green 5.3k course in 39.16mins. Top ten places were awarded to Riina Kuuselo W21 5th on the Short Brown 10.1k course in 1.01.13mins, 7th to Rachel Emmerson on the Green 5.3k course in 45.08mins, 9th Ella Rose McCartney W12 on Orange 3.7k course in 56.56mins and 10th places for Will Gardner M18 on the Short Brown 10.1k course 1.05.07mins and Chris McCartney M40 on the Brown 12k course in 1.25.33mins.
At the West Midlands league event staged by Wrekin orienteers on the hilly course through Ercall Woods OD club member Bruce Bryant M55 came 1st on the Short Green 3.8k course in 55.45mins. Tony Feltbower M55 was 2nd on the 7.1k Brown course in 1.34.02mins as was Mike Hampton M65 on the Green 4.5k course in 53.51mins. Competing in the regional event at Fineshade in Leicestershire, Sheila Carey W65 came 3rd on the Green 4.8k course in 53.39mins.
7th November 2011