INTERNATIONAL ORIENTEERING FESTIVAL IN SCOTLAND

At the 4 day annual JK Orienteering Festival, held in Scotland nearly 70 club members, including some new members, competed alongside 2500 orienteers from around UK and Europe, and congratulations go to several who achieved podium places.

Six were awarded prizes at the Day 1 Sprint event held in Livingston: Harrison McCartney M14 and Mike Hampton M65 came away with 1st places, Sophie Kirk W20 Elite was 2nd and 3rd places went to Anne Straube W35, Jane Halliday W50, Trevor Simpson M70 and Hilary Simpson W70.

On Day 2 and 3, running near Pitlochry in Perthshire, Harrison McCartney M14A achieved the double coming 1st in his class on both days as did Emma Kettley on the W20 Long course. Anne Straube was overall 2nd on her W35 course coming in 2nd on both days and Julie Emmerson was awarded 3rd place overall on the W16A course coming in 2nd and 5th respectively.

At the relays on Day 4 the competition was tough, the club entered several teams, and juniors Julie Emmerson, Rachel Emmerson and Emma Kettley were the highest scoring coming 3rd on the short Women’s Open Class.

John Ward organised the event at Borough Hill, Daventry, and newcomers Bernie and Cat Snell came in 1st on the Yellow course in 17.13mins ahead of juniors from the Jeffries and Sarkies families. Suzanne Humphries W45 was 1st on the Orange course in 27.49mins, Ros James W45, South Midlands Orienteers, 2nd in 30.18mins and Richard Steel M45 3rd in 30.39mins. Only seconds separated the top three on the longer Green course which Bob Brandon M60 won in 32.18mins ahead of Alan Segar M35 32.37mins and Mike Hampton M65 33.06mins.

16th April 2012