WILL GARDNER HELPS ENGLAND TO VICTORY
The England Orienteering team travelled to Republic of Ireland to compete in the annual Senior Home International against Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The event over two days included an individual race and a relay staged on extremely misty challenging rocky hillsides. Will Gardner making his debut in the senior squad came in first in the relay with fellow England team members Duncan Archer and Dave Schorah. They finished in 133.38mins ahead of Scotland’s 134.32mins. He was placed 4th in the M20 individual race and OD member Toni O’Donovan, competing for Ireland, came first in the individual W21 race and ex Droober Jessica Tullie, competing for Scotland came second.
The two day junior inter regional weekend took place also this weekend, with the individual championships in Wareham Forest and the Relay at Godshill, New Forest. Representing West Midlands Julie Emmerson came first in 64.11mins on the 7.25k course well ahead of Katie Wright from the North West in the individual W18 event, Nathan Lawson was placed 2nd taking 49.07mins and Harrison McCartney 3rd in M16 event. Nine other OD junior members were selected to represent the West Midlands: Harriet Lawson W18 who came 4th, Aimee Morse W16 7th, Stephen Elkington M16 11th, Hamish Rogers M18 14th, Rachel Emmerson W18 14th, Heather Rogers W16 16th, Alfie Bullus M14 21st, Rachel Johnson W18 26th and Rhiannon Cope W16 30th. After some good runs in the relays the West Midlands were placed 5th overall with 333 points Scotland took this years championship title with a total of 501 points.
The regional event at Epping Forest organised by CHIG Orienteering club attracted several OD members with some very good results. Chris McCartney M40 came 3rd on the Brown 9.28k course with 240 metres of climb and 29 controls taking 1.20.27mins, Sophie Kirk was second placed W21 taking 1.13.21mins on the Short Brown 8.05k course with 220m of climb and 24 controls and Tony Feltblower was the top M55 on the same course taking 1.19.07mins. Third M60 man home was Robert Brandon on the Blue 6.22k course in 1.02.18mins. Bruce Bryant M55 was 2nd overall on the Short Blue 5.06k course taking 43.09mins, only one second behind Richard Freeman from Happy Herts Club, and Liz Phillips was top W45 on the same course in 51.01mins. Sue Hallett came 9th, top W65 on the Green 4.25k course taking 1.01.28mins.
1st October 2013