RESULTS FROM JK2014
The premier annual multi day UK event for orienteering attracted over 3000 competitors from around the UK and Europe and some from USA, Australia and New Zealand. This year’s JK2014 was held in Wales, with a Sprint on Friday at Swansea University campus and Singleton Park, a two day individual competition on the Brecon Beacons at Merthyr Common finishing with a three man relay at Pwll Du on Monday.
Sixty Octavian Droobers club members took on the challenging courses and several achieved some good results. Starting with the sprint event Andy Simpson had a great race winning the M40 2.5k event in 13.59mins, 41 seconds ahead of his nearest rival and Hilary Simpson won the W75 1.6k course taking 20.12mins. Three members finished in 2nd place: Harrison McCartney on the M16 course taking 13.50mins only 9 seconds behind the winner, Julie Emmerson on the W18 Elite 2.7k course in 17.11mins and Peter Carey on the M70 1.7k course taking 16.27mins. Chris McCartney was 3rd on the M45 2.4k course in 14.29mins, 8 seconds behind the winner.
The two day individual event needed competitors to use all their navigational skills to find the controls, many hidden in deep sink holes and marshes, across the Brecon Beacon moorland which was shrouded in low cloud, battling through rough open ground covered in heather and rocks. The challenge was met admirably by Hilary Simpson W75 who came 1st overall, 2nd on the first day and 1st on the second with an overall time of 119.39mins. Stephen Elkington won on both days on the M18 Short course to total 93mins.
Andy Simpson M35L took 146.59mins after coming 2nd and 3rd on the individual days to give him 3rd place overall. Other good results were achieved by Peter Carey M70 in overall 5th place as was Anne Straube on the W35 Long course and Adrian Sarkies on the M35 Short course. Club members who came in the top ten were: Harrison McCartney M16L, David Lawson M50S, Trevor Simpson M75L, Julie Emmerson W18 Elite, Amy Sarkies W35L and Sheila Carey W65L.
Top OD Relay team were the third placed Ultra Veterans Mike Hampton, Peter Carey and Sheila Carey who took 68.53mins. Will Gardner, running for Sheffield University, helped his team to 2nd place in the JK Trophy for Men. Toni O’Donovan, Anne Straube and Amy Sarkies came 6th in the Womens Trophy and Barry Elkington, Tony Feltblower and David Lawson were placed 9th in the Veteran Mens race.
23rd April 2014