WINNING ON THE CHILTERNS IN OXFORDSHIRE

Seventy Octavian Droobers competed in the Southern Area Championships around the private Hambleden Estate, near Henley on Thames in Oxfordshire. The terrain was classic Chiltern Hills undulating slopes covered in beech and conifer trees and the long courses tested our orienteers stamina and accuracy. 

Whilst not eligible to win the championships ten of our runners came in the top three positions. Two orienteers ran excellent races and came in 1st: Lesley Ross W45 on the 6.8k course in 51.54mins and Sheila Carey W65 on the 5.2k course in 51.03mins. Junior boy Jamie Nicolson M12 came 2nd and was pipped by only 3secs off the top spot in 26.35mins on the 3.6k course and Harrison McCartney M14 was also 2nd in 36.39mins on the 5.8k course.  

Anne Straube W35 came 2nd on her 8.4k course in 1.10.06mins and junior Francesca Slade W16 came 2nd on the W16 short 4k course in 45.43mins and in 3rd place on the same course was Elizabeth Davies 57.07mins. Aimee Morse W14 was 3rd on the 4k course in 37.07mins, as was Sophie Kirk on the Elite W20 8.7k course l.01.45mins and Bruce Bryant M50 on the 6.8k short course in 57.14mins.  

Mike Hampton M65 achieved an overall 3rd place, a great result, in the recent 4 day event in Portugal, coming 2nd on Day 3 and 1st on Day 4, and 2nd in the night urban sprint around Portalegre.

14th March 2011