NOVEMBER CLASSIC WEEKEND
Resumption of the annual November Classic weekend was well received by orienteers of all ages from across the country. The weekend began on Saturday with an urban race in Salisbury, organised by Sarum Orienteering Club, with courses starting and finishing close to the Cathedral and climbing up into residential areas to the west of the city.
Sue Bicknell was 1st in the Womens Hyper Vet class taking 52.34mins on the 3.4km course, Chris McCartney was 2nd in the 6km Mens Vets class in 40.08mins and Mike Hampton was 3rd in the Mens Hyper Vet class taking 43.10mins on the 3.4km course.
Sunday saw the classic cross country event in the New Forest and featured marshes, heather and some wooded areas. The start and finish were located to the West of Ocknell camp site and organised by Southampton Orienteering Club. Nine courses were planned and Octavian Droobers members has some good runs: Sue Bicknell W75 was 4th on the 3km course in 47.34mins, Chris McCartney was 6th M50 on the Short Brown 9.9km in 80.46mins, Barry Elkington was 1st M65 in 60.45mins on the Blue 8km course and Lesley Ross was 1st W55 on the same course in 72.23mins. Max Straube-Roth was 3rd placed M12 on the 4.5km Light Green course taking 69.06mins, Anne Straube was 1st W45 on the Short Blue 6.9km course in 57.38mins, Trevor Simpson was 4th M80 on the Short Green 4.1km course and Hilary Simpson 4th W80 in 53.47mins on the 3km course.
Club members will be competing locally this weekend at Itchington Holt and in the West Midlands championships at Worcester Beacon in the Malvern Hills. For details of how to take part in this fun outdoor active sport see website, www.octavian-droobers.org, or contact Karin Kirk 01926 632189