Club News by Karin Kirk news@octavian-droobers.org
CLUB MEMBERS COMPETE IN BRITISH UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Several undergraduate members of Octavian Droobers competed in the annual British University and Colleges Championships held this weekend in Scotland in woods near Edinburgh. The students representing various universities competed in the individual championships in Devilla Forest and in the relays at Barr Wood. Top individual results were: in the girls event, 6th place for Julie Emmerson, representing Durham University, who completed the 7.325km course with 135metres of climb in 1.00.05mins and in the boys, 7th place for Matthew Elkington who completed the 9.6km course with 185metres of climb in 59.16mins and 10th place for Will Gardner 1.01.38mins, both studying at Sheffield University. Representing Coventry University Mateusz Podsiadly was 17th in 1.05.38mins.
In the relays the Sheffield University men’s team of Matt Elkington, Will Gardner and Jonathan Crickmore came 1st in 95.55mins well ahead of nearest rivals Edinburgh and in the women’s event Julie Emmerson helped her team from Durham to a great 2nd place.
The popular annual Chiltern Challenge, staged this year at Penn Wood, near Amersham, Buckinghamshire, attracted a large total entry of over 500 competitors with 44 Droobers competing. The top runner was Harrison McCartney M18 who won the long Black 11.8km course with 155metres of climb in 70.49mins. Kirsten Strain W21 was 4th placed women on the Brown 10km course in 79.40mins, Lesley Ross W45 was top woman on the Blue 6.4km course in 53.51mins and Alfie Bullus M16 achieved his Blue Standard on the same course taking 64.36mins. On the Short Blue 5km course Bruce Bryant M55 was 4th in 45.57mins and Robert Brandon M65 8th in 48.45mins. Stephen Bates M65 was 6th on the Green 4.3km course in 45.58mins. On the Short Green 4.2km course Anthony Walker M50 was 3rd in 48.16mins and John Bowman M70 9th in 58.06mins.
Juniors scores: Will Heaton M16 4th 50.41mins, Oliver Lunn M14 6th 52.20mins and Felix Lunn M14 7th 60.14mins all achieved their Light Green Standard on the 3.8km Course. Achieving Orange Standard was Florence Lunn W12 58.05mins on the 3.3km course. Young juniors Freddie and Daniel Walker were placed 6th 21.45mins and 8th 26.02mins respectively on the White 1.5km course.
Harriet Lawson W20 won the Blue course 6.2km with 110metres of climb in 54.40mins at the Harlow Wood event in Nottinghamshire and brother Nathan Lawson M18 was 2nd on the long Brown 8.8km course with 155metres of climb in 63.10mins.
24th Feb 2015
SEVEN NEW MIDLAND CHAMPIONS
Congratulations to the 7 club members who became Midland champions on Sunday at Haywood Warren, near Shugborough on Cannock Chase. The event which attracted 800 orienteers from around the midlands and further afield, including 56 from Octavian Droobers Orienteering Club, was organised by Walton Chasers Orienteering Club. The Chase provided a variety of wooded terrain with a fair amount of climb and cross country running across the bracken on the moorland.
Harrison McCartney was the top performer in the Elite M18 class on the 10.9km course with 420 metres of climb in 67.05mins. Matthew Elkington was first Elite M20 on the same course taking 65.49mins and Will Gardner was the fastest Elite M21 on the very long 16.4km course with a massive climb of 550 metres taking 99.12mins only 28 seconds ahead of Jonathan Crickmore from Sheffield University.
Roger Hailey M75 showed his great experience by winning his class on the 5.4km course with 200 metres of climb in 75.01mins. The top title winning ladies were: Harriet Lawson Elite W20 73.39mins on the 7.3km course with 300 metres of climb, Lesley Ross W45 58.59mins, with a clear lead of 8mins, on the 6.7km 265metres of climb course and Sheila Carey W65 60.53mins on the 5km 180 metres of climb course.
Making his debut in the midlands championships new junior orienteer Chris Markham M10 managed to complete his longest ever race 2.8km to a 2nd midland place. Other second midland places in their classes: Felix Lunn M14, Mateusz Podsiadly Elite M20, Club Captain Alistair Powell M35, David Leadley M50 and Barry Elkington M55.
17th Feb 2015