Club News by Karin Kirk news@octavian-droobers.org
CLUB CELEBRATES NEW BRITISH CHAMPIONS
The weekend in North Devon amongst the high sand dunes at Braunton Burrows provided some tough challenges to club members competing in the annual British Long Distance Championships.
Congratulations to Kirsten Strain who becomes the Women’s 35 year age class winner taking 61.56 mins on the 6.9km course. This completes the treble for Kirsten who is also the holder of the British Sprint and Middle Distance Championships trophies for 2021. Kirsten is the lead coach for the West Midlands Junior Squad and actively supports the club’s juniors in training sessions around the midlands.
Alistair Landels is also crowned British champion in the men’s 50 year age class with a great run of 65.41mins on the 9km course up against some stiff competition from around the country.
Many other club members achieved some great results:
2nd place Sheila Carey W75 age class and 3rd places were awarded to Max Straube-Roth M12, Julie Emmerson W21 Elite, Trevor Simpson M80 and Hilary Simpson W80, Nathan Lawson was 4th M21, Mel Elkington 2nd W60 Short and 2nd place for Nadine Wright in the W21 Long class.
The next day at the same location, the middle distance race, saw more good performances by club members: Kirsten Strain again topped the W35 class, Trevor Simpson was 1st in the M80 age class as was Hilary Simpson W80. Sheila Carey was 2nd W75, Max Straube-Roth 3rd M12, Adam Landels 4th M12, Anne Straube 4th W45, Pete Carey 4th M75, Bruce Bryant 6th M60, David Lawson 6th M55 and Sophie Kirk 6th W21.
Full results, times, and distances are on the www.theboc.org.uk.
ORIENTEERING RESULTS ROUND UP
WITNEY, KEDLESTON HALL AND CRACKS HILL
At the Witney Urban race, club members were seen running around the town, Chris McCartney M50 was 3rd on the Mens Open 8.1km course taking 54.41mins and Mark Rookledge M55 was 7th in 62.34mins. Sheila Carey W75 was way ahead on the Womens Hyper Vet 3.8km course taking only 37.25mins. On the Mens Hyper Vet 3.8km course Peter Carey M75 had a fast race winning in 35.02mins just ahead of Mike Hampton M75 36.24mins. On the Womens Ultra Vet 3.8km course Joanne Leigh W50 was 2nd in 45.07 and Karin Kirk W70 6th in 49.19mins.
Kedleston Hall event, organised by Derwent Valley Orienteers, attracted OD club members, and top 10 places were achieved on their respective courses by: Keith Willdig M70 (5th), Nadine Wright W21 (9th) and Margaret Willdig W65 (10th).
Cracks Hill in Crick, near Rugby was a great new venue for the club and orienteers enjoyed the hilly challenge. On the long 4.8km course with 100 metres of climb, Will Gardner was 1st in 30.30mins, Alistair Landels 2nd in 34.20mins and Tom Jeffries 3rd in 40.09mins Juliette Soulard was top woman and took 47.34mins. Leading runner on the medium 3.4km course was Bruce Bryant in 29.44mins, Levi Pagaine M21 was 2nd in 37 mins and George Normand M75, Leicestershire, 3rd in 39 mins. The club welcomed several newcomers to try out the sport. Winners were Sarah Blackstone who found all the controls in 26.57mins on the score course and Finlay and Lucas Ross won the short course in 12.20 mins.