Club News by Karin Kirk news@octavian-droobers.org
MIDLAND CHAMPIONS
At the Midland Championships held on Sunday around the Longshaw Estate, near Sheffield, Octavian Droobers team of more than 50 orienteers produced an impressive 10 champions. The Estate is owned by the National Trust and the steep and physically tough terrain, comprising woodland, millstone quarries, packhorse trails and open marshy moorland proved challenging particularly to newer members of the club.
Club members were competing against the best from the West, East Midlands and across East Anglia for the prestigious trophies. Will Gardner was the top midland orienteer on the M21 11.2k longest course with 425 metres of climb and found all 26 controls in an impressive 66.43mins. Congratulations to junior Felix Lunn M12 who became a winner at his first ever Midland Championship event taking 30.01mins on the 4.2km course with 100 metres of climb.
The eight other club members who won trophies were: Nathan Lawson M18 who took 63.08mins on the 8.1km course with 325 metres of climb, Matthew Elkington M20, 52.25mins on the same 8.1km course and Peter Carey M70 59.03mins on the 5.7km course. On the women’s courses Harriet Lawson W20 was a winner taking 42.54mins on the 5.6km course with 195 metres of climb as was new member Kirsten Strain W21, in her first competitive run for the club, taking 69.53mins on the 8.1km course with 325 metres of climb. Anne Straube W35 on the 6.5km course took 60.32mins and Sheila Carey W65 went round in 43.38mins on the 4.3km course in 43.38mins.
The Urban race in Redditch on Saturday also produced some first places. The event organised by Harlequins saw Iain Embrey M21 winning the Men’s Open 7.3km race with 120 metres of climb in 51.52mins. Chris McCartney M45 won the Men’s Veteran event taking 48.48mins on the 6.8km course and Richard Gardner M60 won the Men’s Super Vet 6.4km course in 60.43mins. Sheila Carey W65 won the Women’s Ultravet race in 36.56mins on the 3.6km course making it a double triumph over the weekend.
28th Oct 2015
Will Gardner with his Midland championship trophy.
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Click HERE for the full results
WEST MIDLAND LEAGUE LEADERS
After the 8th event in the 2014 league, Octavian Droobers are in a commanding position having now scored a total of 7323 points well ahead of Walton Chasers, Staffordshire, 6563. From the 15 top scoring club members and scoring the maximum points of 500 awarded after winning 5 out of 8 events in their age class are: Sam Leadley M14, Stephen Elkington M18 Alistair Powell M35, Suzanne Humphries W50, Peter Carey M70, Roger Hailey M75, Florence Lunn W10 and Sheila Carey W65.
The event held at Dudmaston, near Bridgnorth and organised by Harlequins Orienteering Club attracted a good number of club runners including some first timers. Top 5 positions were gained by: Barry Elkington M55 2nd in 58.02mins on the Blue 6.5km course with 180 metres of climb and Lesley Ross W45 5th on the same course in 63.51mins. On the long Brown 9.5km course with 215 metres of climb, and competing for the first time for the club, Coventry University student Ronja Fell W21 came 4th in 98.54mins.
All gaining 2nd places were: Robert Brandon M65 2nd in 44.38mins on the Green 4.3km course, Jane Feltbower W60 47.11mins on the Light Green 3.8km course, Roger Hailey M75 37.21mins on the Short Green 3.4km course and Thomas Chapple M10 43.25mins on the Yellow 2.4km course.
Sheila and Pete Carey organised the ever popular event at Coombe Country Park and the autumn sunshine attracted many local orienteers and beginners. On the short 1.9km course brothers Joel and Nathan Taylor M10 were 1st in 18.54mins, closely followed by Luke Cherry M10 19.06mins and Florence Lunn W10 19.34mins.
Sam Leadley M14 was first on the Medium 4.3km course taking 31.37mins, Felix Lunn M12 was 2nd 33.09mins and Callum Pearman M14 3rd 33.24mins. Chris McCartney M45 took 39.17mins only 1 second ahead of David Leadley M50 on the Long 6.7km course with John Leeson M55 from Harlequins 3rd in 44.50mins.
Anthony Walker M45 won the Thames Valley, Short Green 3.1km course at Kingswood in 1.02.07min and Alfie Bullus M14 was 4th in 54.24mins on the Green 3.6km. At Bradgate Park, Leicestershire, Nathan Lawson was 4th on the Brown 8.2km course taking 57.20mins.
21st Oct 2014