Club News by Karin Kirk news@octavian-droobers.org
BRANDON WOOD RESULTS
The first West Midlands League event was organised Octavian Droobers club member Thelma Spalton and held at Brandon Wood and Piles Coppice, near Coventry. The bright crisp frosty start and sunny morning attracted over 200 competitors from around the midlands. Over 80 club members, including many juniors, turned out to ensure the club keeps up its high scoring run in the league. The club finished top of the league in 2013 and have won it now for the past 7 consecutive years.
Many new club members enjoyed the courses planned by Janet Richardson and the top three on the White 1.7k beginners course were Grace Lee who took 21.30mins, Arthur Mitchell M10 from Harlequins Orienteering Club 22.14mins and new member Thomas Chapple M10 23.17mins. Hannah Andrews W14 won the Yellow 2.4k course in 18.43mins, Amy Mitchell from Walton Chasers was 2nd in 20.37mins and Oliver Lunn M12 was 3rd in 21.09mins.
Finding the 11 controls on the Orange 3.1k course in the fastest time was Oliver Flippance M12 who took 42.08mins ahead of brother Finley M10 43.48mins and Beckie Lang W40 was 3rd 46.26mins. New member Liam Chapple M45 took first place on the Light Green 3.2k course taking 42.56mins, Sam Leadley M14 was 2nd in 43.51mins and Ella Rose McCartney W14 3rd in 44.22mins. Pete Carey M70 was 1st on the Short Green 3.4k course in 31.41mins just ahead of wife Sheila Carey W65 32.31mins and Charles Nelson M60 from HOC 35.09mins.
Andy Hemsted M65 from HOC won the Short Green 5.1k course with 18 controls in 39.34mins, David Lawson M50 was 2nd in 40.54mins and Richard Gardner M60 3rd in 42.21mins. Another winner from HOC was Ian Hopkins M45 who took 47.27mins on the Blue 6.3k course; Clive Richardson M45 from Wrekin Club was 2nd 48.11 and Stephen Elkington M18 3rd in 48.27mins. On the longest course, 8.4k Brown with 27 controls, Harrison McCartney M16 was 1st in 51.40mins, Matthew Elkington M20 2nd 51.57mins and David Williams M50 HOC 3rd in 54.18mins.
14th Jan 2014
NEW YEAR HONOURS
Octavian Droobers retained the Laurie Bradley Trophy at the annual New Year’s Day event held this year at Kingsbury Water Park, Warwickshire. The trophy is awarded to the top West Midlands Orienteering Club and the club’s 25 top scoring members braved exceptionally tough conditions criss crossingthe park and woods battling through strong winds, heavy rain and deep lying water.
Bob Brandon thanked his very supportive band of helpers especially Barry Elkington for planning such a good course andGraham Urquhart who ran the electronic timing and recording throughout the event. OD scored a total of 6730 points a long way ahead of nearest rivals Walton Chasers, from Cannock Chase, score of 5880. Each competitor scored 10 points for visiting each control in the maximum time limit of 1 hour. Matthew Elkington M20 scored the highest for the club, 380 points, having punched 38 controls in 58.28mins. The top juniors at the eventaged 18 years and under, were Stephen Elkington M18 320 points and Aimee Morse W18 300 points, from Octavian Droobers,whoboth received commemorative trophies.
The twenty two other contributing scorers for the club were, with 340 points Chris McCartney, Alistair Powell 330, Lesley Ross 310, Alastair and Richard Gardner300, Gerry Spalton and Keith Willdig 290, Dave Marr 280, Heather Rogers, Richard Perry and Suzanne Humphries 270, Jeremy Knott and John Ward 260, Liz Phillips and Carolyn Marr 250, Pete Carey 240, Stephanie Howarth and Oliver Lunn 210, Sue Hallett, Trevor Simpson and John Bowman 200 and Karin Kirk 190 points.
CHRISTMAS RELAYS
The Christmas Relays were fought out on a glorious sunny day at Rough Close,Tile Hill, Coventry, and the handicapped teams running four legs navigated through woods and open land around the scout camp at the event organised by Richard Gardner with family and club members helping. Barry, Matt and Stephen Elkington with Alistair Gardner were the winning team, Will and Robert Gardner shared the four legs and came second and Chris McCartney was third, by himself, having run all four legs. Prizes were also awarded to Pippa Smart and Sam Leadley for fastest juniors on the short Yellow leg.
ENGLAND SELECTION
Congratulations to Nathan Lawson M18 who has been selected to represent England at the annual Interland competition, which takes place in France on 30 March, Julie Emmerson W20 has been selected as a travelling reserve.
7th Jan 2014