Club News by Karin Kirk news@octavian-droobers.org
CLASSIC WEEKEND
Octavian Droobers Orienteers took part in the inaugural Salisbury City urban race on Saturday and in the New Forest November Classic event held at Round Hill on Sunday. Competitors enjoyed some fast runs around parts of the medieval city, surrounding parkland and into the finish control in front of historic Salisbury Cathedral, using the new specially drawn map by club member Mike Hampton.
Sophie Kirk W21 took 2nd place in the Womens Open competition taking 60.52mins and Anne Straube W35 was 6th 66.17mins on the 7.3k course visiting 33 controls. On the 7.9k course Robert Gardner M21 came in 6th in the Mens Open in 56.58mins. Club Chairman Liz Phillips W45 was placed 8th in the 6.5k Womens Veteran class taking 63.12mins and in the Mens Super Veteran competition Barry Elkington M55 was 7th on the 6.5k course. Our very young junior men, brothers Daniel and Freddie Walker, came 5th and 8th respectively on their 1.2k course.
With sightings of herds of Shetland ponies and stags at the start and heavy showers towards the end of the event the runnable forest at Round Hill in the New Forest produced more good results for the club. Coming in first on the W21 8.15k course was Sophie Kirk W21 taking 53.21mins only seconds ahead of Julie Emmerson W18 53.40mins. Anne Straube W35 also came in second on her 6.75k course taking 53.51mins as did Lesley Ross W45 taking 42.25mins on her 5.875k course. Liz Phillips W45 was placed 9th on the same course taking 53.08mins. Hilary Simpson W70 was 5th taking 1.03.43mins on the 4.15k course and Trevor Simpson M70 7th 50.18mins on the 4.675k course. Bruce Bryant M55 took first place on the Green 4.675k course taking 36.18mins and junior Daniel Walker was 6th on the White 1.975k course taking 24.41mins.
At Bowden Housteads Wood near Sheffield, Will Gardner M20 came 3rd in the Regional Middle Distance event, organised by South Yorkshire Orienteering Club, taking 30.44mins on the 5.2k Brown. Harrison McCartney M16 was placed 4th two places ahead of father Chris M40 taking 1.00.26mins on the long Brown 9k course with 27 controls at King’s Forest, near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.
Octavian Droobers will be competing on Sunday in the West Midlands League Race at Oldacre, near Stafford, organised by Walton Chasers Orienteering club, hoping to extend their lead in the league.
Over 50 club juniors representing their school are going to the British Schools Orienteering Championships which are being held in on Sunday 17 November in Ilkeston, Derby. We wish them every success.
5th November 2013
FINE FOREST RUNS
The annual Twin Peaks two day event organised by Manchester and District Orienteering Club attracted quite a few club members and on Day 1 the slippery steep tree covered slopes of Macclesfield Forest certainly stretched our club members.
On the Short Brown 7.1k course Nathan Lawson M16 finished in top place overall coming in at 1.06.55mins, Hamish Rogers M18 had fine run coming in 3rd place in 1.08.33mins and Julie Emmerson W18 was the fastest female taking only 1.19.40mins to complete the course. Andy Emmerson was 2nd in his class on the Blue 5.6k course.
Harriet Lawson W18 was top female finisher on the Short Blue 5k course taking 58.04mins, Lesley Ross W45 was second in 60.49mins and Rachel Emmerson W18 was 3rd best W18 in 74.36mins on the same course. Third best M70 on the Green 3.5k course was awarded to Trevor Simpson who took 62.22mins.
On Day 2 the urban event was staged around the interesting street layout of Stockport and Julie Emmerson W18 again was the top female taking 57.36mins on the 6.6k course. Mike Hampton M65 came 3rd on the 4.2k course in 37.55mins.
Leicester Orienteering Club staged an event at Ratby Woodlands and Anne Straube W35 won the Green 5k course in 43.22mins and Liz Phillips W45 was 5th in 49.59mins. Roger Hailey M75 came 2nd in 58.47mins on the Short Green 4.1k course. Will Heaton M14 was placed 3rd on the Orange 3.1k course taking 41mins.
On Saturday club members enjoyed the challenges of running through Cambridge taking in the city centre, colleges and grounds. Congratulations to Warwick University’s new orienteer, making his debut in an urban event, Jonathan Escalante-Phillips M21 who came in 5th in the 7.1k Men’s Open Race taking only 50.01mins.
This weekend Octavian Droobers Orienteers are taking part in the Salisbury City race and the New Forest November Classic event which are the final two events of 19 events in the UK Orienteering League. Currently OD are in 2nd place behind South Yorkshire in the club tables and Julie Emmerson is joint second in the individual league.
29th October 2013