Club News by Karin Kirk news@octavian-droobers.org
OD WIN WEST MIDLANDS LEAGUE
After 11 events in 2012 OD members notched up 7234 points to comfortably win the West Midlands League. Harlequins came second with 6785 and Walton Chasers third with 6566 points. Top club scorers with 500 points each were Matthew Elkington M18, Aimee Morse W16, Julie Emmerson W16, Tom Jeffries M40, Lesley Ross W45, Frank Smith M80, Sheila Carey W65 and Hilary Simpson W70. John Bowman M70 scored 499, Barry Elkington M55 498, Stephen Elkington M16 and Hamish Rogers M16 both scored 489, Suzanne Humphries W45 482, Calum Barnetson M20 400 and Andy Emmerson M55 377.
The first of the West Midlands League 11 events for this year takes place this Sunday at Brandon Wood, near Coventry.
Graham and Liz Urquhart organised the Saturday event at Pooley Fields which, despite the cold and some early snow, attracted many new members and first timers. Annabel Stock W14 won the Yellow 2.1k in 24.03mins and Hazel Jonas W45 came 2nd in 36.26mins. Both were competing at their first ever event. New member Tom Leyden M45 won the Orange 2.6k course in 24.02mins ahead of junior Alfie Bullus M14 26.03mins and John Bowman M70 28.28mins. On the Green 4.3k course with 18 controls Chris McCartney M40 came in 1st in 27.31mins ahead of Nottingham Orienteering Club’s Andis Celinskis M21 31.18mins and Ian Gamlen City of Birmingham M45 32.22mins.
In New Zealand several club members have been competing at the Orienteering World Cup and Oceania World Cup Carnival, a 7 multi day competition in difficult terrain compensated by lovely weather. Riina Kuuselo W21 was competing for Finland at the World Cup, honorary member Graham Gristwood M21 for GB and, recent member, Will Critchley M21 for Canada. Competing in their age classes Mike Hampton M65 came 2nd in the Sprint Championships and 4th on Day 7, Hilary Simpson W70 2nd on Day 2 and Trevor Simpson 5th on Day 6.
At Big Moor, in the peak district, on the long Black 10.7k course with 255metres of climb Ian Embrey M21 came 4th in 91.27mins and Aimee Morse W16 came 5th on the Green 4.1k course in 53.88mins.
15th January 2013
NEW YEAR HONOURS
Congratulations to Sheila Carey, club member, who was awarded the MBE in the New Year’s Honours List. She received her award for services to disability athletics. Sheila, amongst many athletics achievements represented Great Britain in two Olympic Games, in Mexico in 1968 coming 4th in the 800m Final and in Munich in 1972 where she came 5th in the 1500m Final. Last year in orienteering Sheila became the W65 UK Masters Champion and was second in the British Orienteering Championship for her class.
The club are pleased to announce the following selections to the England team for the Interland competition taking place in March in the Netherlands. Nathan Lawson M16, Harrison McCartney M16, Matt Elkington M18, Harriet Lawson W18, Lesley Ross W45, Sheila Carey W65 and travelling reserve Aimee Morse W16.
More honours were won on New Year’s Day as a team of 44 club members competed in the Laurie Bradley Trophy which is held annually between West Midland Clubs. Octavian Droobers Vice Captain, Suzanne Humphries, was thrilled at the magnificent performances with the club scoring a total of 6750 points from the top 25 club scorers, 440 points ahead of second placed Walton Chasers. The event was challenging and very fast with competitors having to punch as many as possible of the 30 controls in the l hour time limit, scoring 10 points for each. Of the 12 people who managed to collect all 30, seven were from Octavian Droobers.
The top three runners at the event were from the club: William Gardner M20 in 48.52mins, Matt Elkington M18 50.55mins and Iain Embrey M21 52.04mins. Team scorers with 300 points were William Gardner, Matthew Elkington, Iain Embrey, Chris McCartney, Patrick Roddy, Julie Emmerson and Andy Emmerson. Barry Elkington, Calum Barnetson and Mark Bailey scored 290. Robert Brandon and Aimee Morse 280, Tony Feltblower and Stephen Elkington 270, Alastair Gardner, Suzanne Humphries and Heather Rogers 260 Dave Marr 250, Liz Phillips and Rachel Emmerson 240, John Ward 230, Bruce Bryant, John Bowman, Carolyn Marr, Gerry Spalton and Jill Emmerson all scored 220 points.
Suzanne Humphries said not only did we bring home the team trophy again but also both the junior ones as Matthew Elkington and Julie Emmerson retained their trophies for the highest scoring M18 or under and W18 or under respectively.
4th January 2013