Club News by Karin Kirk news@octavian-droobers.org
WET WEATHER NO DETERRENT
Intrepid orienteers travelled to Forest of Dean to compete in the annual BOK Trot event organised by Bristol Orienteering Klub. Over 500 competitors braved the driving wind and rain running through the forest and across swollen and fast flowing streams.
Top 5 positions were achieved by: Andy Simpson M35 5th on the long Black 12k course with 470 metres of climb in 89.07mins, Hamish Rogers M16 3rd in 56.39mins and Harrison McCartney M14 5th in 57.16mins on the Blue 6.6k course with 245 metres of climb, Bruce Bryant M55 5th on the Short Blue 5.4k course with 220 metres of climb in 58.34mins. Julie Emmerson W16 was the top club runner on the day and came 1st on the Green 4.5k course with 170 metres of climb in 42.12mins.
Congratulations are also due to Julie as she has been selected to represent Great Britain in the European Youth Orienteering Championships to be held in June at Bugeat in France.
Phil Kirk organised the Charlecote Park event and introduced a maze to add interest to the courses. Several newcomers took part including the 1st Wellesbourne Scouts. First timers Susanna Brown and Rachel Hawkins won the Yellow 2k course in 20.22mins and scout Matt Woodhouse came 2nd in 22.01mins ahead of younger brother Dan Woodhouse 25.20mins. Club members took the first three places on the Orange 3.2k course: Tom Lea M18 22.34mins, Joshua Jelley M16 24.15mins and Suzanne Humphries W45 25.03mins. Only seconds separated the top competitors on the Green 4.2k course as Chris McCartney M40 was 1st in 22.25mins, John Embrey M50, Harlequins Club, 22.43mins and 3rd Harrison McCartney M14 22.57mins.
This weekend many club members will be competing in the British Orienteering Championships which will be held in the Lake District. The individual championship will be held in Eskdale and the Relay Championship near Kendal.
1st May 2012
CLUB MEMBERS HELP ENGLAND TO VICTORY
England won the six sided north European orienteering competition staged at Habay-la-Neuve in the Belgian Ardennes. Club members made a valuable contribution to the overall victory and to winning the junior trophy.
Winning their events were Harrison McCartney in the M14 category in 26.57mins, over 7 minutes ahead of nearest rival, and Julie Emmerson in the girls W17 event who took 36.51mins on the 4.8k course. Rachel Emmerson came 7th on the same course. On the Women’s Masters A course Lesley Ross W45 came 4th in 53.58mins on the 6.1k course as did Sheila Carey W65 on the Women’s Masters C 3.7k course in 38.12mins.
Bentley Woods near Atherstone, was the venue for Sunday’s level B event, organised by Sue Hallett, with a large band of helpers from the club. Nearly 300 competitors from across the midlands ran through the beautiful private undulating woods, carpeted in blue bells and criss crossed with streams. The ten courses, planned by Janet Richardson, were very runnable but technically challenging.
Club member Andy Simpson M35 came 1st on the Brown 9.8k course with 325m of climb in 1.01.16mins and Chris McCartney came 4th on the same course in 1.15.10mins. Sophie Kirk W20 came 2nd on the Blue 6.9k course with 220m of climb in 49.38mins only 22 secs behind the winner. Mike Hampton M65 clocked up a 1st place on the Short Blue 5.4k course with 165m of climb in 43.13mins as did Aimee Morse W16 on the 4.3k 130climb Green course winning in 38.56mins, over 3 minutes ahead of next finisher. On the popular Short Green 3.7k course Suzanne Humphries came in 1st in 40.37mins. Juniors: Heather Rogers W14 was 2nd on the Light Green 3.6k course in 49.31mins and Alfie Bullus M12 was 4th in 58.59mins, John Leyden M12 was 1st on the Orange 3.1k course in 40.05mins and Matthew Kermode M12 4th on the Yellow 2.6k course in 30.41mins.
Amy Sarkies organised an excellent local event at Draycote Water, near Rugby, which attracted several newcomers to the sport. The short course was won by first timer Jack Clarke M18 from King Henry VIII School Coventry in 15.16mins. Bill Nicolson M45 was 1st on the Medium course in 17.03mins, Suzanne Humphries W45 2nd in 18.13mins and Margaret Willdig W55 3rd in 20.54mins. On the Long course John Embrey M50 from Harlequins was 1st in 23.53mins, Chris McCartney M40 2nd in 23.55mins and Bob Brandon M60 3rd in 30.19mins.
24th April 2012