Club News by Karin Kirk news@octavian-droobers.org
HARRISON McCARTNEY ON TOP FORM
Harrison McCartney won the M14 race in 36.05mins, over 2mins ahead of nearest rival at the Northern Championship in Kirkwhelpington, Northumberland. Another 1st place was gained by Robert Gardner on the M20E course and Hilary Simpson W70 came 2nd on her course in 69.46mins. Robert Gardner came 2nd on the sprint course at Leazes Park, Newcastle in 13.11mins.
Harrison also came in 1st on the Blue 6.5k in 44.03mins at the event around Belton Park near Grantham. He was the youngest competitor on the course and beat many experienced orienteers. His father Chris McCartney was 4th on the Brown 7.9k course in 57.15mins.
Leading club in the West Midlands league Octavian Droobers competed in the 2nd round at Cannock Chase, near Shugborough. With a good attendance by club members the results should keep OD in the lead. High scores were gained by: Riina Kuuselo W21 2nd in 49.19mins and husband Sami Takaluoma M35 55.30mins on the Blue 6.2k 260 climb course, Bruce Bryant M50 1st in 42.29mins and Peter Carey M65 6th in 50.32mins on the Green 4.47k 180m climb course.
OD Talent and Development Squad had an excellent training session with Olympian and Orienteering Champion Sheila Carey around the Memorial Park, Coventry. She gave advice on running techniques and training to enhance orienteering performance. This session, spearheaded by Paul Furness, is part of the weekly series of coaching activities, available to all members of the club.
29th March 2011
WINNING ON THE CHILTERNS IN OXFORDSHIRE
Seventy Octavian Droobers competed in the Southern Area Championships around the private Hambleden Estate, near Henley on Thames in Oxfordshire. The terrain was classic Chiltern Hills undulating slopes covered in beech and conifer trees and the long courses tested our orienteers stamina and accuracy.
Whilst not eligible to win the championships ten of our runners came in the top three positions. Two orienteers ran excellent races and came in 1st: Lesley Ross W45 on the 6.8k course in 51.54mins and Sheila Carey W65 on the 5.2k course in 51.03mins. Junior boy Jamie Nicolson M12 came 2nd and was pipped by only 3secs off the top spot in 26.35mins on the 3.6k course and Harrison McCartney M14 was also 2nd in 36.39mins on the 5.8k course.
Anne Straube W35 came 2nd on her 8.4k course in 1.10.06mins and junior Francesca Slade W16 came 2nd on the W16 short 4k course in 45.43mins and in 3rd place on the same course was Elizabeth Davies 57.07mins. Aimee Morse W14 was 3rd on the 4k course in 37.07mins, as was Sophie Kirk on the Elite W20 8.7k course l.01.45mins and Bruce Bryant M50 on the 6.8k short course in 57.14mins.
Mike Hampton M65 achieved an overall 3rd place, a great result, in the recent 4 day event in Portugal, coming 2nd on Day 3 and 1st on Day 4, and 2nd in the night urban sprint around Portalegre.
14th March 2011