Club News by Karin Kirk news@octavian-droobers.org
Moorlands, Woods and Schools Championships
Club members of all ages were navigating their way around a variety of terrains this weekend from the local event at Pooley Country Park, the Long Mynd, Shropshire, Maulden Woods, Bedford and across parks in Slough.
Liam Chapple organised and devised some great courses at Pooley Country Park, near Polesworth. Beginners, newcomers and families enjoyed the Easy course. Bruce Bryant M60 was 1st on the Medium 3.7km course in 36.45mins, Liz Phillips W55 2nd in 42.24mins and Mike Hampton M70 3rd in 46.35mins.Kin Wai Lee M21 was the fastest on the Long 6.3km course taking 40.33mins, David Thacker M40 was 2nd in 42.34mins and Chris McCartney M50 3rd in 44.32mins.
At Plush Hill on the Long Mynd, Wrekin Orienteers organised event attracted club members to compete for the club in the West Midlands League. The very low cloud, mist and rain high up on the open moorland, made conditions challenging. Top 10 places were earned by David Leadley M55 6th on the long 7.3km course with 430metres of climb taking 77.30mins and Anne Straube W40 was top woman on the same course in 91.10mins. On the 6.1km course Tom Jeffries M45 had a great run taking 61.29mins only 1.06mins behind the winner and Rob Bambrook M45 was 5th in 70.21mins. Sheila Carey W70 was 8th on the 4.9km course in 67.30mins.
Keith Willdig M70 was 1st on the 3.9km course taking 41.04mins Peter Carey M75 2nd in 46.42mins and Margaret Willdig W65 4th in 51.59mins. Juniors Max Straube-Roth M10 was 3rd on the 2.6km course and Ruben Jeffries M10 5th on the 2.1km course. These results helped increase OD’s lead and they now have 7353 points and with only 1 more league event they are on course to win the league.
West Midlands League event at Titterstone Clee, Shropshire
The league event at Titterstone Clee, organised by Harlequins Orienteering Club, saw a good number of Octavian Droobers club members competing. The club are currently league leaders and good runs by members will ensure this remains the case. The very wet and indeed snowy conditions, with some high climbs, on the exposed moorland, did not deter and there were several top 10 places. Chris McCartney M50 was 1st on the Blue 7.2km course with 265 metres of climb taking 68.58mins and Robert Bambrook M45 was 6th on the same course in 80.56mins, a 1st for Bruce Bryant M60 on the Green 4.8km course taking 48.38mins closely followed by Keith Willdig M70 in 2nd in 50.18mins. Other top 10 places: David Leadley M55 6th in 88.11mins and Anne Straube W40 94.12mins on the Brown 9.5km course with 345 metres of climb. Joanne Leigh W50 was 8th on the Short Green 3.6km course in 56.06mins. Top junior on the Green 4.8km course was Luke Cherry M16 taking 61.19mins and Max Straube-Roth M10 was 3rd on the 3.1km Orange course.
At Wendover Woods in Buckinghamshire, Thames Valley’s event saw Nadine Wright in second W21 place on the Blue 7.2km course running through the steep sided woods with 340 metres of climb taking 74.03mins. At the Twin Peaks 2 day event Nathan Lawson M21 was 6th on Day 1 at Errwood taking 70.10mins on the 6.9km course with 280 metres of climb and on Day 2 Sue Bicknell W75 was 2nd on the Womens Hyper Vet 5km course taking 46.53mins at the Stockport Urban event.
12th November 2019