LAKELAND OC members were joined by visitors to the area during their series of three festive ‘Turkey’ events in Christmas week.

The winning times for each of the 3.5km technical courses were around 30 minutes.

Lakeland’s Mike McIver (M21) won the Boxing Day event at Sizergh just seconds faster than clubmate William Rigg (M16) with Warrior’s Martin Bagness (M50) two minutes adrift. Rebecca Rooke was fastest woman in fifth place.

Other notable Lakeland performances were Noah Howlett (M14) 12th, Hannah Cleary-Hughes (W16) 13th, Jo Cleary (W45) 19th, Dorothy Pelly (W50) 20th, Dick Towler (M60) 22nd, Simon Cane (M65) 27th, Carol McNeill (W65) 28th and Peter Howlett (M70) 50th.

Jack Filmore (M20) was fastest over a shorter technical course with Heather Burrows (W21) second and Jackie Chapman (W50) third. Luke (M8) and Ellie Simmonds (W10) were first and second on the 2km Yellow Course.

Two days later in woodlands at Bouth, Ollie Johnson (M21) of South Yorkshire Orienteers was the technical course winner ahead of Lakeland’s Rigg and Jack Wright (M20). Rebecca Roberts of South Ribble OC was fastest woman in eighth place. Former LOC member Bob Daly (M55), now of Grampian OC, was leading veteran in 10th place.

Patrick Thomas (M10) was fastest over this day’s Yellow course with Warrior’s Laverack sisters Hazel (W8) and Kirsty (W10) second and third.

Rigg proved to be fastest in the final event at Rusland, ahead of former LOC member Ed Nash, on a family visit from his current home in Germany, with Bagness taking third place again. Charlotte Watson of West Cumberland OC was fastest woman in fifth place. Leading veterans were Derek Allison (LOC, M55) 16th, Julian Lailey (SROC, M65) 19th, Liz Campbell (Warrior, W55) 20th and Mike Atherton (LOC, M70) 48th.

Warrior’s Hector Meanwell (M14) was winner of the final Yellow course ahead of Isobel Kelly (W9) in second place.

Rigg’s consistency ensured his overall victory in the series, 15 minutes ahead of Chris Heppenstall (LOC, M21), who was just outside the top three places each day. A further five minutes down was Warrior’s Brendan Bolland (M40) to finish third overall.

Hannah Cleary-Hughes was first woman overall. Daly resisted the challenge of Lakeland’s Derek Fryer for leading M55.

George Anderton (M7) showed determination to be the only junior to complete all three Yellow courses.