MORE than 1,000 orienteers were in Kendal on Sunday for the final of the national club championships.

All of the 22 teams taking part had won their regional rounds to qualify for the final which was based at the old racecourse off Brigsteer Road.

South Ribble, based in north Lancs, were hunting for their first win in the Trophy (for smaller clubs), while Lakeland OC, was attempting to navigate to victory in the overall event - the Compass Sport Cup for large clubs.

During an engrossing day's racing across the juniper and gorse clad slopes of Scout Scar the lead changed hands in both events several times. The final count in the Trophy saw SROC level on points with Edinburgh club Interlopers. There were individual wins for Quentin and Zoe Harding before the count back put the 14th SROC counter ahead of the Interlopers counterpart for a famous South Ribble win.

For Lakeland there were numerous top quality runs with Merryn Stangroom, Hannah Cleary-Hughes, Carol McNeill, Cliff Etherden and Harry Scott all achieving top eight placings in their age groups.

In the men's open race Rhys Findlay-Robinson finished fifth and in the women's open Sarah Jones in fourth place backed up Hollie Orr the overall winner.

Sadly, it was not quite enough for Lakeland AC to beat Forth Valley Orienteers from the Stirling area, who won the cup for the first time with a host of British internationals in their team, including former world relay champion Graham Gristwood. Lakeland had to be satisfied with their status as second best orienteering club in Britain.

Lakeland host a major two-day event on November 7 and 8 with 600 competitors expected at Newby Bridge and Grizedale as part of the UK Orienteering League. More details on the Lakeland-orienteering website.