YOUNG Lakeland orienteers travelled to Bewdley in the Severn valley for the last of the selection races for England teams for ‘Interland’, an international event in February.

The Wyre forest has some interesting contour features wrapped in a blanket of bramble and undergrowth of varying penetrability.

The navigation did not present as many problems as the Lakeland forests, but as usual when heading south, the extensive path networks can lead to mistakes.

Good performances from the Lakeland runners were led by Natalie Beadle, who won on the Green course, beating rivals two years older than herself. Carl Edmonds, from Barrow, finished second on Boys 18 Short Brown, while Adam Bartlett and Carrie Beadle ended in fourth on the Boys 14 and Girls 18 races respectively.

Lois Jefferson was third Girl 14 and Laura and Sarah Jones and Matthew Penellum, Katie Wright and Will Rigg along with Sam Jefferson all produced good performances without achieving the necessary 'clean' runs.

Some of Lakeland’s seniors braved the wintry conditions on the fells round Dockray in West Cumberland OC’s annual Copeland Chase.

There were only three courses on offer, all much longer than is normal in orienteering and with few controls, thus putting the emphasis on route choice rather than detailed navigation.

Chris Heppenstall was sixth on the 19km Long course in 2hr 51min - 26 minutes behind course winner Steve Birkinshaw of West Cumberland OC.

Allan Miller of Kendal AAC was 20th in 3-28.

Heather Burrows was second on the 14km Medium course in 2-23, with Lakeland’s Derek Ratcliffe was third in 2-28, Richard Wilson sixth in 2-37.

Dick Towler was second on the the10km Short course in 1-58, less than a minute behind the winner.