Orienteering - Lakeland runners in British rush to gold (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Orienteering - Lakeland runners in British rush to gold

12:12pm Thursday 26th May 2011 in Sport

LOCAL orienteers took podium places at the British Orienteering Championships in the Sheffield area.

The individual championships were staged in Wharncliffe and Greno Woods with the following day’s relays in Tankersley Woods.

Sarah Jones of the Barrow club won the gold medal in the W16 class, with Lakeland members Lois Jefferson taking silver in W14 and Carol McNeill bronze in W65.

Warrior’s Martin Bagness took silver in M50 and Charlie Adams, now of the South Yorkshire club, silver in M45.

In the Elite classes, Lakeland’s Carrie Beadle and Barrow’s Laura Jones were eighth and 11th in W18, Cerys Jones ninth W20, Matthew Penellum and Carl Edmonds 13th and 16th in M18. Chris Heppenstall was 30th in the Men’s Open class with his sister Karen Poole, now of the Cleveland club, 14th in the Women’s Open.

Other Lakeland members achieving top ten placings over the premier courses for their age classes were Stewart Allison sixth in M12, Adam Bartlett ninth M14, Rebekah Beadle eighth W45, Helena Burrows sixth W60, Janet Nash eighth W60, Simon Cane tenth M60 and Bob Stewardson fourth M80.

Notable performances over shorter courses were Max O’Hara’s win and Nathan Metcalfe’s third place in M18, Nick Howlett second M40 and Derek Allison third M50.

In the relay championships, Lakeland produced two gold medal winning teams – Andrew Brockbank, James Allison and Adam Bartlett in the M14 class and Carol McNeill, Helena Burrows and Diana McClure in W60.

Kirsten Bell, Lois Jefferson and Hannah Cleary-Hughes took silver in the W14 class. Bronze medals were won in W18 (Katie Wright, Carrie and Natalie Beadle) and M18 (Matthew Penellum, Jack Wright and Carl Edmonds) Barrow sisters Laura, Cerys and Sarah Jones won bronze in the competitive Women’s Short Open class.

 Local summer evening events suitable for all abilities commence in June for both foot orienteers and cyclists.

The Wednesday series of foot events starts on 1st June on Stickle Pike. Start times from 6pm at Kiln Bank Cross GR 215933. The Tuesday series of Lanequest cycle orienteering events starts from 5.30pm on 7th June at Cartmel Racecourse. Visit www.lakeland-orienteering.org.uk for further details of all events.