THE Blodslitet event held by South Ribble OC was held over Farleton Knott and Dalton Crags.

With much longer courses than usual for orienteering, the format is named after a popular Norwegian event for which the nearest literal translation is "Blood letter".

However, it’s not thought that anyone lost serious amounts of blood on the limestone crags and thorny vegetation.

With mass starts for each course, competitors could visit their first few controls in any order so as to reduce the incidence of following others.

Current British Champion Oli Johnson, of South Yorkshire Orienteers, won the 18km Men’s Open class in 1hr 54min 5sec.

He was awarded the Tim Watkins Trophy, named after the late SROC member who introduced the event to this country. Oli’s wife Jenny won the 15km Women’s Open in 1-53-10.

Karen Poole of Cleveland OC was one of two former local orienteers performing well. She finished second woman, only 14 seconds behind Jenny Johnson. Charlie Adams (M45) also of South Yorkshire won the 14km Men’s Veteran class in 1-49-10.

Lakeland OC members competing included Iain Smith, 17th in the Men’s Open class, and Dorothy Pelly, ninth in the Women’s Open.

In the Men’s Veteran class, Richard Wilson (2nd M55) was tenth, Martin Smith (M50) 14th, Andy Hyslop (M50, WAROC) 19th, Dick Towler (2nd M60) 25th and Tony Richardson (M60) 38th.

Rebekah Beadle (W45), winner of the Women’s Veteran class, was fourth on the 9km course with Judy Burge (W50) 12th and Anne Wilson (W55) 19th.

Julia Laverack (W45, WAROC) was third over an 8km course with Mike Atherton (M65) 16th. Barrow’s Jonathan Austin (M18) was sixth over a 5km course with Richard Day 11th.

The two winners of the open classes had both improved on their second places at the previous day’s Urban event in the streets and parks of Carlisle. In the Women’s Open class, first and second places were reversed, with Karen Poole beating Jenny Johnson by 13 seconds over their 6km course.

Lakeland runners at the Carlisle event were Judy Burge 11th and Jackie Chapman 18th in the W40+ class; Bob Forster 31st in the M40+ class; Steve Buckley 14th, Mike Atherton 24th and Steve Burge 25th in the M55+ class.

Three Lakeland members travelled to Edinburgh for a Burns’ weekend of competition.

In Saturday’s city street event, Derek Fryer was second superveteran (over 55), Derek Allison 38th veteran (over 40) and Alison Fryer 36th in the women’s open class.

In Sunday’s chasing start event in Holyrood Park, Derek Fryer held on to his prologue position to finish third in the supervet final. Alison improved on her 21st prologue position to finish 19th in the women’s open final.