Border Liners eased back into post-lockdown competitive mode at the weekend with a club event at Hackthorpe Woods near Penrith. Held in perfect spring conditions with cloudless skies and low temperatures, ninety competitors enjoyed the three courses on offer set out by experienced planner Gerry Garvey. Thanks to the staggered start times, Covid protocols and open expanse of new woodland, everyone enjoyed a safe return to outdoor sport.
Proving quickest around the 5.3km Green course, Steve Birkinshaw of the West Cumberland Orienteering Club was just under two minutes clear of runner-up Matthew Rooke of the Lakeland Orienteering Club. Their times were 28.54 and 30.33 respectively. Jeff Powell Davis was fastest Border Liner home in sixth place (34.58) with Karen Parker making the top ten and first female finisher in 37.41.
Lakeland orienteer Rebecca Rooke claimed top place around the 3.3km Short Green course with a time of 24.04. This proved to be well clear of the second and third placed Border Liner duo of Andrew Bell and Carol Edwards who returned times of 32.31 and 33.29 respectively. Laura Hazelhurst turned in a good top-ten finish to record 43.28, just ahead of fellow Liner Karen Blackburn (45.24).
There was another convincing winner of the 3km Orange course as Ash Boothroyd of the West Cumberland Orienteering Club claimed first place with a time of 27.36. Continuing her introduction to orienteering, Border Liner Abigail Pantry was second in 40.25 with clubmates Barbara Atkinson and Angela Whitworth claiming fourth and fifth places respectively with times of 53.10 and 57.19.
Also meeting in person for the first time in many months, the North West Junior Orienteering squad had a training day on Saturday at Blakeholme Woods near Windermere. Currently, Ruben Razzetti and Tom Rawle are the two Border Liners on the squad but there are opportunities for aspiring orienteers to join and represent the club and North West region in months to come.
David Rawle, April 11th 2021
Border Liners Orienteering Club 