The British Sprint Orienteering Championships took place in Skelmersdale recently and Border Liners returned to Cumbria with some silverware for their efforts. A tricky combination of rural and urban features around the 1960’s Lancashire new town suburbs ensured that pinpoint navigation was key to success.
In the Individual Championships, Border Liner Judy Johnson lead from the first control to take a superb win in the W70 class. Her time of 12:40 was more than a minute clear of runner-up Sheila Strain of the East Lothian Orienteering Club. In the W40 event, Isabel Berry ran an excellent second half of the course, with first placed split times on the final ten controls, to take a well-deserved third place behind Sally Calland and Liz Heaton. Their times in this hard-fought category were: 15:35, 16:03 and 16:27 respectively.
In the following day’s Sprint Relay Championships, Border Liners Ultra Veteran team of Stephen Eastleigh, Christine Kiddier and Andrew Bell clinched the bronze medal by a single second after Andrew’s sprint for the finish. Teammate Christine was in no doubt how they secured the bronze medal. ‘Andrew’s sprint for the line clinched it’ she said. The Border Liners trio pipped the East Pennine Orienteering Club team of Richard Spendlove, Arabella Woodrow and Richard Payne with respective times of 48.22 and 48.23.
Back on Cumbrian soil, Border Liners promoted their latest club event on the open fellside terrain of Swindale with a full field of competitors. Steve Birkinshaw of the West Cumberland Orienteering Club took top honours around the 6.7km (175m climbing) Blue course with a time of 45.43. Steve’s blistering time was almost five minutes clear of runner-up Rudi Paul of the St Andrews Glasgow Orienteering Club (50.11) with Border Liner Keith Tonkin picking up a useful third place in 56.07.
Liner’s Junior Ruben Razzetti had a similar winning margin around the 4.7km (140m climbing) Green course. Ruben’s 40.04 secured the win ahead of Isaac Hunter of the West Cumberland team (44.41) with Andrew Bell clinching another top ten finish for the Liners in 55.56. Emma Moody of the West Cumberland Orienteering Club took first place around the 3.5km (105m climb) Short Green course (49.22) with Jane Yates taking a top ten finish for the Liners with 67.16.
Border Liners next event is their ‘Long O’ event on Bampton Common and Helton Fell on Sunday 26th September. For entry details and details of the following event in Carlisle on 16th October
David Rawle, September 12th 2021
Border Liners Orienteering Club 