13rd Oct 2026
Clare Sambrook, Senior Reporter , Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
EDEN-based Border Liners Orienteering Club triumphed against clubs from all over the country in a national competition on Sunday 18 October.
The club fielded 20 competitors, ranging from Penrith’s 14-year-old Thomas Hartley to Bothel’s 80-year-old Raymond Wren, in the finals of the annual CompassSport Cup & Trophy held at Ashdown Forest in Sussex.
Border Liners lifted the Trophy, beating 14 other finalists from a starting field of 50 small clubs.
The event was made up of 12 different courses with lengths from 3km to 9km for different age groups. Individual contestants score points for themselves and their team based on their finishing position in their age category.
Border Liners had four course winners. Threlkeld’s Jeff Powell Davies won the class for men aged 45 to 59. Karen Parker, from Butterwick near Bampton, won the women’s 60 to 65 years. Penrith’s Keith Tonkin won the men’s 65 to 70, and Brampton’s Stella Lewsley triumphed in the women’s 70 to 75.
“What a fantastic team effort!” said club captain Andy Lewsley. “We had 13 scoring runners all in the top 11 places. Everyone travelled a 700+ mile round trip with some taking trains, buses and fellow competitors’ cars to get there.”
Two team members made particularly heroic efforts to attend. Natalie Hawkrigg from Caldbeck and Penrith’s James Champman had competed in the British Fell & Hill Relays Championships in Todmorden on the Saturday. Natalie’s team won their category at Todmorden, making it a very special weekend for her.
“We are always keen to introduce new people of all ages to the sport,” said club chairman Dan Parker. “We’re holding an event, suitable for everyone including novices, on November 1st at Eycott Hill Nature Reserve. All are welcome.”
