Last weekend, the annual Jan Kjellström weekend was held at Lancaster University and the Lake District. The JK is held on the Easter weekend and is usually the largest orienteering event in the UK calendar. This year over 3000 orienteers from 26 countries took part in the 4 days of technical and physically challenging orienteering, including 25 SOC members. Participation, especially of elite orienteers, was boosted this year as the World Orienteering Championships will be held in Scotland in August (alongside the biannual Scottish 6 Days).
The race on Good Friday was a fast and furious sprint around the Lancaster University campus. The campus provided tricky route choice around the buildings, slippy mud and a water hazard on the sprint finish! Top SOC results include: Tim 3rd (M18 Elite), Rob (5th MOpen), Dave (9th M35), Philip (4th M60), Christine (4th W35) and Jane (2nd W55).
Saturday and Sunday were held on tricky open fell and rocky forest in the Lake District. Eleven SOC orienteers managed to come top 10 on their courses for the combined two days. Well done to Tim who was 5th on M18 Elite and to Jamie (1st M20L), Tom (2nd M21S), Chris (5th M21S), Andrew (8th M21S), Philip (9th M60L), Ray (8th M75L), Jenny (6th W18L), Anya (5th W21L), Christine (5th W35L) and Jane (5th W55L) on their respective results.
Easter Monday saw 5 SOC relay teams out racing in their new O tops. Tim/Dave/Tom were 30th in the JK Trophy racing against a star studded elite field. Chris/Jamie/Rob managed to finish 9th in the Men’s Short race with Kevin/Jenny/Simon coming 34th. Christine/Lisa/Jane came a great 7th place in the Senior Women’s race. Unfortunately, the Veteran Men’s team of Colin/Mary/Ian had a mispunch!
Bring on the British Long and Relay Championships next weekend in the Forest of Dean. Good luck to all those running.
