Fantastic orienteering at the Running Festival in the Forest of Dean

More than five hundred people travelled to New Beechenhurst in the Forest of Dean on Sunday 6 May for the annual Bristol Orienteering Klub (BOK) Trot which this year was part of the massive OMM (Original Mountain Marathon) Running Festival.

In addition to the 446 entrants, there were at least 60 children who ran the string course, many from OMM families, which was a great way of introducing new children and their like-minded families to orienteering.

Despite the fact that the memory of the incredible weather will probably outlast the orienteering, some very fine runs were achieved.

Ben Mitchell of Swansea Bay Orienteering Club (SBOC) won the Black course by a whole 7 minutes, James Hargreaves won the brown by 13 minutes and Oliver Tonge (M16) was only 2.08 minutes behind Martin Ward (M50) the winner of the Short Brown.

Bristol Orienteering Klub's Clive Hallett (M55) won the Blue in just 55.36 minutes but was closely followed by Phil Scarf (M55) of East Pennine Orienteering Club (EPOC) a few minutes later. Nick Norse (M55) of North Wiltshire Orienteering Club (NWO) and BOK's Jim Bailey (M16) followed three minutes later giving Clive some serious competition.

The Green course was run by Clive Wilson (M60) of South Yorkshire Orienteers (SYO) in just 57.34 minutes, but close on his heels was Ian Cooper (M75) of Berkshire Orienteers (BKO) just 3 seconds behind, and Jackie Hallett (W60) of BOK just 19 seconds behind. A good performance was also seen by BOK's Bryony Stagg who won the orange course.

The day was a huge success with wonderful scenes of fit, healthy runners of all ages gathering together in the blazing sunshine to run, cycle, and relax in the Forest.

Photo credits:  Scott Bailey, Bristol Orienteering Klub