Orienteering News - Major Sporting Event in Coventry

By Karin Kirk, Publicity Officer for Octavian Droobers Orienteering Club

Photo caption: Don McKerrow, South London Orienteering Club, on the spiral walkway over Lady Herbert’s Garden. Photo courtesy of Andy Johnson.

Octavian Droobers Orienteering Club staged a very successful and popular orienteering event in Coventry City, part of the major weekend of orienteering including Birmingham City. Both of these events featured in the European-wide series of ‘Euro City Race Tour’.

The club welcomed over 400 participants from around the UK and Europe to this prestigious event. Organiser Phil Kirk praised the help from club members and especially the support from Coventry University for the use of the Sports Centre for the reception arena.

Competitors, using a specially drawn very detailed map, navigated successfully around the City centre locating strategically placed control points. Some fast times were recorded and Octavian Droober members featured in the top ten on many of the courses.

Congratulations to Womens Hyper Vets 2.6km course winner Sheila Carey W75 taking only 31.02mins, Sue Bicknell W75 was 3rd in 42.47mins, Sue Hallett W75 5th in 44.57mins and Karin Kirk W75 7th in 46.45mins. On the Womens Open 5.22km course Nadine Wright W21 was 4th in 47.21mins. Juliette Soulard W50 took 5th place in 46.57mins on the Womens Veteran 4.725km course.

Sam Leadley M21 was 5th on the longest 6.3km course, and 3rd on the Mens Open class, finding 36 control points in 43.55mins. David Lawson M55 was 9th on the Mens Super Vet 4.725km course and Barry Elkington M65 was 4th on the Mens Ultra Vet 4.125km course in 35.59mins. Peter Carey M75 was 3rd in 37.27mins, Mike Hampton M75 6th in 40.13mins and Gerry Spalton M75 10th in 56.07mins on the Mens Hyper Vet 3.2km course.
Junior Andrew Tang M10 was 5th in 36.17mins and younger brother Daniel Tang 7th in 67.25mins on the Young Junior Men 1.8km course. Newcomer James Silver M35 enjoyed the explorer tourist trail 3.3km course coming 1st in 34.46mins.

The Birmingham Euro City event took place on the following day and leading club scorers were a 1st place for Barry Elkington M65 on the Ultravet Mens course in 34.29mins. Making it a double weekend victory was Sheila Carey W75 who won in 41.03mins on the Hypervet Womens course and Karin Kirk W75 was 2nd in 53.43mins. Sam Leadley M21 2nd 56.15mins on Open Mens course, Liz Phillips W55 2nd on Supervet Womens course and Andrew Tang M10 3rd in 13.47mins on the Young Junior Mens course.

Results are on www.octavian-droobers.org and details about both events are on www.heartofenglandurban.site.

For details of how to take part in orienteering, a fun outdoor active sport, ideal for beginners, runners, and families of all ages please see the club website, www.octavian-droobers.org, email information@octavian-droobers.org.