FVO League off to a great start
Orienteering
The 2018 Forth Valley Orienteering League got underway at Mine Woods, Bridge of Allan last weekend.
And 2017 champion Jamie Stevenson put down an early marker with a time of 32.08 to win and take 100 ranking points in the first race.
Ross McLennan arrived late but was able to get round quickly for second place (37.17) with Ben Stansfield third (43.24).
Early leader in the Orange class is Andrew Twigg, who went round in 34.39, holding off the challenge of Dawn Goddard (36.56) and Nicola Melville (38.51).
There were only two entrants on the Yellow course, and Eilidh Connor’s early effort of 26.54 won the points, ahead of the tandem team of Freya McLennan and Fi Berrow, who finished in 28.27.
Runners also took part in the opening event in the East Lothian spring series at Gosford Park, Longniddry, with FVO athletes to the fore.
The Long race was won by Scotland international Oleg Chepelin (Interlopers) but the next four places in a 41-runner field were annexed by FVO athletes, as Pierre Lardet (31.42) held off the challenge of clubmates Mark Johnston (32.38), Chad Harrison (32.467) and Paul Hammond (33.47) for second place.
The race lead changed hands several times, as all five runners forged to the front of the pack in a tactical battle.
The Light Green class had James Hammond in second (26.19), 14 seconds down on ESOC veteran Finlay Ross, with Laura Hendrie sixth (34.43).
On Orange, there was a win for Shona Lee (20.01) with Rebecca Hammond finishing strongly in sixth in 25.18 and Hanna Brindley had a steady performance with second on the Yellow course, finishing in 23.14.