Junior team in the spotlight
Scotland had mixed success in the orienteering Home Internationals with the Juniors winning the InterRegionals for the seventh consecutive year and the Veterans managing a disappointing third in their category.
In the junior event, the three athletes from Forth Valley Orienteers were prominent. Lizzie Stansfield was second in W16 (51.12) as Scotland took maximum points from the class and they filled out four of the top five places in a major show of points denial.
Peter Molloy was third in M16 (42.33), and Jamie Goddard managed fifth place in M14 (44.22).
With a healthy overnight lead, Scotland were then first past the post in both men’s and women’s relays to retain the trophy they last lost in 2011.
Peter Molloy had the opening leg for Scotland II and came home one second behind Scotland I’s Matthew Gooch (19.48).
Jamie Goddard was on the middle leg for Scotland IV and maintained the 11th place he was handed at the changeover, returning in 22.48.
Lizzie Stansfield was on the opening leg for Scotland IV in the women’s race and came home fifth (22.30) as Scotland had four of the top six places in the W16 phase of the relay.
The Veteran team was short-handed from the outset, missing both an M60 and a W50 athlete from the start list while FVO’s Roger Goddard was also absent injured.
The five FVO athletes who did make it to the start line all played their part in a strong effort from the depleted Scots.
Hazel Dean won the W55 race by four minutes (51.43) while there were second place finishes for both Will Hensman (M35 - 68.26) and Marcus Pinker (M40 - 59.45).
Ben Stansfield was third in M50, (57.58) while Fraser Purves, racing for only the second time since winning the Scottish Championship in May, was fourth in M45 (57.47).
Likewise, in the second day relays, all of the FVO contingent were up there on their individual legs. Ben Stansfield had the fastest split on the middle leg of the WMW relay (30.50), and Fraser Purves was sixth quickest (34.10).
Marcus Pinker pulled his Ireland team out of the mire with a fast closing leg in MWM (32.30), recording the second fastest split, while Hazel Dean and Will Hensman were on the fifth quickest team of the day, with Hazel fifth on the middle leg (36.30) and Will going one better on the closer (35.57).