Medals galore for Forth Valley
Forth Valley Orienteers had a memorable Scottish Championships, as their athletes won ten national titles en route to 32 medals in all.
There were medals in all the mens classes from M12 to M60, except for M16 where they had no entrant, and in all the women’s classes from W10 to W60, excepting W18, where
Lucy Hensman still managed a championship PB.
On the women’s side, Hannah Inman (30.12) and Esme Finch (34.07) confirmed their places as the best W12s in the land with an FVO 1-2.
Esme Kelly added the W14 gold in 41.10, with Eilidh Connor picking up the bronze in 58.14. Scarlett Kelly, meanwhile, had a strong race to top W16 ahead of a quality field in 42.43, and there was a silver medal in W35 for Fiona Berrow (74.05) and a first-time bronze for Alice Mcdaid in W40 (86.13).
Grace Molloy returned from a year on the US collegiate circuit, and looked none the worse for the lack of terrain experience, as she cantered to victory in W21E in 77.40 for an 11 1/2 minute margin over ESOC’S Alison O’neil.
Janine Inman is no stranger to the top of the championship podium, and she extended her Scottish Champs record to an incredible seven in a row with W45 gold in 44.40. Similarly, Beccy Osborn and Rona Molloy collected their seventh championship medal of recent times, both silvers, with Beccy home in 58.34, in W50 and Rona 18 minutes quicker on a shorter course in W55.
The W60 podium was all FVO, as Alison Cunningham (43.13) topped the standings ahead of club mates vicky thornton (49.09) and Heather Fellbaum (54.19).
On the men’s side, Matthew Owen made his championship debut and topped M12A in 31.15, while Sam Hunt took silver in M18E (84.07) as did Pierre Lardet in M20E, in Pierre’s case missing out on the title by a single second (81.12).
Defending M21E champion Alasdair Mcleod was 5th past the post this time, but has the consolation of the silver medal for Best Scot.
Andy Llewellyn (M35 - 70.53) and Dave Godfree (M45 - 54.05) successfully defended their national titles, in Dave’s case for a 3rd consecutive year, while Roger Goddard won M45 silver in 58.53.
Meanwhile Will Hensman and Steve Feltbower continued their head to head battle in M40 with Will 13 minutes (73.53) up on this occasion to regain the trophy he lost last year. Jason Inman won M50 silver in 63.31, Jon Cross took the bronze in M55 (56.25), and Hugh Buchanan had the M60 bronze in 63.30.