ORIENTEERING
Forth Valley Orienteers got their 2024 Scottish Orienteering League season off to a successful start as they were prominent across the classes at the Scottish Spring meet in Argyllshire.
Club champions James Hammond and Scarlett Kelly ran out of class against older and more experienced athletes, and both took major scalps, as James scooped the big prize, winning the Men’s Elite course by 53 seconds in 70.51, while Scarlett Kelly raced as a W18, and was the leading female on Blue (59.16).
Louise Longhurst was 3rd on Green (57.27) and Martin Dean was runner-up on Short Green (35.25), with Liz Owen 3rd (46.16).
An alteration in the course/class combinations for this year threw up some new challenges, and Lindsey Hensman was the first winner in the Very Short Green class, in a time of 74.28, while Hannah Buchanan-smith had the Red course all to herself, and came home in 80.29.
The Light Green courses had major local success, with Fraser Cheyne (43.43) holding off James Edward (44.29) to be leading boy, as the pair finished 2nd and 3rd, with Lucas Baikie 3rd in the sub-division (67.25) and Eilidh Connor got onto the W14 podium in 2nd place (51.58).
Hannah Inman started 2024 just where she left off in 2023, atop the Orange class standings, with a finish of 23.09, and Esme Finch was the 2nd W12 counter (27.45).
There was also a group of eight at the Cyprus International Festival, and they ended the week with five medals.
Dawn Goddard saved her best for the end, as she took the bronze medal in the W55 sprint, in 32.57. while Anthony Barrable equalled Dawn’s performance in the M80 race (26.32).
Roger Goddard was untouchable all week in M50, winning all five of his races to post a 42 minute victory margin, while in W60 Heather Fellbaum took the honours with a strong set of results, and Vicky Thornton overcame an issue with a lost timing chip on day 2 to finish in the silver medal position.