North win Inter-Area trophy by eight points

North of Scotland turned around an eight-point overnight lead to win the Junior Inter-Area Championship by 20 points from holders West, featuring a number of young Forth Valley Orienteers, at Kenmore, Perthshire.

The emergence of a new string of stars from the East of Scotland, particularly in the younger agegroups and a large contingent from the north meant that the match score was much closer than in previous years.

Rebecca Hammond and Kirsty Flint were fifth and sixth in the Yellow girls class in times of 22.16 and 26.36, while Jamie Connor (28.25) and Matthew Inman (28.44) occupied the same positions in the boys race.

The Orange boys race was won in fine style by James Hammond (26.26) with Struan Duncan claiming 6th spot in 43.03, and Lucy Hensman taking sixth place in Orange girls, in 51.13.

The Light Green class saw Jamie Goddard fourth (34.19) and Annie Smith sixth (113.28) and further valuable points were collected by Lizzie Stansfield (second in Green in 37.53) and Peter Molloy (second in Blue in 42.37, 90 seconds behind GB senior international Murray Strain).

Finally, Grace Molloy was best in the W18 class, coming back in 51.31 to lead home a West 1-2-3 ahead of Emma Wilson and Lindsay Robertson.

On Saturday, West were second in the boys relay as Jamie Goddard put down the fastest opening split of 15.45, handing over to James Hammond, who maintained a 21 second gap over the pack with an 8.12 time.

However, a quick final leg from MarOC’s Joseph Wright overtook the final West runner, and North won the race by 11 seconds.

The all-FVO team of Ru Flint, Andrew Twigg and Peter Molloy was fourth; Stan Flint and Jamie Connor teamed up with ECKO’s Alastair Lilley for seventh place, and another all-FVO team, comprising Ben Polwart, Matthew Inman and Grace Molloy was 12th.

In the Girls relay, there was a win for the West team comprised of Rona Shearer and Jura McMillan (both ECKO) and Kirsty Flint, by 58 seconds from the best of the North teams.

East however took third and fourth places to split up the scoring,