Orienteering stars impress

Local athletes made a major impression on the opening Scottish Orienteering League race of the season at Errochty, near Blair Atholl, as they won half of the courses on the way to nine podium finishes.

James Hammond stepped up to the men’s course for the first time racing away with victory. Hammond won last year’s under 18 division, and decided it was time to test himself on the longest distance.

He went off cautiously, but soon got into his rhythm, and tucked in behind England international Philip Vokes. A slight hesitation from Vokes on the 19th leg allowed Hammond to take the lead with six to go, and as the Englishman tied up in the closing stages, Hammond asserted himself to win by four minutes, in 86.44.

This was one of five wins for FVO athletes, as they showed their class right across the board. Martin Dean won the Short Green course in 59,21. but the big talking point was John Owen, who turned in the race of his life to take his first-ever podium place, bronze in 68.26.

Scarlett Kelly laid down an early marker by leading the Green course in 52.26, ahead of the top three in the class from 2022, while Esme Kelly had an impressive win on Light Green, finishing in 42.46 and going away from the pack.

Rona Molloy led the Short Blue course for much of the day, but was pushed back into 2nd by a late finisher (68.32). while on Orange, Hannah Inman showed the boys how it’s done, taking the win in 32.28, on an all FVO podium, with Lucas Whitworth, in his first big race, 2nd (41.54) ahead of Fraser Cheyne (52.37).

There was a mix of youth and experience on the podium at the local race in Kippen, with a number of new names featuring prominently. On the Blue course, Jonno Pybus picked up a five minute win (44.47) from EUOC’S Dan Barber, with Matthew Smith in 3rd place.

John Campbell was back on his old stomping ground after more than 30 years in the United States, and took the victory on the Green course in 39.50, leaving Simon Finch and Helen Pybus to fight for the minor honours.

Alex Tijhuis came out tops on the Orange course in a rapid 19.13, with juniors James Edward and Priya Small also on the podium, and the Yellow course, which was dominated by under 10s, was won by Harris Mcewen (12.18), who held off Murray Baldwin and Fraser Chamberlain for the win.