LAKELAND Orienteering Club's first Galoppen event of the year took place at Ulpha Park, near Broughton.

In a complete contrast to the previous week's event at Askham Fell, this was steep and heavily wooded, with many fallen trees and heavy marshes due to the recent rain.

Good navigation was essential, with mistakes proving costly for those who found the technical terrain difficult.

Luckily the weather was ideal for those running, with just over 200 spread over the seven courses.

Numbers on the junior courses were down, probably due to the event coinciding with the end of the half-term week.

Nathan Metcalfe on light green had a great run, finishing second and beating many juniors from Wales who were in the Lakes on a training weekend.

The green course produced a first, second and third for LOC, with Graham Farley just pipping Philip Metcalfe and Alison Fryer.

Liz Campbell, from Ambleside-based Warrior OC, won the blue course, with junior Liam Carswell from new local club BARRO having a good run to finish only five minutes down in eighth place, ahead of many other more experienced orienteers.

Warrior OC runners dominated the brown course, with Martin Bagness leading the way from Shane Lynch and Andy Hyslop. Nick Howlett was best-placed LOC runner in seventh.

The next local event is a short race on Saturday, March 10, in Stockbird Head and Black Beck.

A National Event will take place on Sunday, March 11, run by South Ribble OC on nearby Whitbarrow Scar.

For details of the short race, go to www.lakeland-orienteering.org.uk