LAKLELAND Orienteers travelled north in deteriorating weather over Dunmail Raise for the first Cumbria Galoppen of the year at Latrigg, near Keswick, on Sunday.

Competitors had to contend with flurries of sleet and snow and very physical courses, zig-zagging steeply up the rain-sodden slippery wooded slopes above the River Greta before descending across thick beds of dead bracken.

Members of local clubs collect points in Galoppen races based on their position in a series of events throughout the year, the best contributing to a club total and efforts to become local champions.

Lakeland Orienteering Club members had an excellent start on the blue and green courses (middle- distance technical courses) with Matthew Rooke, Robert Brown and Chris Rhodes taking the first three places on blue and Michael McIver, Martin Goodhall and Thomas Burrow those on green.

Ruth Tarr was the fastest woman on green in seventh place. Martin Smith, Nick Howlett and Pat McIver all finished in the top ten on brown (the longest technical course) with Dorothy Pelly the first woman from the club in 23rd.

On the shorter courses, Ben Deeming was first on orange with Michelle Wood in eighth, while Jonathon Austin and Michael Rhodes were first and second point-scorers on yellow with Jenny Rhodes eight.

The next races in the series take place on March 20, at Gelt Woods, near Carlisle, and April 24 at Eel Tarn Eskdale. Full results can be found on: www.lakes-o.freeserve.co.uk/.