ORIENTEERS taking part in the last scoring round of the Cumbria Galoppen series of races were faced by steady rain and saturated, slippery conditions underfoot at Low Fell, east of Keswick.

The use of electronic timing in orienteering has enabled planners to run events on quite small areas with longer courses criss-crossing the site from different directions.

This was the approach taken by organisers, West Cumbria Orienteering Club, at Low Fell and the mix of moorland and pasture resulted in some fast times despite the weather. But several people lost time by taking the wrong direction having gone over stiles or gates near wall corners.

West Cumbria Orienteers dominated the longer technical courses with Steve Birkinshaw winning the brown course (6.7k) in 44 minutes and Geoff Godwin the blue (5.9k) in 54 minutes.

Junior, Matthew Rooke was best placed Lakeland member at fifth on brown, just over ten minutes down on Birkinshaw.

Lakeland Club members fared better on green (3.7k) with Beryl Offley coming second behind winner Wrigley from South Ribble in 35m 57s. Joe Adams and James Ratcliffe were third and fourth respectively.

Club members also secured good places on the less technical courses with Jenny Rhodes sixth on yellow, Jessica Myers fifth on orange, and Hamish Fletcher Cooney sixth on light green.

The Galoppen series will finish with a special event and presentation of team and individual trophies at Askham Fell near Helton, Penrith, on Sunday. All competitors start at 11am.

BAKER TROPHY FOURTEEN Lakeland juniors travelled south to Sherwood Pines for the final of the Yvette Baker Trophy, probably the most competitive team event in the under 21 calendar, with the team with the best nine placings from eight courses taking the honours.

Team manager Derek Fryer had a relatively young and inexperienced group, who had done well to qualify.

The final was run in open woodland, with plenty of undergrowth, and a complex network of paths. In this unfamiliar terrain the team found the competition tough and finished 12th overall.

Alistair Jones' (M16) fifth place on light green, was the best individual performance.