ULVERSTON Victoria High School surrendered their British Schools Orienteering Champions title last weekend as Lancaster Girls Grammar School ended a decade of domination by the south Cumbrians.

Ulverston had navigated their way to the title for the last 15 years but found themselves in third place despite some outstanding performances, which saw four team victories near Broxbourne, Hertfordshire.

The schools’ boys year 9, year 10 and year 11 teams were all winners of their categories, as was the girls year 12 team over the vast ancient woodland.

But south Cumbria had cause to celebrate as Backbarrow’s Natalie Beadle (Cartmel Priory) retained her title in the girls year 9 category and Hannah Cleary-Hughes (Lancaster Girls Grammar), also from Backbarrow, finished second in the girls year 8 competition.

Sarah Jones from St Bernard’s, Barrow finished third in the girls year 10 contest.

Ulverston student Jack Wright was second in the boys year 13 event while fellow south Cumbrian’s Matthew Penellum (Chetwynde) and Carl Edmunds (Furness College) also mapped their routes to second places in Hertfordshire.