Moray youngsters take part in Swedish orienteering training camp
HALF a dozen Moravian juniors have taken part in a Scottish Junior Orienteering training camp in Sweden.
The camp happens every two years and its purpose is to allow the juniors to experience different terrains and approaches to orienteering.
Orienteering at this level involves running through complex terrain instead of around on paths, with a mix of training and competitions on offer at the camp.
The forests were vastly different from Scotland, being much faster to run through and, to the Moravians’ delight, having very few brambles and stinging nettles!
But this, plus the intricate features and lack of big hills, meant for the first couple days many went off the map into the unknown due to a lack of distinctive features.
The first competition for the keen orienteers was the Trekvallers middle distance race held near Stockholm.
The course was by a loch with gentle rolling hills, scattered with rocky features and a network of paths wiggling around the base.
Moravian's very own Kate McLuckie won the W18 category and Finlay McLuckie came second in the M16.
The next event was the Eskilstuna three days, which included one middle distance and two long courses across the three days.
All three events were held in the same area. Anna Howard competed at an amazing standard throughout the weekend, securing a silver on one of the longs and a bronze on the middle - leaving her in third overall.
Finlay McLuckie placed third on the middle day.
Micheal Bishenden and Scarlett Britain, though neither placed, got to partake in a 'chasing start' for the first time. This competition is given to elite runners on the final day. The person who is leading is set off first and then if somebody is a minute behind the winner on the other days, they are set off a minute behind.
Sophie Howard had a strong performance in a very competitive age category.
Elsewhere, the World Elite Sprint Orienteering Championships was hosted in Edinburgh City, with 17 Moravian orienteers taking part.
The opening spectator race was over Arthur’s Seat on July 10. Two Moravians tackled this, with Michael Bishenden an excellent 13th out of 87.
On July 11, Margaret Dearman was third in W75, Sophie and Anna Howard were fourth in W16 and W14 respectively, and Andrew Campbell and Eddie Harwood were fifth in M55 and M70 respectively.
July 12 saw the most fun event of the series, taking place within a university building. With many blocked passageways and staircase entries and 10 staircases visiting just some of the floors each, finding a good route addled the mind.
Results were topsy-turvy from standard events with physical fitness relatively unimportant. Isobel Howard won W20 with sister Sophie coming third in W16.
Kate McLuckie came third in W18, brother Finlay, only 15 years old, came fifth in M18.
M55 was particularly good as Steve Smirthwaite, restrained by atrial fibulation came third and Kenneth Anderson came 11th from 36 runners.
The chance to follow the sprint relay in the grounds of Herriot Watt was provided on July 13. M55 again had good pickings for Moravian, but with more normal names near the top. Andrew Campbell won with Colin Hall in third. Finlay McLuckie was second in M16, Anna Howard was third in W14 and Michael Bishenden fifth in M18.
Andrew Campbell and Colin Hall repeated their M55 presence with first and third again on July 14 in a long urban race, including all the city centre sights. Finlay McLuckie was second in M16 and Anna Howard came third in W14.
Runners were given the opportunity to run in Wester Hailes on July 15. Eddie Harwood was second in M70, Morag McLuckie was third in W55 with son Finlay also third in M16. Michael Bishenden was fourth in M18 with Colin Hall fifth in M55.
