Strong performances by Moravian Orienteers at Scottish Orienteering League event near Aviemore and junior inter-regional championships in Wales

Moravian Orienteers sent a strong contingent to the penultimate Scottish Orienteering league race of the year in the beautiful woodlands south of Aviemore.

The courses, which were unusually long, made the most of the highly technical glacial moraine with its combination of areas of steep and deep holes and other parts with very vague contour features. This resulted in some very long times and some very tired but mostly happy competitors.

There were some stand-out Moravian performers on the day.

Kate McLuckie not only won the women's 16-and-under event, but also the course incorporating numerous other classes.

Neil McLean won the men's 80+ and was in fifth place on a course which was won by a man 30 years younger than him.

Morag McLuckie possibly had her lifetime best run in winning the women's 50+ by a big margin and coming third overall on a very competitive course.

Also of note were the members who completed their courses after numerous errors meant that they were out for very long times.

The determination and tenacity that this takes is truly inspiring. In particular, Scarlett Britain was out for nearly two-and-a-half hours, and Elizabeth Holmes, very new to the sport, having won a Scottish Score Championship trophy just two weeks ago, found this a very different proposition, but completed in two-and-a-quarter hours.

Five of our top juniors were missing as they were helping Scotland to win the junior inter-regional championships in often densely vegetated sand dunes in South Wales.

Isobel Howard came a very close second out of 33 in women 18-and-under, and Sophie Howard came ninth out of 29 in women 16-and-under.

Anna Howard was eighth out of 23 in women 14-and-under, Michael Bishenden came tenth out of 33 in men 18-and-under and Finlay McLuckie came 12th out of 32 in men 16-and-under.

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