Last updated 19:31, Thursday, 27 November 2008

WEST Cumberland Orienteers took some very valuable Galoppen points at the recent league event at High Brow, near Ullswater.

Three course wins, Steve Birkinsahw on Brown, Nathaniel Green on Lt Green, and Sam Pagett on Orange, with many other good placings ensured a set of strong performance figures.

A good turnout in quite poor weather gave excellent competition. It was only the later starters that had to contend with driving sleet.

There is just one further event in the 2008 Galoppen, with the opportunity to get the points to keep their hands on the trophy. The overall scores are quite close this year, with neighbouring club Lakeland OC putting in a strong challenge, currently with their noses just slightly ahead.

The evening event at Rannerdale enjoyed mild and dry conditions, and provided very exciting racing. The area is complex fellside with numerous marshes, boulders, crags and contour shape.

In the dark, accurate navigation is essential for success. Finding the control marker beside a boulder on the fellside demands concentration and careful map reading.

Alan Irving took the 4.2km long course, with Graham Hemingway and Charlotte Watson in close pursuit.

Tom Cowton, in one of his rare appearances, dominated the short course with a two-and-a-half-minute lead over Susan Skinner.

The youngsters on the easy course were more than up to the challenge, with Millie Park taking the 1.7km course in less than 13 minutes – a very impressive run!

The winter series continues throughout December and January, with all the details on the website www.wcoc.co.uk.

A lot of the venues are easily accessible, and will have courses suitable for all abilities. Details are also available on the club answerphone 01768 895539.

Galoppen Results:

Yellow: 4, Lois Jefferson 15.59; 6, Kate Skinner 19.40; 9, Matthew Whitby 28.08; 13, Heather Eaton 38.18.

Orange: 1, Sam Pagett 18.17; 3, Stuart Pyper 19.45; 5, Heather Wornham 21.42; 6, Paul Eaton 21.56; 10, Alice Rea 24.11; 13, Adam Pagett 26.48; 16, Jenny Bradley 30.23; 17, Richard Wilson 31.06; 18, Lesley Wornham 32.10.

Lt Green: 1, Nathaniel Green 23.40; 3, Michael Green 32.15; 5, Hannah Bradley 33.56; 8, John Cowper 37.47; 9, Gavin Moore 42.23; 11, Hugh Guise 44.05; 12, Jenny Jennings 44.07; 13, Gwen Rea 45.00; 15, Jon Eaton 49.36; 18, Hannah Skinner 53.10; 19, Marguerite Pennell 54.27; 22, Margaret Angus 59.03; 24, Alison Wilson 65.51.

Green: 3, Margaret Mackenzie 36.55; 4, John Noblett 37.07; 5, Michael Pearson 37.38; 6, Angela Ball 39.49; 8, Ged Hagan 40.12; 12, Roger Jackson 41.07; 17, Andrew Warner 42.51; 22, Douglas Tickner 45.34; 36, Colin Southall 51.21; 37, Richard Cummings 51.43; 41, Paul Tickner 53.30; 43, Dave Fenwick 54.07; 44, Brian Wilson 54.14; 50, Angela Jackson 57.31.

Blue: 2, Martin Skinner 51.41; 3, Helen Winskill 51.51; 4, Phil W & Lloyd T 52.05; 9, John Taylor 55.04; 14, Howard Leslie 56.21; 15, Nick Moore 56.40; 16, Chris Pollitt 57.03; 17, Matthew Ball 57.26; 18, Mike Harrison 57.31; 21, Debbie Thompson 59.16; 26, Chris Emerson 60.53; 32, Tony Duncan 65.14; 33, David Downes 65.24; 40, Penny Bibby 68.39; 46, Susan Skinner 71.45; 48, John Bacon 73.18; 49, Rob Holder 75.14; 52, Syd Thomas 79.46.

Brown: 1, Steve Birkinshaw 57.03; 2, Kim Collison 65.06; 6, Alan Irving 68.49; 7, Christopher Brand-Barker 69.09; 9, Charlotte Watson 72.16; 13, Jeff Goodwin 75.23; 17, Graham Watson 82.44.

Rannerdale Results:

Long: 1, Alan Irving 40.09; 2, Graham Hemingway 41.31; 3, Charlotte Watson 44.38; 4, Pete Nelson 45.01; 5, Jeff Goodwin 46.42; 6, John Slater 49.10; 7, Kevin Hodgson 51.15; 8, Chris Pollitt 51.36; 9, Julian Lailey 52.13; 10, David Downes 52.37; 11, Roger Jackson 54.50; 12, Matthew Ball 55.32; 13, Alistair Arnott 57.33; 14, Mike Harrison 59.27; 15, Chris Emerson 64.17; 16, John Bacon 64.39; 17, Kate Charles 74.00; 18, Paul Jennings 75.24; 19, Chris Roberts 77.54; 20, Steve Breeze 81.23; 21, Alice Crook 123.26.

Short: 1, Tom Cowton 31.27; 2, Susan Skinner 33.51; 3, Sam Pagett 38.22; 4, Brian Wilson 38.48; 5, Richard Cummings 40.03; 6, Hannah Bradley 40.18; 7, Annette Milburn 40.22; 8, Laurence Cowton 40.40; 9, Ged Hagan 41.59; 10, Stuart Thompson 42.02; 11, Angela Ball 48.16; 12, Nathaniel Green 49.50; 13, Michael Green 54.22; 14, Angela Jackson 55.31; 15, Tony Pennick 58.14; 16, Pam Ward 88.42; 17, Jill Frankland 88.52.

Easy: 1, Millie Park 12.44; 2, Niamh Hunter 14.59; 3, Matthew Armstrong 16.17; 4, Thomas Howis 16.23; 5, Chris Wood 17.24; 6, Don Scarrott 21.19.