1-2-3, a Relay
The Scottish Relay Championships brought major FVO success, with local teams collecting a round dozen medals at Grandtully, near Pitlochry, including a shutout on one class.
FVO won the under 44 race last year, and filled the entire podium this time round, as Matthew Owen, Sean Truswell and Lucas Baikie won in 55.07. from Hannah Inman, Lachlan Carruthers and Fraser Cheyne (55.25) with Esme Finch, Sophie Edward and James Edward 3rd in 65.12. The under 36 title slipped away after three years of dominance, but there was still a class medal, as Freya McLennan, Lucy Finch and Luc Darvill came away with the bronze (96.00).
The Men's Open race was first into the terrain, and the battle on paper appeared to be between EUOC, with eight wins in the last nine years, and perennial runners-up FVO. Chris Smithard made the first mark of the race, as he took 76 seconds off the students on the opening leg to hand over in the lead to Andy Llewellyn.
EUOC was soon back in contention, and went ouf for the closer holding a 26 second advantage. Graham Gristwood posted the quckest time on the final leg, but was an agonising 10 seconds adrift at the end, as the team picked up the silver medal.
The Women's Open race had a smaller than normal field, with just six competitive teams going to the line, and Scarlett Kelly, Esme Kelly and Clare Stansfield were much closer to the front than was expected, finishing 57 seconds behind EUOC for the silver medal.
One of the major features of the Scottish Relays is the handicapping system, based on team age, which is designed to bring all the teams back at the same time. Clearly the +23 FVO team didn't get the memo, as they were way out in front from the get-go, and Alison Cunningham, Hazel Dean and Jason Inman were done and dusted in just 90.35 to win not only the class gold but also the overall handicap trophy.
The blue and gold runners kapt pouring into the arena at this point, and Heather Fellbaum, Rona Molloy and Will Hensman were next back, in 94.06 for the +20 gold and the handicap silver, and shortly afterwards, Hugh Buchanan, Louise Longhurst and Paul Hammond arrived in 102.16 for the +20 bronze.
There was an FVO 1-2 on the +14 podium, where Sarah Rollins, Fiona Berrow and Dominic Edward won gold in 100.50, holding Rob Truswell, Simon Hunt and Mark Wood (106.19) into silver, and the final silverware of a memorable day came in +8, where Peter Owen. Dave Godfree and Matthew Inman took the bronze in 116.13.