Forth Valley Orienteers

Big success in WEE races

Scarlett Kelly successfully defended her WEE titles

02 July, 2023

The 23rd FVO Wednesday Evening series came to a conclusion this week, with a mixture of old and new names on top of the leaderboard after the 13 race series.

James Hammond and Scarlett Kelly successfully defended their Green course titles, with Scarlett gaining an all-time high for a female competitor of 4th overall. Will Hensman's final week win at Braco moved him into 2nd place, one point ahead of Yotam Bertrand, while Esme Kelly and 2018 champion Rachel Kirkland filled out the womens podium.

James and Scarlett also retained their Top Junior crown, in James' case for the 6th time in seven years, as Louis Chapoy and Lucas Whitworth were also in contention in the Junior Mens category, while Esme Kelly and two-time winner Rebecca Hammond completed the womens honours list.

A Short Green class was added to the programme partway through the season, and there are first-time champions in both male and female categories. Geoff Martin's win at Braco brought him through into top spot, ahead of Geoffrey Hensman, who had led for much of the season, with Mark Johnston in 3rd place, while Katie Niven won the womens title having started the season on the Orange course . Eilidh Connor could have overtaken Katie in the final event, but was unable to pick up sufficient points at Ardoch, in the face of some fast men, and Beccy Osborn was 3rd, 30 points further back.

There were family doubles in both Orange and Yellow classes, as James and Sophie Edward, who only joined the club in April, were prominent throughout the season, and are worthy winners of the Orange class titles. Cammy Lockyer moved up from Yellow partway through the season, but was unable to gain sufficient points in his remaining races to catch James, and Finlay Gallagher, despite only racing four times was 3rd. Sophie passed Emma Godfree in the final week of the campaign to take her win, and Aayla Tijhuis was consistent in her races for 3rd place.

It was very much the Lockyer show in the Yellow class, as the trio occupied the top positions for the entire season, and Cammy held off a strong challenge from Leo to take his third straight Yellow class crown, leaving Harris Robertson in bronze medal position. Aurora is perhaps our youngest-ever champion, and even managed to beat both of her older brothers at Bonnyfield on week 6, as Lila Robertson and Rose Martin made up the class.

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