Bomb squad strikes at Barry Range
FVO checked out from the firing ranges at Barry Buddon and the 2025 Scottish Championships in the custody of a baker's dozen of national titles on yet another banner day for the club, with success right across the posse (numbering 98 on the day, or 20% of the entire event entry) from under 10 to over 75 classes.
Leo Lockyer made his championship debut, as he was solo for the first time, and he scooped the M10 title in 37.10, ahead of Ethan Baikie (38.38), who had the silver. The girls were on top on the course though, with much the better times, and Emma Cheyne's 32.15 was good enough only for the W10 bronze.
Sophie Edward is now racking up the medals, and W12 gold (45.02) is her fifth win from six big race starts in 2025, the sixth being a 30 second reverse for silver in the JK. She was joined atop the U12 podium by team-mate Lachlan Carruthers (35.20), as he had his first championship win, again on his Long course debut.
No messing about from Lucas Baikie, as a time of 41.43 brought him the M14 gold medal, and Esme Kelly topped her Scottish Long podium for the first time, taking the W in 52.40. Meanwhile in M20, James Hammond suffered a rare course defeat by another British junior, as he was 2nd on the course (68.07), but lifted the class gold.
Not so long ago, Kris Jones was one of the stars of world orienteering, culminating in a World Championship silver in 2022. However, he's been focusing on other running disciplines recently, but the proximity of the championship to his home base tempted him out for a trot and back into the blue and gold camp again.
Off the first start in M21E, he looked like posting an audacious victory, with a time of 89.36, before the final starter got inside his score, pushing him back into silver.
Defending W21 champ Alison Smithard may have changed her name and her colours since last year, but not her quality. Deciding late in the day to act her age and run in W40 this time, there was no drop in class, as she romped home in 66.58 for another title.
There's a new sheriff in town in M35, and a new name to many, but Tom Winsor did the necessary to bring FVO another major honour. Tom, an army regular, rotates his allegiance between FVO and BAOC, but his time of 92.03 was done this time in our colours.
Janine Inman hasn't lost a Scottish Long race since 2013, with her only misses coming in two years she wasn't able to go to the start, and her 4th straight W45 title came in 61.49. Wee brother Will Hensman also got in on the action, with his 7th Scottish Long title scored in 58.39, although he was behind an ineligible athlete. Dom Edward claimed the M45 bronze (63.53).
This was one of three middle-Vet classes which had two FVO athletes on the podium. Dave Godfree extended his unbeaten run in the champs to five years as he picked up the M50 gold in 55.19. with Roger Goddard 61.00 in silver, while in M55, Jason Inman took the honours (61.52) again behind an ineligible athlete, and Ben Stansfield won the silver (63.06).
There was more success on the distaff side, as Beccy Osborn (71.09) came in ahead of Rachel Kirkland (74.02) in W50 for silver and bronze respectively. Joey Inch had her best championship run in at least 20 years, as she took away the W55 silver (75.03).
And there's another double in W60, as Alison Cunningham (62.49) and Heather Fellbaum (70.57) led the field home. Last but by no means least, there are medals in the over 75 classes for Geoffrey (64.01) and Lindsey Hensman (69.12), silver for Gee and bronze for Lindsey, both of them with their best run to date.
The Short classes don't have medals, but Cammy Lockyer (M12), Katie Hensman (W18), Lucy Hensman (W20), Laura Hendrie (W21V), Brad Connor (M55), Rona Molloy (W55) and Val Finch (W70) all topped their class, Jack Cheyne was 2nd in M45 and Colin Matheson was 3rd in M70.