Culbin is the Costa del SOL for FVO
A large FVO contingent was in fine form at the first Scottish Orienteering League race of the year, at Culbin, Morayshire, with nearly nearly 30 athletes placing in the top 10 of their packed fields.
Graham Gristwood showed he's still the man to beat at the top level, as he won the Black course in 67.54 off a late start. Peter Molloy was 4th (70.38).
On Brown, Will Hensman was eased off the overall podium late in the day, but ended up 4th (78.15) with Laura Brown 6th (86.31), as the 3rd woman.
The Short Brown course saw four from FVO in the top 10, with Dom Edward 4th (70.51) ahead of Peter Owen in 6th (78.21); Paul Hammond (79.13) was one place back, and Rob Truswell (81.21) was 9th.
Blue had Scarlett Kelly (57.22) 3rd overall, and Ben Stansfield (58.48) was 5th, while there was a small logam on the Short Blue course, with Brad Connor (57.24), Lucas Baikie (60.31), Alison Cunningham (61.46) and Vicky Thornton (62.34) just below the podium in adjacent positions.
James Edward was 4th (72.29) on Green, and Isla Cheyne 9th (75.56) and on Very Short Green, Holly Stodgell took the silver medal (56.44) and Liz Godfree was 6th (93.46).
The younger juniors were well in evidence, with Matthew Owen 8th (48.28) on Light Green and Hannah Inman 10th (52.37). Lachlan Carruthers took the third podium finish of the day for the club, as he was 2nd (24.43) on Orange, while Sean Truswell (27.38) was 4th and Sophie Edward (34.42) was 8th. There was a well-stocked Long Orange course, and Lindsay Finch was 7th (68.17) on the newest course in the arsenal.
Catriona Downie was 7th (38.07) on Yellow, and a 6th for Oscar Baikie (24.14) was backed up on the same course by a 9th (28.06) from Simon Downie.
A local event at the Knock of Crieff gave more racing opportunities, with several athletes amongst the medals. Andy Johns won on the Green course, in 41.00, with Helena Carey 5th (59.46), and Liz Godfree one place behind (64.46). There was also an "Ultimate" Green course, with only the contour features on the map, and James Edward was 2nd (41.54) in the 3rd quickest time for the two courses combined. Cathy Tilbrook was 5th (51.21) and Mike Godfree was 10th (77.19).
Sophie Edward had her first experience of a TD5 course, and took to it like a duck, as she was 2nd as well (44.56) on a Short Green course, against the host club's HyperVets,