It's a Knockout!
Local orienteers were able to enjoy a unique racing experience as a group of young athletes staged a race day in an unsual format in Edinburgh, and three FVO stars came away with a medal.
Edinburgh University, with James Hammond as lead organiser, put on a Knockouot Sprint series in Wester Hailes, in aid of fnds for the GB team travelling to the Junior European Cup in Austria in September. The day was to the exact specification of a World Cup round, and on the area last used for the WOC'24 test event. Knockout Sprint, featuring head to head racing with first past the post progressing, is normally only a format enjoyed by elite athletes, and for many of those on show, it was their first experience of the event format.
Chris Kelly showed excellent form over the day to finish 3rd in the Open final, as he was back in 9.04, ahead of Paul Hammond (4th in 9.30) and Mark Wood (5th in 9.49).
Chris Smithard made it to the Elite final, where he was 5th (7.39) and the junior class saw Fraser Cheyne quickest in 9.16, while Hannah Inman was the fastest woman in the field (10.00)..
There were three FVO members in podium placings at two events 500 miles apart. Mark Nixon no longer races regularly, as his main focus is now on coaching but he was back in the form that took him to two World Championships in the Southdowns Orienteers Middle race at Friston Forest, as he headed the Black course in 42.04. Jon Cross was in contention to join him on the event podium, but dropped vital seconds on the second-last control of the Blue course to end up 4th (42.21).
Closer to home, Interlopers were out at Kinneil, in Bo'ness, and Chad Harrison, who only entered on the day, led the Light Green (the most techical course of the day) competitors in 33.56. There was also a rare Short Light Green course, and Steve Scott managed to scope out 2nd place in 49.34, consigning Ethan Harrison, who came to grief at mid-course when he had to be rescued from a ditch to 3rd in 53.39.
The junior squads for the various summer tours were announced this week, and eight FVO youngsters will join the party, as Esme Finch, Hannah Inman and Matthew Owen (U14), Lucas Baikie and James Edward (U15, Fraser Cheyne (U16), and Alexander Hunt and Esme Kelly (U17) were all included after successful trial races earlier in the year. The U18 squad is still to be named, with Scarlett Kelly and Peter Owen amongst those in contention.