Not Just a Walk in the Park for FVO
Roger Goddard produced a superlative display of quick orienteering to take victory in the 18th Glasgow Parks Veteran Men's Championship, in an overall time of 44.31 across the three race legs.
The Glasgow Parks Championship is perhaps unique in Scottish orienteering terms, featuring three races in three different venues across a single day's competition, and the parkland setting produces some fast times for competitors.
Goddard was second in the day's first race, a sprint around Drumpelier Park, Coatbridge, finishing nine seconds down on Clyde's Patrick Walder. However, a good second race victory at Tollcross Park in 11.15 set up the chasing start in more familiar forest conditions at Pollok Country Park, and a 63 second winning victory margin established Goddard as the champion, coming home in 23.34 to take the title. Brad Connor was 5th overall, and Trevor Hoey 9th.
The Veteran Womens class featured three Forth Valley athletes, and Louise Longhurst laid down a blistering pace in the first race, finishing 74 seconds ahead of the field to take an early advantage. Clubmate Beccy Osborn responded to the challenge, and finished 2nd in both the second and third races to secure 2nd place overall behind ESOC's Alison Cunningham. Longurst's 3rd place in race three cemented 3rd place overall.
Gary Longhurst recovered from a sticky start to the day with two second places in the later races to claim 2nd place overall in the Super Veteran Mens class, behind Ian Maxwell of Roxburgh Reivers, who won all three races. Robert Neil was 7th overall.
Fiona Hendrie finished in 4th place in Super Veteran Women, while Abi Longhurst and Laura Hendrie were 4th and 6th respectively in the Womens Open class, which was won by Scottish international sprint specialist Kirstin Maxwell (Roxburgh Reivers).
Finally, the Young Junior class featured a ding-dong battle between Eilidh and Jamie Connor for the top prize. Eilidh won the first two races of the day to establish a 41 second lead going into the final race, but was run down in the middle stages. Jamie's hat-trick of 2nd place finishes secured him the title, with Eilidh finishing 2nd.
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