Run to the Hills
A large local contingent was out in force on one of the UK's very best areas, and there was significant success in the Scottish Orienteering League race at Glen Affric, particularly from juniors running out of class.
Land access issues mean that the area is seldom used, with the last running there being the 2015 World Championships, and Scarlett Kelly took advantage of the leading women being in a separate World Ranking event, where Clare Stansfield was the best-placed local, 5th in 143.21, to win W21 in 91.33, two classes higher than her current standard, as a warmup for next month's Junior European Cup in Switzerland.
James Edward and Fraser Cheyne made early steps into the M18 class, and were rewarded with podium finishes, James 2nd in 73.47 and Fraser three minutes back in 3rd (80.44)., and Hannah Inman took an audacious step up to run as a W18 and worked the front of the race hard for 6th place overall and 2nd in the age class (64.13). Also out of class, and on the podiums were Will Hensman and Roger Goddard, who were 2nd (88.13) and 3rd (91.42) in M40, while Rob Truswell was 2nd (104.42) in M45.
There was a timely "blast from the past" at the event, as Steve Nicholson, who planned the 2015 race, was in FVO colours for the first time since then, and looked like he's never been away, as he was 2nd (70.30) in M55. Louise Longhurst was 2nd (83.41) in W60 and Martin Dean (66.45) was 3rd in M65.
There was a full FVO podium in W55, where Jennifer Leonard took the win in 80.01, from Cathy Tilbrook (82.42) and Rona Molloy (83.24) was 3rd. Matthew Owen was one of the few juniors to run to colour, but he was rewarded with the Light Green course win in 27.45, as he topped M14, and Sophie Edward (39.39) was 2nd in W14. Ethan Baikie (68.38) headed the M12 competitors.
The supporting event was an Urban League race on a brand-new, but hilly area in Inverness, where Dominic Edward won Men's Open in 39.45, and there was a blue and gold 2-3 on Men's Vet, which saw Will Hensman (28.38) home in front of Mark Johnston (34.23).
Another medal double in the younger women Vet classes saw Rachel Kirkland win Women's SuperVet (28.25) and Alice McDaid (38.33) 2nd in Womens Vet, while Cathy Tilbrook was 3rd in Women's SuperVet (28.25). The medal haul was rounded off by Sophie Edward, who was 2nd (31.23) in Junior Women.