STUOC Snags Student Success
Local orienteers were amongst the medals in a big race in the Trossachs, with Stirling University enjoying their best day of results to date.
The East of Scotland Championship was moved out of the east area for the first time, as Edinburgh University organised the event in the Trossachs, alongside the Scottish Student Championship, and even a late change to the courses, due to the unexpected felling of a swathe of forest, didn't dampen the spirits of more than a hundred participants.
Stirling University had an unexpected victory in the women's championship, ending a seven year run of Edinburgh victories, as Lizzie Horsler (60.34) took the individual bronze medal, and was backed up by Laura Brown (4th in 65.17) and Sophie Howard (6th in 70.24) for a comfortable win in the end. The Blue course also featured a number of non-student athletes, and was led overall by Chris Smithard, in 49.56, with Alison Smithard (66.56) as the 2nd placed non-student.
On the Brown course, James Hammond's term as Scottish Student champion came to an end, as he was two minutes off the win, back in 71.55 behind Heriot-Watt's Charlie Rennie. Steve Feltbower (90.38) and Marcus Pinker (91.55) were 2nd and 3rd non-students on the course.
Alison Cunningham (54.40) was 2nd overall on the Green course, and there was a double win on the student B course for Stirling's Orson Potter (69.10) and former FVO junior Katie Hensman, now in the colours of Aberdeen (71.55).
The Orange course saw STUOC's Mia McLintic take the C course win in 44.59, while the non-student class had an FVO hat-trick, for Ethan Baikie (58.27), Erin McDaid (98.06) and Freya McDaid (98.11). Oscar Baikie was the only competitor on the White course, but was back safely in 30.54.
The weekend also an Urban League race in Livingston, with wins for Hanna Brindley (Junior Women), Sean Truswell (Young Junior Men) and Sophie Edward (Young Junior Women). Rachel Kirkland (Veteran Women) and Alison Cunningham (SuperVet Women) also won their classes, with Heather Fellbaum as runner-up to Alison, while Dom Edward (Men's Open) and Mark Johnston (Veteran Men) were both 2nd, and Chris Kelly (Veteran Men) and Liz Godfree (HyperVet Women) claimed 3rd place finishes, as did Lucy Finch in Young Junior Women.