Moravian Orienteers impress at Scottish middle distance championships and opening Scottish League event
Two major Scottish orienteering competitions brought the best out of Moray competitors over a range of ages.
The Moravian Orienteers club was well represented at the Scottish middle distance championships in Inverness, and the opening Scottish League event which was hosted by the Moray club.
The brother-and-sister duo of Finlay and Kate McLuckie again did Moravian proud in the Scottish champs, which were held at Dallaschyle, just outside Cawdor and hosted by the Inverness orienteering club.
A total of 26 Moray competitors took part with Finlay and Kate again the club’s junior medal winners, Finlay taking silver in men’s 18-and-under while Kate won bronze in the same age group for females.
Julia Ross (W14-) and Anna Howard (W16-) both just missed the podium as they finished fourth.
Veteran Eddie Harwood was first in the male 70+ age range, while building on the good work of her children, Morag McLuckie was second by just 18 seconds in the women’s 50+ and Rob Parkinson was third (second eligible Scot) in M65+.
In the past when Inverness and Moravian have hosted an event each on a weekend, Moray has without exception had the better of the weather.
But this was the exception as the Highland event enjoyed warm and sunny weather, whereas when Moravian staged the Scottish League opener, there was steady rain and a cold, northerly wind - though later dry and reasonable for running.
The quality of the terrain for both events attracted exceptionally high attendances including many up from England.
A total of 420 competitors took part in the league event in the east end of Culbin Forest based from Binsness.
Moravian member Jon Hollingdale planned out some longer courses, with the elite one being some 12.7km with 230 metres of climbing. The winning time was an impressive 67 minutes considering most of it is off paths and the actual distance covered will be significantly greater.
This season the Scottish League events will all include a course designed for runners wanting a decent length outing whilst being technically fairly easy, and this attracted a rise in numbers from past efforts with 19 involved.
Newcomers to the club took full advantage with Joe Glennie (M45+) taking second, Eliot Maxwell (M16-) third and Jennifer Humphreys (W21+) fifth.
One of the youngest competitors, Grace Malcolm (10-and-under) was fourth - and first girl - on the beginners’ white course while Harriet Ross was second on the slightly harder yellow course in the same age group.
On the very short technical course (3.6km) there was a family success with Alan Halliday first male 70+ home while his wife Jane was fourth, and first veteran lady.
Steve Smirthwaite was third on the short technical course and Anna Howard was ninth, and second 16-and-under female on the longer short blue course.
A total of 54 Moravians competed in addition to many that helped organise and didn’t run.