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JK 2024 Report
Great results from a very muddy JK, with Luke Fisher winning M21E, Lucy Ward winning W14 Sprint and Middle, and 2nd in W14 middle/long overall, Laura Kitchin 2nd overall in W12 middle/long and 2 podium places in the men's relay ...
Thanks to Lorna Eades for this report from the JK!
Nearly 40 members of Interlopers made the journey down to this year's JK Easter orienteering festival This was held in the Midlands with the Sprint at Loughborough University, Day 2&3 on Beaudesert, Cannock Chase and the relay at Stanton Moor, near Matlock. Weather was a mixed bag throughout the weekend with the best of the days being the Friday Sprint event with a fine sunny Spring day (with occasional intense showers).
Day 1 Sprint
The Loughborough campus provided some tricky courses for the opening day. Podium performances for the Sprint came from Lucy Ward (W12) with an impressive 2 min Gold medal win over the rest of the field, Laurence Ward (M18E), bronze, Peter Hodkinson Gold and Freddie Carcas Bronze in M21E.
(Lucy Ward on the Sprint podium, credit Claire Ward)
Day 2 Middle
'Well that was muddy' was the theme of the day (and the following day only longer in it). Many a tale of falling headlong or knee deep in wallowing marsh/mud pits. Sadly a couple of misplaced controls rendered the M21 and W21 elite classes void. Top performers on the day were Innes Chepelin 11th (M12) Laurence Ward 6th (M18E), Laura Kitchin 2nd (W12), Lucy Ward 1st (W14), Bethan Kitchin 13th (W16), Claire Ward (W45L) 2nd and Heather Hartman (W50L) 8th.
(Laura Kitchin, credit Claire Ward)
Day 3 Long
More of the same mud...only much longer fun out in it. Top individual performances: Innes Chepelin 5th (M12) Laurence Ward 5th (M18E), Luke Fisher (M21E1) 1st, Freddie Carcas (M21E1) 10th, Laura Kitchin 2nd (W12), Lucy Ward 2nd (W14), Mairi Eades (W21E) 7th, Aoife McCavana (W21E) 14th, Claire Ward (W45L) 4th, Kate Kitchin (W45S) 5th, Heather Hartman (W50L) 6th and Jane Carcas (W55S) 3rd.
Overall from Day1&2 combined: Innes Chepelin 10th (M12) Laurence Ward 5th (M18E), Laura Kitchin Silver (W12), Lucy Ward Silver (W14), Bethan Kitchin 13th (W16), Claire Ward (W45L) Bronze and Heather Hartman (W50L) 5th and Kate Kitchin (W45S) 6th. Note M and W21E same as Day 2.
(Luke Fisher, credit Rob Lines)
Day 4 Relays
Day 4 brought a shift northwards to Stanton Moor in the Peak District near Matlock and a change in terrain to rocky torrs and alot less mud. Interlopers fielded 3 strong teams in the Mens and 2 in the Women's premier class, Womens short, Mens 165+, W48- and mixed adhoc so a great spread across the age classes. As defending Men's premier champions, stakes were high to make the first team, but could we go for more than one team on the podium?
Mens premier was first off , Eddie Narbet returning in 2nd place, Aidan Smith in 7th and Freddie in 8th. Leg 2 saw positions changing around with James dropping 1 place but sending Sasha out in 3rd along with Peter Hodkinson after Luke Fisher pulled the 2nd team up into 4th to hunt down FVO and EUOC. By the spectator control both had reeled in Euan Tryner from EUOC but Peter Molloy remained tantalising 20-30 seconds ahead. After a very tight final loop all 4 teams finished within 30s with Interlopers in 2nd and 3rd for the podium. Our 3rd team of Aiden, Ben Stevens and Colm Moran finished a respectable 12th.
Next up the Women's premier with 2 teams on the start line for the first time in several years which was fab to see. First leg saw Jura MacMillan and Pippa Carcas return in 7th and 8th respectively. Aiofe McCavana and Roanne Lilley pulled up places to bring the teams up to 4th and 5 respectively and into contention for a podium should SYO's second team falter. Final leg saw Mairi Eades and Louise Adams gain on 3rd place but not quite enough to gain a position on the podium, however finishing 4th and 6th team respectively and marking a fantastic return to the top end of the Women's premier class.
Our Women's short team of Claire Ward, Jane Carcas and Heather Hartman finished 7th. Mens 165+ (Colin Eades, Max Carcas and Andy Kitchin) 18th, Junior Intermediate women-48 (Bethan Kitchin, Laura Kitchin and Lucy Ward) 7th and our final team running in the mixed adhoc (Graham McIntyre, Joy Hodkinson and Mo McIntyre) 13th.
(Peter Hodkinson and Sasha Chepelin, credit Rob Lines)
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