COMPASSSPORT - Lakes 5
Lakeland 5-days Orienteering - UK - 5th - 12th July
www.CompassSport.co.uk / 13.08.2006
There were 5 stages spread throughout the week on a variety of forested and open areas which really tested a full range of orienteering techniques and physical abilities.
Day 1 was on Swindale near Shap; a relatively flat and fast open moorland, the assembly of which was the same as the campsite for last years KIMM! Day 2 moved to Graythwaite, and area previously used for a World Cup in 1998, the British Champs in 1999 and 2004s JK. It is a typical tough technical forest and winning times were much longer than expected. The M/W21s for example were 35%longer than Day 1 and subsequent days - most days being won just under the hour for both Men\'s and Women\'s 21L courses.
Day 3 was back to open moorland, but this time it was steeper and offered excellent views. Angle Tarns, close to Brotherswater will be familiar to those who run the Ian Hodgson Fell Running Relay.
By now it was clear to see who was in the running for overall victory. In the women\'s, an Under 21 from Lithuania\'s National Junior Team, Rasa Ptashekaite from OK Devyni had started the week running W20L but changed to the senior class when it looked like she had no competition. Hazel Dean from Forth Valley Orienteers, Stirling, Scotland is a former British Team member now in her early 40s. She had a couple of 2nds and a 7th by Day 3 and Anna Zetterberg from IF THOR in Uppsala, Sweden, despite miss punching on Day 2 and coming 6th on Day 1, won Day 3.
In the Men\'s, Jean Baptiste Bourrin and his teammate Benoit Peyvel had started well. Both French national Team members, Jean Baptiste led overall at this stage. James Logue from NWOC in Ireland and Irish Team member, meanwhile had also started well winning the first day. The Horwich Fell runner was at home in these fells. Finally, Nick Barrable, GB Squad member, also FVO like Dean, had won Day 3 after a shakey start to the week which was not to improve.
So on to Day 4 - Bannisdale - which was a new moorland area north of Kendal. The running was fast and very steep in places. Wins for Ptashekaite and Logue and onto the Final on Day 5. This was a mix of forest and moor on Limestone rock at Hampsfell in the southern Lakes by Grange-Over-Sands. All of the days remained dry and Day 5 got quite hot. Ptashekaite won securing the overall win, with Zetterberg second and Dean Third overall.
In the men, the unlikely event of a tie ensued. Logue won Day 5, with Bourrin 3rd, and on points (4 days from 5 count), they tied! Barrable ended in third. Full results at www.Lakes5@org.uk
Next years UK summer multi-event will be the Scottish 6-days (every 2 years) See www.scottish6days.com/ for more.
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