Last updated 19:42, Thursday, 26 June 2008

A COOL and sunny evening on Leaps Beck near Ennerdale gave perfect racing for West Cubmerland Orienteering Club’s evening event.

The score format allowed competitors to get as many controls as possible in 45 minutes, valued at 20 points each.

However, runners had to visit four master maps spread around the area to find out where the controls were. Map memory and route choice proved crucial to success.

Michael Noblett amassed a maximum score of 300 points with four minutes to spare. Others found the going tough, with Chris Emerson in second having to leave two controls out from his route around the area.

On the short Jo Smith had a comfortable win from Andrew Warner with an almost two-minute margin, although both with the same score of 160.

The easy course attracted a great turnout, with many moving from the school events, to try the open fellside rather than school playing fields!

Esther Moore produced a fine performance, taking 23.31 for the 2.4km course. Jack Davis, just a few minutes adrift took second.

The sixth event in the Cumbrian Galoppen series, on Sunday, brought very tough conditions. The open fellside at Watermillock near Ullswater was buffeted by strong winds and driving rain.

Michael Noblett got on with the job and produced a superb win on the brown course, taking 66.33 for 8.8km with 505m of climb, almost five minutes clear of Kim Collison in second.

Graham Hemingway battled with the conditions to take second on blue, 7.1 km with 380m of climb. Charlotte Watson was just four minutes behind in fifth.

The club did well though, with many valuable Galoppen points being gained.

With the prospect of some pleasant summer weather to come there are many club events planned for the coming months.

Details of the regular Thursday evening events are available on the website www.lakes-o.freeserve.co.uk and on the answerphone 01768 895539. These events have courses to suit all abilities.

Leaps results (top 10s) - Long: 1, Michael Noblett 300, 41.28; 2, Chris Emerson 260, 44.06; 3, Chris Pollitt 260, 48.55; 4, Jeff Goodwin 260, 50.41; 5, Howard Leslie 260, 54.22; 6, Andrew Bradley 240, 44.01; 7, John Slater 240, 44.39; 8, Alan Irving 240, 51.21; 9, Graham Watson 200, 39.50; 10, Douglas Tickner 200, 52.02.

Short: 1, Jo Smith 160, 43.38; 2, Andrew Warner 160, 45.17; 3, Ged Hagan 160, 45.19; 4, Kim Leslie 160, 46.40; 5, Fran McDonald 160, 51.15; 6, Colin Southall 160, 51.51; 7, Michael Green 140, 37.14; 8, John Howell 140, 45.26; 9, Nathaniel Green 140, 46.03; 10, Penny Kingsland 140, 50.35.

Easy: 1, Esther Moore 23.31; 2, Jack Davis 27.07; 3, Mitchell Sloan 28.50; 4, Matthew Harper 30.22; 5, Raymond Nelson 32.56; 6, Patricia Howell 33.30; 7, Edward Hellen 34.16; 8, Philip Jennings 38.03; 9, Anna Davis 39.04; 10, Matthew Atkinson 43.26.

Watermillock results - Yellow: 2, Esther Moore 15.19.

Orange: 7, Alex Wilcock 38.22.

Light green: 3, Nathaniel Green 35.03; 6, Michael Green 46.19; 7, Katrina Hemmingway 49.01; 11, Paul Tickner 52.08; 13, Louise Hagan 54.26.

Green: 5, Roger Jackson 48.27; 6, Ged Hagan 48.35; 19, Kim Leslie 54.28; 20, Margaret McKenzie 57.48; 23, Syd Thomas 58.22; 25, Douglas Tickner 58.51; 33, Joyce Hemingway 65.15; 41, Fran McDonald 82.25.

Blue: 2, Graham Hemingway 61.33; 5, Charlotte Watson 65.41; 8, Howard Leslie 72.41; 11, Susan Skinner 79.15; 12, Roger Thomas 80.05; 22, Nick Moore 91.37; 23, Penny Bibby 94.13.

Brown: 1, Michael Noblett 66.33; 2, Kim Collison 71.05; 7, Neil Hamblin 81.07; 9, John Slater 82.05; 14, Bobby Hagan 88.53; 15, Jeff Goodwin 92.57; 16, Martin Skinner 93.28; 18, Collin Valentine 97.36; 20, Malcolm Ruckledge 112.27.