Will Hensman, Scottish Six Days 4, Creag Choinnich (c) Wendy Carlyle

The FVO posse repelled a serious Viking invasion to take six Sprint medals at the 2023 JK International Festival in north-west England.

Back in the day, the JK was a major fixture in the Scandinavian calendar, with hundreds of raiders from across the North Sea coming to the UK on the pillage for medals. Their numbers have dropped off significantly in recent years, but this year's festival has a large number of Scandi entrants, particularly from Norway, and the Brits have had to be on their toes to defend the Union flag.

James Hammond is off to Disneyland as he posted the quickest time by 20 seconds (14.48) in the combined M18/M20 Sprint to take the automatic qualification berth for JWOC. Will Hensman topped his class podium for the first time since 2016, as he won M40 at a canter in 14.30, while Cathy Tilbrook made her JK Sprint debut and collected a well-deserved Silver in W55 (13.51).

The FVO W60's came to Lancaster with all guns blazing, and were within five seconds of filling the podium. Alison Cunningham, in only her 2nd JK, won the title in a spectacular 12.36, with Heather Fellbaum 2nd in 13.43. Vicky Thornton was five seconds off the Bronze in 14.40. Another medal-winning debutante was Hannah Inman, whose time of 14.44 in W12 was good enough for Bronze.

Rachel Kirkland was 5th in W50, one place ahead of Chris Smithard's effort in M21E. There was a trio of 8th place finishes, for Esme Kelly (W14), Lizzie Horsler (W20) and Roger Goddard (M45), while Matthew Owen (M12) and Holly Stodgell (W20) were 9th, and a 10th place for Rebecca Hammond in W16 completed the top ten scores.

Additionally, and notwithstanding the seven athletes on debut, there were JK Sprint PBs for Mark Wood, Geoffrey Hensman, Rupert Parkinson, Chris Kelly, Ted Finch, Duncan Barker and Kate Kilpatrick.