WMOC 01

Once every four years, the focus of British summer orienteering moves to the English Lake District, for the Lakes 5 event, and FVO has a tradition of victory in the races over tough open terrain. Here's the event diary from this year's Lakes 5, which saw five FVO athletes on the overall podiums at the end of competition.

Day 1

All of Britain's rain from the last four weeks seems to be falling specifically on the Lake District right now, but that didn't prevent the FVO contingent from recording seven podium finishes, including four class wins on the first day of the 2019 Lakes 5 Days.

Jamie Goddard was most impressive in carving out a 50 second margin to take the spoils in M14A, finishing in 37.00 for his first win of the year. Martin Dean renewed his long-time battle with John Tullie in M60, and was victorious by 74 seconds, coming home in 51.42. Hazel Dean's victory margin was more pronounced in W55, a comfortable seven minutes over Kari Kristiansen (Sandefjord), but the most impressive individual display of the day was by Ru Flint, who won the M16B race by a mind-boggling 37 minutes, recording a time of 57,16.

Laura Hindle is well placed in W20L, snagging 2nd place today in a time of 49.01, while Laura Hendrie scored the second place finish in W21S (52.41). The victory parade was completed by Cathy Tilbrook, who worked hard for 3rd spot in W50L (66.16).

Day 2

Five more podium places for FVO athletes on day two of the Lakes 5.

Performance of the day must be Fiona Hendrie. Having elected to run up no fewer than three age classes, Fiona claimed 2nd place in the W40 short race, in a time of 50.26.

Two of Sunday's heroes continued their dominance of their class; Ru Flint's winning margin in M16B was a mere 13 1/2 minutes as he romped home in 41.30, while Hazel Dean scrapped out a 40 second lead in W55 to return in 47.37.

Jon Cross manouvered his way into contention in M50, with a solid 51,23 in a near error-free round, while Martin Dean was runner-up to John Tullie today in M60 (47.07) but retains the overall lead in the class.

Just off the podium, Roger Goddard (M40 - 62.19) and Cathy Tillbrook (W50 - 50.18) remain in contention with 4th place finishes today.

Day 3

As the Lakes 5 Days reaches its mid point, there were nine FVO athletes on the podium today in the first of the forest (as opposed to mountain) stages.

Jon Cross gave the M50 class a good shakeup by taking the victory today, in 56.35,and is well in contention for the honours come week-end. Hazel Dean had her third victory of the week in W55, by 8 1/2 minutes this time (46.17) and Martin Dean regained the ascendancy in M60, with a 54.07 time good for the win. Ru Flint, too, made it a hat-trick of class wins on the week, with a nine minute margin in M16B (41.53).

Jamie Goddard was just ten seconds off the lead in M14, returning in 31.42 for 2nd place, while Roger Goddard continued his good form in M40, with 3rd place today (73.08).

Third place finishes also for Laura Hindle (W20 - 62.01) and Fiona Hendrie (W40S - 51.47), while Rachel Hendrie had her first outing of the week with third place in the light green social class (38.11).

Rest Day

Rest day today at the Lakes 5, but no day off for the nine FVO athletes who competed with honour in the urban race in Ulverston.

Best of the FVO contigent was Laura Hendrie, who took 2nd place in the Green womens match, in a time of 35.03. Laura led the race up to the 12th control, but a 38 second drop on #13 pushed her back into second spot. Fiona Hendrie was 7th (5th SuperVet) in the same race (36.40).

Laura Hindle snagged 4th spot in the elite womens Brown classification(56.13) where she was 25th overall behind a horde of veteran men. One of these was Paul Hammond, who was 6th overall (42.54).

There are few opportunities for juniors to race in urban terrain, and Rebecca Hammond made the most of her chance today, placing 4th overall, and 2nd girl in the Young Junior race (22.24).

Day 4

Moving day at the Lakes 5, with many of the athletes bubbling under the podium positions making a desperate effort to improve their form.

Hazel Dean's fourth consecutive stage win gives a very strong position going into the final round, although today's margin was a slim six seconds from Norway's Kari Christiansen (45.56).

Fiona Hendrie is within striking distance of the overall lead in W40S, as she overcame both of the high ranked athletes in the class today, finishing 2nd in 47.28 to boost her coefficient.

Laura Hindle consolidated her bronze medal placing in W20L with another solid run today, drawing another 3rd place ranking (51.20).

Ru Flint's run of wins in M16B came to an end today, as he was 8 1/2 minutes down on Ireland's John Spelman (45.33). However he has sufficient points in the bag already that he should be atop the podium come tomorrow evening.

Outside the podium places today, but still in with a major chance of honours are Roger Goddard (4th in M40 today - 71.06), Martin Dean (5th in M60 today - 53.11) and Cathy Tilbrook (4th today in W50 - 55.13), as well as Jon Cross (M50), who was 3rd fastest today on his course, but was relegated for a miss.

Day 5

Lakes 5 concluded today with five FVO athletes on the podiums in their respective classes. Jamie Goddard was once again in fine form with 2nd place today (23.22) handing him the Bronze medal in M14A. Ru Flint was out on his own at the head of the M16 short race, claiming his 4th win of the week (34.22), and topping the podium in M16B.

Martin Dean didn't go today, and was pushed back into Silver medal position in M60L, while Laura Hindle snapped up an excellent Silver in W20L, with a consistent set of scores. Hazel Dean was toppled from the top of the W55 standings today, finishing 3rd (37.23), but her four wins from the rest of the week gave her a comfortable gold medal. Although Dawn Goddard didn't get on the podium in W50S, she did have the pleasure of bookending her week with another bronze medal performance today.

Fiona Hendrie was 2nd in W40S, but didn't make the podium, as the organisers elected only to honour the class winners on the short courses.