The annual CompassSport Cup and Trophy Final took place last weekend at Pippingford Park in Ashdown Forest, East Sussex.
On a lovely mellow autumn day, club teams that qualified from the regional heats assembled an exciting final. Pippingford offered a wonderful setting, overlooking a wooded valley and contoured open heathland that comprised the competition terrain.
Forth Valley Orienteers (FVO) approach the Cup each year with total commitment and make the journey to wherever the final is held. Bristol Orienteering Klub (BOK) won in 2017 and South Yorkshire Orienteers (SYO) in 2018, and so Forth Valley Orienteers (FVO) were hungry to regain the Cup they last won in 2016. The club assembled a great team, including international stars Graham Gristwood, Grace Molloy and Lizzie Stansfield. Each won their course and were supported in depth by other high performing team members. Forth Valley Orienteers (FVO) took first place, ahead of South Yorkshire Orienteers (SYO) in second, and a strong local showing by Southdowns Orienteers in third, who brought a team of approximately 120 runners.
The points have now been calculated, with the top three in each competition as follows:
1st: Forth Valley Orienteers (FVO) 2345 pts
2nd: South Yorkshire Orienteers (SYO) 2303 pts
3rd: Southdowns Orienteers (SO) 2203 pts
1st: Harlequins Orienteering Club (HOC) 1251 pts
2nd: West Anglian orienteering Club (WAOC) 1247 pts
3rd: Interlopers Orienteering Club (INT) 1240 pts
Photo (above) credit: Forth Valley Orienteers
Photo (above) credit: Mole Valley Orienteering Club
Organiser Simon Ling (Mole Valley Orienteering Club), says:
"Thanks to all who competed and congratulations to the winning clubs and individuals! The weather was fortunately kind to us on the day despite plenty of rain in the week before which left the ground conditions quite damp. Despite that nobody got stuck in the car park or in a bog. It was a privilege to arrange such a prestigious event but it could not have been done without dozens of willing helpers from my own club and others in SEOA – heartfelt thanks to you all. Tony Burton laid on some challenging courses and these seem to have been enjoyed by all. Mike Elliot oversaw the computer operation which ran extremely smoothly so we were able to announce the undisputed winners in good time."
Photos (above) credit: Mole Valley Orienteering Club
Photos (above) credit: Mole Valley Orienteering Club
Photos (above) credit: Mole Valley Orienteering Club
Congratulations to Forth Valley Orienteers and Harlequins Orienteering Club on both of their wins.
Full results are available here.
British Orienteering would like to thank Organiser Simon Ling (Mole Valley Orienteering Club), all other officials and all the club members from Mole Valley Orienteering Club (MVOC), Saxons Orienteering Club (SAX), Dartford Orienteering Klubb (DFOK), South London Orienteers (SLOW) for all their hard work and support in making this a successful event. Thank you to all clubs who travelled and took part in this event.