The Hambleden estate on the river Thames between Henley and Marlow was home to the 2020 British Night Championships on the 22 February. The event was planned by Neville Baker, and organised by John Dalton, both of TVOC.

Report by John Dalton, Organiser, Thames Valley Orienteering Club

Those that remember the JK in 2013 will recall that Hambleden is open, hilly, but fast, with very little vegetation or brashings to impede progress. However at night, the area proved to present significant challenges to the unwary.

Charlie Somers Cocks, previous holder of the W55 trophy, and new winner of the W60 class, said:  “I really enjoy night orienteering. I was encouraged with the description that Hambleden was one of the best areas in the south of England. It did not disappoint. I quickly found a really runnable wood with some intricate detail in places that was well-mapped and controls that were fairly hung”.

Organiser, John Dalton, said:  “We organised a large marquee for the event and were delighted that a large crowd gathered inside to see the finishers run in to it. The atmosphere was great, and the crowd stayed to watch the trophy and medal ceremony”.

The M21L trophy was retained yet again by Graham Gristwood of Forth Valley Orienteers, who covered the 11.9km and 380m course in just over 60 minutes. He beat second-placed Ben Mitchell of Swansea Bay Orienteering Club by seven minutes. Philip Vokes of Octavian Droobers was third.

The W21 trophy was won by Megan Carter-Davies of Mid Wales Orienteering Club who took 54 minutes for her 8.3km / 300m course. She beat Sarah Rollins from Southern Navigators by over eleven minutes, with Chloe Haines from West Anglia Orienteering Club coming in third.

Other notable winners included Ursula Oxburgh, also from West Anglia Orienteering Club, who retained her W85 class win.