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Share  Tweet Thursday 18th August 2022

Lakes 5 Days races took place on a variety of technically challenging terrain

The 8th Lakes 5 Day event was hosted by the North-West Orienteering Association with each of the events being led by a North-West Orienteering Association club and friends. 

Border Liners Orienteering Club for Day 1, West Cumberland Orienteering Club for Day 2, Lakeland Orienteering Club for Days 3 & 4, and South Ribble Orienteering Club for Day 5.  Manchester and District Orienteering Club dealt efficiently with the computing throughout the week.

Day 2

Derek Allison, Lakes 5 Days Event Coordinator reports... 

The Forestry Commission informed us after we’d mapped Grizedale that many of the ‘best bits' were to be sold and possibly felled before our event and then extensive damage by Storm Arwen in November 2021 led to us not being able to use Grizedale twice; some competitors may have been glad of that. A late change of mind by staff at one of the Lake District agencies due to the possibility of people falling down a mineshaft also meant the loss of an initial Day 1 area so Swindale was pressed into action.

When 110mm of rain fell on the Monday before the event and the rivers of the Lake District became very bouncy, I thought here we go again. In 2018 we ‘lost’ two tents to the wind during the event and the incessant rain on day one meant the car parks for the week were a challenge. But this year, that was it for bad weather and the sun shone. So much so that we sent out a warning to competitors on Tuesday ‘Due to the Met Office heat warning for the next few days; could all competitors and their families please ensure that they are, and remain fully hydrated. Please bring sufficient water with you. For those expecting to take a longer time on their course, particularly on Thursday and Friday, please consider taking a hydration system with you.’ After 40 years of organising big events, this was a first for me! Although the first aid team had to deal with four competitors affected by the heat on Friday, with one escalated to an ambulance; they were all discharged in the finish field after hydrating. The ice cream van did a roaring trade and made a substantial donation to the event finances.

The races took place on the variety of terrain the Lakes have to offer, two open fell areas, with Day 2 having beautiful views across to Blencathra, the splendid oak woodland of Dale Park, and the tough Grizedale Forest, described by one competitor as ‘TD 6’ and the limestone of Helsington. All were technically challenging and a couple of new competitors from the south of England commented that the terrain was nothing like they’d seen before. Another feature of the comment was the praise for the high quality of the maps.  All days had a string course for the younger competitors.

Day 5
Day 5
Day 2

The main prizes for the event were trees planted on the Isle of Mull near Salen. Winners received a certificate with the exact ‘what 3 words’ location of their tree as part of the ‘trees not tees’ initiative, this seemed to be welcomed by competitors. All competitors received some Grasmere Gingerbread and other prizes including other local produce Kendal Mint cake and Cartmel Sticky Toffee puddings.

For those that want more of this, Dale Park will be used for the JK relay next Easter, and the current plans to use High Dam and Bigland for the individual forest days will enable a visit to top-quality terrain when the undergrowth is at its lowest. For those that would like to try to practice getting better on Lake District terrain; the Orienteering Foundation Coaching Day takes place on 24 September, find out more here.

Day 5

Photo credits:  OscarWilkinson_photograph (Official Photographer for Lakes 5-Days)

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British Orienteering would like to take this opportunity to thank the organisers, clubs, and members for all the hard work and commitment given to putting on such a great orienteering event over five days which has been enjoyed by many within the stunning Lake District.  

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