Last updated 19:50, Thursday, 23 October 2008

WEST Cumberland Orienteers did well in the CompassSport Cup competition at Sutton Park, near Birmingham, at the weekend.

Having qualified earlier in the year at one of the northern rounds, the club went head to head against all the top clubs in the country, with almost 1,000 competitors taking part.

The competition was spread over eight courses, with 25 scoring runners to make the club total. With the various clubs having varying strengths in the age and sex categories, the result was unclear until the final few runners finished their courses.

WCOC had wins for Mhairi Mackenzie on blue (women) in 41.27 for 7.3km and Mike Pearson on green (men) with a time of 37.47 for 5.4km.

On the 4.5km light green the juniors scored well. Lewis Taylor was sixth in 24.38 and Chris Brand-Barker was 12th in 27.05. First lady Charlotte Watson was 19th in 29.07. Rosie Watson was 14th on the 3.4km orange course.

WCOC ended the day in a very creditable ninth having scored 1,399 points.

The Thursday evening event was a delightful run around the streets of Cockermouth in mild conditions with the gloomy evening light soon making map reading a problem.

Once again the juniors dominated the long course, with many of them knowing the area so well. Chris Brand-Barker took a clear winning margin over Charlotte Watson.

The night series begins in November when the clocks change and give dark conditions. The early venues give the opportunity to try night navigation on relatively easy terrain.

Navigating in the dark with a torch is a very exciting challenge. Finding the control marker beside the feature after careful navigation gives a great sense of achievement.

And the not-to-be-missed Spook-O will be held at Whinlatter on October 30.

Details of the various events can be found on the website www.wcoc.co.uk and on the answerphone 01768 895539.

Cockermouth results – Long: 1, Chris Brand-Barker 25.08; 2, Charlotte Watson 26.34; 3, Lewis Taylor 26.41; 4, Ben Emerson 28.26; 5, Graham Hemingway 32.17; 6, Alistair Arnott 33.12; 7, Nick Moore 33.23; 8, David Downes 33.29; 9, John Taylor 34.16; 10, Bob Barnby 34.24; 11, Rosie Watson 34.26; 12, Graham Watson 34.27; 13, Susan Skinner 36.34; 14, Roger Jackson 36.38; 15, Malcolm Ruckledge 36.42; 16, Chris Pollitt 36.43; 17, Katrina Hemingway 37.13; 18, Chris Cripps 37.38; 19, Andrew Warner 38.32; 20, Ged Hagan 39.12; 21, Colin Southall 40.30; 22, Steve Whitehurst 40.42; 23, Debbie Watson 41.08; 24, Louise Hagan 45.03; 25, Angela Ball 45.58; 26, Jane Hornsby 46.03; 27, Brian Wilson 46.44; 28, Michael Green 49.59; 29, Joyce Hemingway 52.27; 30, Alison Whitehurst 54.26; 31, Matthew Whitehurst 54.29.

Short: 1, Robert Patterson 14.24; 2, Malcolm Patterson 15.21; 3, Esther Moore 21.51; 4, Nettie Milburn 25.47; 5, Kate Skinner 27.07; 6, Bramble Park 28.47; 7, Samuel Graham 28.49; 8, Matthew Whitby 28.58; 9, Heather Wornham 29.18; 10, Margaret Angus 29.20; 11, Lauren Whitby 30.20; 12, Matthew Armstrong 30.45; 13, Christopher Hemingway 30.59; 14, Thomas Howis 31.01; 15, Millie Park 31.07; 16, Louisa Graham 31.22; 17, Hazel Armstrong 33.20; 18, Charlotte Howis 33.30; 19, Emily Armstrong 33.43; 20, Niamh Hunter 34.23; 21, Ethan Dawson 42.59; 22, Elsie Barker 48.47; 23, Ailsa Hutton 48.59; 24, James Hutton 49.08; 25, Angela Ruckledge 49.10; 26, Anna Hutton 49.12; 27, Nell Barker 49.51.