Wight Orienteers have celebrated their 50th anniversary in style, with 150 competitors from across the country heading to the Isle of Wight for a weekend of racing against the spectacular backdrop of the West Wight coastline.
Glorious sunshine greeted competitors for the club’s ‘Needles and Knolls’ weekend, which saw orienteers navigate courses around St Catherine’s Down and the Needles headland.
It was the first time the relatively small Isle of Wight club had organised an event on such a large scale and also marked its first use of an electronic timing system, kindly loaned by Southampton Orienteering Club.
Months of planning and promotion culminated in a double sprint race around St Catherine’s Lighthouse, Niton, on Saturday (5th September), designed to put competitors’ technical navigation skills to the test.
The action moved west on Sunday (6th September), when a level C middle-distance national ranking event was staged across Tennyson Down and West High Down, taking in the Needles Battery.
A team of 32 volunteers supported Ben Windsor and Peter Bartlett in staging the anniversary weekend.
Original Wight Orienteers member Brian Ould, 85, had been due to compete but was forced to withdraw at the last moment. His son Trevor, also a long-standing member, competed in both events.
Mick Hunter, who joined the club after university in 1977, returned to the Isle of Wight to take part in the anniversary celebrations.
The weekend also remembered original Wight Orienteers mapper Steve Tutton, who had recently died. His daughter, Sarah Coetzee, travelled from her home in Belfast to compete on Saturday.
Gill Sharp, of Southern Navigators, said:
“The views were magnificent, especially the run into the finish overlooking Alum Bay.
“And to top it all, to have a Spitfire flying overhead was very special. Some of my friends also spotted the Waverley paddle steamer rounding the Needles.”
Carol and Ian Prosser said:
“Thank you so much for a fantastic weekend of orienteering.
“We enjoyed both formats and loved everything else about the Island. We will be back!”
Wight Orienteers thanked the National Trust for the use of its areas, as well as Blackgang Chine and Warren Farm for providing car parking space. A donation was also made to Mountbatten Hospice.
Results
Day 1 – Saturday 5th September – Double Sprint
- Junior course was won by Cordelia Slade-Stott
- Open Course – 1st Matthew Vokes from DRONGO, 2nd Tom Dobra from DRONGO, 3rd Ben Chesters from DEVON
- Vets – 1st Magnus McCarthy from NGOC, 2nd Keith McCarthy from NGOC, 3rd Richard Sharp from TVOC
- Super Vets – 1st Gavin Clegg from WESSEX, 2nd Mike Frizzell from BADO, 3rd Mike Maliphant from WIGHTO
Day 2 – Sunday 6th September – Middle Distance
- Black course – 1st Matthew Vokes from DRONGO, 2nd Ben Chesters from DEVON, 3rd Richard Barrett IND
- Brown course – 1st Christopher Rhodes from BADO, 2nd Jenna Williams IND, 3rd Keith McCarthy from NGOC
- Blue course – 1st Magnus McCarthy from NGOC, 2nd Richard Sharp from TVOC, 3rd Mike Frizzell from BADO
- Green course – 1st Laura Barrett from DEVON, 2nd Andrew Yeates from WCH, 3rd Paul Prudhoe IND
- Short green course – 1st Alan Rosen from HH, 2nd Ben Page from DFOK, 3rd Julia Prudhoe IND
- Light green course – 1st Tamsin Rhodes from BADO, 2nd Tony Tutton IND
- Orange course – 1st Oliver Rhodes from BADO, 2nd Sue Williams from WIGHTO, 3rd Maggie Read IND
- White course – 1st Cordelia Slade-Stott IND, 2nd Lucie Rhodes from BADO
Wight Orienteers’ next event is due to take place at St Catherine’s Down on Sunday 18th October.
More information about orienteering on the Isle of Wight can be found at www.wighto.org.uk.
