Niamh Hunter retained her British Night Championship title this week after making the long journey north to Aboyne, Aberdeenshire along with several club colleagues.

Scottish forests are renowned for providing tough, technical orienteering terrain which is especially challenging in the dark and the Muir of Dinnet is no exception; with marshes, impassable cliffs and the steep sided slopes of the Vat gorge.

Top performer was Niamh Hunter who retained her British Championship from last year; winning the W20 class in a time of 56:48; over two minutes ahead of her nearest rival.

Other notable performers were Alastair Thomas (running for Edinburgh University) who finished second in the M20 category, Roger Thomas second in M55S and Joe Hudd third in M16.

The following day there was a national event in the forest at Birsemore Hill where Joe Hudd had a good win on the 5km blue course and Joe Sunley came in third.

This week the club’s regular Thursday night event took place on the open fells of Swarth and Blakeley, adjacent to the Cold Fell road.

Winner on the 4.6km long course was Simon Hunter in a time of 32:53 minutes, with an impressive winning margin of almost six minutes over Mike Harrison, with Sam Stead third and Kate Charles first lady.

On the short 2.92km course, Caitlin Pearson took the win in 25:22 minutes from David Rodger and Mark Skidmore. Emma Crawford was first female junior.

Daniel Heppell was first home on the Nighthawk course, from Rebecca Crellin and Toby Heppell.

The night series concludes this week, with the finale at Maryport Golf Club before the start of the Spring series with the first events taking place in Cockermouth, Workington and Keswick. See www.wcoc.co.uk