M18 Joe Mercer (2^nd)   Ben Stevens (3^rd)
M45 Nicholas Jones (3^rd)
M50  Alistair Wood (2^nd)
M55 Tony Thornley (2^nd)   Frank Kew (4^th)
W55 Hilary Allen (6^th).
These results augur well for the Compass Sport Cup which will be held next month.  This is the national inter-club competition where Airienteers reached the final in the last two years.  Meanwhile, the next local event is at Lindley Woods, near Otley on Sunday 29^th February.  Details on the club website at www.aire.org.uk."

(See also Chris Burden "musings" on this event on the next page)

Lindley Moor   Claro District event   29 February

"The mixed woodland of Lindley Moor, high above the Washburn valley, was the venue last Sunday for a District Event run by Claro, the orienteering club of Harrogate and district.  Over 300 competitors from all over the north of England made for stiff competition  especially in the longer, more technical Blue and Brown courses, whilst the snow cover was reminiscent of orienteering in Norway.   
On the Blue course (6.9km), in a field of 67 runners, Ian Marshall (M40) of Airienteers had a great run to finish second in a time of 64.04, just behind Andy Munro (M35) from Ebor, the York-based club.  Alistair Wood (M50) also had a good run to claim 3^rd place in 64.39.  There were also fine runs by Hector Haines (M16), Jack Wood (M16), and George Stevens (M14) who came in 7th, 8^th, and 9^th respectively - all  juniors who have been so successful on the national scene.
On the Brown course (8.1km), veteran international Peter Haines (M50) was just over a minute behind David Roome from the Lake District who won in the excellent time of 66.03.  Peter was timed at 67.33 in second place, whilst Steve Watkins (M35) and Joe Mercer (M18), both from Airienteers were fifth and sixth.  A fine run by Shirley Wood (W45)  on the Light Green course saw her home in 5^th place and also the first woman in 36.55, followed by David Murgaroyd (M16) in 44.59.   
Demonstrating that orienteering is a sport for all ages, the first Airienteer on the Green course was Tom Crowther (M65) in 14^th place out of 75 runners - a fine run since Tom was giving decades to most fellow-competitors.  In the junior races, the leading Airienteers results were as follows :
White  1st Joe Woodley  (M8), 13.27  3^rd Sam Wood (M10) 14.42
4^th Beth Woodley (W9) 15.45
Yellow    3^rd Andrew Merell M12  21.51  6^th Helen Wood (W14)  8^th Sean Dowd  (M12)
Orange course  7^th Cerys Jones (W12)  42.43   8^th Florence Haines (W10) 44.18"

Aire District event at Shipley   Saturday 7th February
Just squeezing in a mention of this significant event officialled by Burden, Patterson and Mason plus excellent helpers and providing 100 competitors with some surprises, not least the variety and quality of the orienteering.  Indoor registration and toilets were a treat too.  The River Aire threatened but didn't….though the competitors who pointed to their wet knees at the finish and asked 'What "ankle deep" water?' had a point 
Don't miss this area next time around.  You could always snorkel through the puddle.