Sarah Haines and Joe Mercer took the plaudits for Airienteers at the British Orienteering Championships near Abergavenney.

Haines romped home in 79min 4sec in the 8.3km W21 race while Mercer, from Skipton, came fifth in the men's elite race against some seasoned internationals.

He finished the testing 14.1km course in 94.05, averaging 6.7 mins per km.

There were also podium finishes for Neil Conway of Leeds (second in 76.17 over 10.4km at M35 level), Alistair Wood of Leathley (third in 58.29 over 7.5km at M55 level), Victoria Stevens of Ilkley (second over 5.5km at W18 level), and Ruth Ker of Leeds (second in 63.48 over 6.7km at W40 level).

Hector Haines, although only 18, ran well at M21 elite level for tenth place in 101.40. Ben Stevens of Ilkley finished a creditable seventh in the 10.1km M20 elite race, while Alistair Everett was third on the M21 long course.

The premier men's relay was won by Sheffield Hallam Uni-versity but Airienteers, represented by Ian Nixon, Ben Stevens and Joe Mercer, roared home in fourth place out of 25 teams.

The M50 and M18 Airienteer teams, both of whom were among the favourites, were disqualified.

However, the W18 team of Chloe Haines, Cerys Jones, and Victoria Stevens made amends by finishing fourth in the W18 race.

In the men's short race, Dave Alcock, Alistair Everett, and Andy Hind finished ninth, a feat emulated in the women's short race by Martha Taylor, Sarah Hind, and Faye Pinker.

Meanwhile, Airienteers are organising a race in Lister Park on Saturday (12.30pm) and stage an informal training event at Chellow Dean on Wednesday.