Airienteers travelled to the Peak District for the Northern Orienteering Championships.

The event was held on the moorland edge near Baslow overlooking the Chatsworth Estate, which combined the technical challenges of boulder-strewn, wooded slopes below the escarpment, with energy-sapping tussocks and bogs on the frozen moor tops above.

Steve Watkins of Baildon had the run of the day for Airienteers, winning the 9.2km M45 race by over ten minutes in a scintillating 78.02. Aire’s other winner on the long courses was Guiseley’s Joe Woodley, who won the 3.9km M14 race in 34.21.

Other podium places on the long courses were achieved by Shirley Wood (3rd at W50), Faye Pinker (2nd at W21), Ruth Ker (3rd at W40), and Neil Conway (2nd at M40). Cerys Jones had a good run on the 6.4km W18 elite course for third place in 66.40, while on the short courses there were wins by Jo Thornley (W60), Emily Wood (W18), Bruce Woodley (M45), and Eve Conway (W10).

The penultimate event in Airienteers’ Night League was held at Adel Woods and was won by Al Powell with 260pts, with Tim Patterson Steve Watkins, and Paul Liepins all on the same score.

David Alcock was fifth with Maria Wester and Jess Trowbridge sharing joint seventh place and first woman home.