The 2007 Scottish Orienteering Championships were held last weekend near Loch Doon, Ayrshire.  Roxburgh Reivers fielded a smaller than usual team and late starts on Saturday afternoon coincided with a torrential downpour which left runners drenched on the open moorland. With maps threatening to disintegrate and underfoot conditions turning nasty runners were glad to cross the finish line.

Despite the poor conditions Reivers managed several podium places with the best positions being John and Sarah Tullie who both finished 2^nd on their courses.  Three other runners were in the frame with 3^rd places: Jim Knox, Karen Maxwell and Lindsey Knox.  Other results: Andrew Tullie 5^th, Robert Cranston 5^th, Kirstin Maxwell 8^th, Ian Maxwell 10^th.

With relief Sunday provided warm and dry conditions for the Scottish Relays although the midge population also came out to take in the atmosphere!  We had the highlight of the weekend with a second consecutive win in the open handicap race.   Andrew Tullie led off on first leg and returned 6 seconds ahead of the field, John Tullie returned the fasted time on leg 2 to give the team a 3 minute lead, with Ian Maxwell on the pressure anchor leg providing some excitement amongst his teamates as he sprinted from the final control to win by 9 seconds.  In the junior relay class the team of Sarah Tullie, Karen Maxwell and Kirstin Maxwell finished in 7^th place and in the senior handicap race Lindsey Knox, Jim Knox and Robert Cranston finished 3^rd.

Results are here

Douglas Tullie received the good news last week that he’s been selected for the British Team going to the Junior World Championships being held in Australia this July. This was the event in 2006 where Douglas lost several contact lenses during one race so he’ll be keen to show the rest what he’s really capable of this time around.  Douglas is also selected for the 2008 JWOC training camp taking place in Sweden in August.

Only 4 Reivers made the 350 mile round trip to South Wales for the British Championships but it was certainly worthwhile for one of them.  Karen Maxwell triumphed in W12A and said that the Scotjos training must have helped because she hadn’t found it that difficult – despite the tricky mining works and high undergrowth.  The rest of the family had mixed results – Eileen had a steady run but Ian and Kirstin weren’t quite so happy.

Well done to both.