THE British Orienteering Champion-ships came to Herefordshire for the first time over the weekend when over 2,000 competitors brought their skills to the Wye Valley club-organised event.

Best local performer in the top men's 21 long course category was Chad Harrison, of Wye Valley, who finished 55th in a time of 126 mins 24 secs, despite losing 10 mins at the last control point.

In the same category, team-mate Mike Fawcett managed 76th position in 183.50 mins, behind winner Calvin Routledge, of British Army OC, who finished in 84.35.

There was a county triumph for another Wye Valley man, Nigel Wilkins, who won the M70 short course event in 87.19.

A Wye Valley trio also managed top 20 finishes - Adrian Pickles (M40L) made 14th in 81.46, Deena Andrews (W55S) was 14th in 145.41 and Richard Andrews (M55S) came 17th in 81.03.

Youngsters Robert and Mark Farrington, who represented Worcestershire's Harlequins OC but hail from Ledbury, both had top 10 finishes in their age groups.

Robert posted a time of 32.15 in the M12A competition and finished second behind winner Matthew Lyle (Bristol), while Mark was seventh in the M14B event in 60.19.

South Yorkshire's Jenny James, daughter of Wye Valley orienteer Chris James, was runner-up in the women's competition of the elite UK Cup event.

In the relay competitions, Wye Valley A and B teams finished 50th and 58th respectively in the Short Open event out of nearly 90 sides.

Results, UK Cup, men: 1 Patrick Walder (Clyde) 42.20, 2 Ed Nash (University of Newcastle) 42.26, 3 Neil Conway (East Pennine) 43.12; UK Cup, women: 1 Helen Hargreaves (South Yorkshire) 45.16, 2 Jenny James (South Yorkshire) 45.32, 3 Kristin Hall (Leicester) 46.40; M21L: 1 Calvin Routledge (British Army) 84.35, 2 Robert Frost (Norwich) 85.21, 3 Rupert Gladstone (Norwich) 87.19; W21L 1 Christine Ashton (Bristol) 74.25, 2 Gillian Wainwright (Leicester) 78.19, 3 Nuala Higgins (Lake Land) 88.11; Men's Premier relay: 1 South Yorkshire, 2 Sheffield University, 3 East Pennine; Women's Premier relay: 1 South Yorkshire, 2 Eborienteers, 3 British Army.

Wye Valley Orienteers results: Chad Harrison (M21L) 55th 126.24, Adrian Pickles (M40L) 14th 81.46, Vicki Archard (W50L) 26th 76.08, Chris James (M60L) 28th 91.40, Nigel Wilkins (M70S) 1st 87.19, Mike Fawcett (M21L) 76th 183.50, Peter Hudson (M45L) 126th 108.56, Richard Andrews (M55S) 17th 81.03, Deena Andrews (W55S) 14th 145.41, Samuel Smith-Andrews (M12B) 11th 63.59; disqualified: David Goodliffe (M70L), Nick Kingsford (M55L), Peter Williams (M21S), Megan Smith-Andrews (W14B).