Pendle Forest Orienteers go to Delamere Forest for the North West league.

On Sunday 31^st Jan around twenty members of PFO were among nearly five hundred Orienteers who took part in one of the new North West League events.  This is an individual competition based on best results from a number of events over the year.  The day was bright but cold; ideal orienteering conditions. The Forest provides good orienteering country with large areas of forest being what we call ‘runable’ that is you can run through the forest off the paths without too much hindrance from the undergrowth of brambles or bracken. There is also a good path network for beginners and younger competitors to follow.

Again we had a strong contingent for Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar school who provided eight competitors. It was good to see Jacob and Dominic (both in year 12) coming back into the sport. They have been training hard at the after school club over the last term and I am please to say the training has paid off. Dominic came second on a course of over 5km. Once again George Tanner showed us he is one to watch for the future coming third on the yellow course after his win at Watergrove in January. He broke up a very strong contingent from the Lakeland Orienteering Club.  Another PFO junior who did well on the yellow course was Joe Butterworth who was 11^th out of 30 competitors yet only four minutes behind George.

On the Light Green course Jacob Lewis came in 8^th out of 42 runners closely followed by Jamie Hoyle who came 9^th - another good performance from Jamie.  The next North West league event is in mid February at Hutton Roof near Kirby Lonsdale.

The next local PFO event will be at Whitaker Park Rawtenstall on Saturday Feb 12^th. This event is designed for beginners to the sport and all are welcome to come along and have a go. There will be plenty of help and coaching advice available and it will be suitable for everyone – from toddlers and young families to senior citizens. There will also be a street orienteering course for people who want a longer run. On this course under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult. See www.pfo.org .uk.