Buxton youngster Jake O’Donnell has taken part in the prestigious International Orienteering Lakes 5 Challenge and come home a champion!
The event takes part over five individual national events around the Lake District National Park between Sunday 29th July and Friday 3rd August 2018 with one rest day. 1914 people have entered with competitors 24 Countries represented, the largest being the UK, but after that we have Norway and Switzerland with the biggest contingents. In terms of clubs, the largest non UK club is ASUB Orientation from Brussels, Belgium, followed by Montellano-O from near Seville, Spain. Jake who competes as part of Derwent Valley Orienteering Club and trains with Buxton Athletic Club Juniors, ran in the Under 12 category representing England.
Day one on Silver How, was a day that will be remembered for the rain, pretty constant all day and despite being much needed to fill up the local reservoirs it was not so welcome for the runners. Having reached the start you were however treated to some good challenging courses that most enjoyed. Jake had a great start in the Under 12 category finishing just 4:13mins behind the stage winner Elmin Hovmöller from Sweden with whom he was to battle in out for the rest of the series.
Day two on Angle Tarn Pikes saw the weather much kinder with the competitors having a chance to dry out between showers. Angle Tarn is steep but mainly very runnable, which has resulted in many fast times across all classes. It also offers excellent views of Ullswater and the Patterdale valley. Jake had a great day taking the stage win pulling back 4:32 mins over Elmin to take the overall lead.
Day three over Whinlatter offered a course taking in the best of the forest and surrounding areas of fellside. The start was well placed to give most courses some of this variety, and the opportunity to see Bassenthwaite, Derwentwater and Westwards towards the coast. The finish was sheltered from the wind which after the last 2 days came as a relief for most. Jake took the stage win extending his lead to 5:47 mins ahead of Sweden!
After a rest day the competition continued and Day 4 was a complete contrast to Day 1 with Askham Fell basking in sun and the risk of sunburn, replaced a good soaking!. The courses took in the best bits of the area, sometimes across tough ground but in the later stages very runnable short grass. Jake took another win with a lead of 3:27 mins.
The final day saw some challenging middle distance courses in Dale park, one of the best parts of Graythwiate. The area is almost all wooded, with only a few clearings. All courses enjoyed the deciduous woodland with complicated crags and contours. Many people had costly mistakes. Jake was pipped to the stage win by Sweden by the narrowest margin of 0:05min – not enough to rob him of an overall win!
Jake won his category with overall score of 5326 with Elmin in second with a score of 5264 with Jake’s England team mate Conrad Reuber in 3rd.