Kathryn goes the distance

A FORRES Academy student brought success back to Moray at the weekend after claiming a British Gold medal for her club.

“It was the biggest success story for the club in generations and came after many years of waiting,” said Mike Rodgrs from Moravian Orienteers.

He was referring to Kathryn Barr who claimed the club’s first ever British Championships gold medal on Saturday.

The Forres Academy student topped the W14 podium at the British Sprint-Distance Championships at Loughborough and like all good bus services, another one came straight after.

Eddie Harwood, who has been knocking at the door for years, finally produced the performance he was well capable of, by winning Gold at the Middle-Distance M60 race in Derbyshire on Sunday.

Not to be outdone, Kathryn’s older brother Andrew claimed the M16 silver middle-distance medal on the Derbyshire hills, shortly to be followed by Kathryn again claiming a podium place with a silver.

“This could easily have been another gold for the Dyke athlete who was leading the race until a costly 2-minute error cost her the top prize,” added Mike.

The Forres Academy pair was under more pressure than they had ever faced at a major championships. A top-5 placing was a realistic prospect for both runners due to some of the UK’s other top junior orienteers being away in Portugal for the World Schools Championships.

Coping with this kind of pressure is all part of an athlete’s development. With both races being on shorter courses any mistakes would be costly. Sprint and middle-distance racing is all about keeping up the tempo while trying to stay in touch with the map, and both youngsters came through the test with flying colours.

Andrew Barr’s M16 class on Sunday shared the same course as Harwood’s M60 class. He beat his international veteran club mate by well over two minutes which showed the strides this young man has taken since being awarded his school’s emerging talent award in 2010. Kathryn’s performance over the weekend had done enough to qualify her for selection on the annual GB elite U15 training camp to Lagganlia. This has been the foundation for the international career of many of the country’s top senior stars, and only two places are allocated each year to Scottish runners.

Meanwhile, in Lossiemouth, Moravian’s lesser lights were busy welcoming 100 competitors to the 4th round of the club’s Saturday and Schools League. The highlight of the day was the performance of the young team from Dyke Primary School, who claimed the top 5 places in the Primary Schools Short Course to overhaul Bishopmill Primary at the top of the Moray Schools League. Despite the absence of the Barrs, Forres Academy showed that they have the strongest secondary-school squad in Moray. George Cannard, Nathan McRae and the Bonsall twins John and Alistair, ensured that they stretched their lead at the top of the Secondary Schools League to over 300 points.

In the senior race over a fast 5Km course, it was a battle between Moravian’s fastest three senior men. World Championships sprint course planner Jon Hollingdale could afford a 2-minute slip at the midway point as he overcame the challenge of Carron postie Dave Weir by over a minute. Moray Golf Club course manager George Paterson was a further 8 seconds back in third, while the best female, in overall 5th, was Jane Halliday.

Events are now coming thick and fast, with three local races due to be held in May. The first of these is being organised by the senior pupils of Anderson’s Primary School under the supervision of Active Schools Co-Ordinator Paul Rogan on Wednesday, May 8.

This will be followed by a club event on each of the following two weekends. Meanwhile preparations are progressing apace for the big 6-Day Festival at the end of July. Entries have passed the 2,600 mark and final touches are being added to the social programme to keep the competitors entertained outside the races. Details are due to be announced soon, but organisers hope that locals will join with the multinational array of sporting visitors at all the week’s events, both in and out of the forest. Ceilidhs, whisky tastings, local ale nights, quizzes, bowling nights and even a football tournament organised by Forres Soccer 7s are lined up. It promises to be some week