Edelsten eclipses opposition to take JK Championships M70 title

Congratulations to CHIG’s Tom Edelsten, whose resounding run in Race 1 of the Individual M70 JK Championships at Hambleden, and convincing performance in Race 2 the following day at Cold Ash, Newbury, saw him crowned age class champion. Speaking after completing the 6.2km, 20 control course on Saturday, Tom knew he’d had a strong run. This was confirmed as his competitors’ times came through, showing he had a lead of exactly 3 minutes over nearest rival Ian Cooper of BKO. Cooper, ranked near 520 places above Edelsten in the British Orienteering rankings, produced a strong showing over Sunday’s 5.5km, 14 control course to win this race. However, it wasn’t enough as Tom kept his nerve to finish only 2 minutes and 6 seconds down, securing him the overall title by a little under a minute and demonstrating a very promising return to form.

On Good Friday, CHIG’s Robin Campbell claimed the M75 Sprint trophy, winning his course by some 15 seconds on the 13 control course. Congratulations to Robin!

The JK weekend also saw other impressive performances from Robin Campbell (10th overall in the M75L class), Tim Pribul (5th on M60S), Heather Andrews and Sally Pribul (10th and 17th, respectively on W55S), and Kate Brett (18th on W45L). A strong run on Sunday gave Oliver Brett 24th in the M12A class, while Jocelyn Brett took 45th place in the W14A class. Mike Brett achieved a commendable 31st in the M45L while Sue Carter secured 39th place on W45L.
In the W21 Elite class, Henriette Klovstad managed 33rd overall, while in the M21 Elite race Jonathan Albon’s combined results gave him a promising 40th place. A number of navigational errors on both days saw club captain Harold Wyber achieve only 56th place. He did, however, partially redeem himself with a solid effort in Monday’s JK Relays, where team CHIGnition (Jonathan, Henriette and Harold) finished 16th overall and first mixed team in the JK Trophy class.
Also in action during the Friday Sprint event at the University of Reading campus was club chairman Alan Brett (30th on M35) while Ray Weekes and Ian Andrews both competed in the M60L and M55S races on Saturday, respectively, coming 54th and 27th.