Seven runners from Airienteers have been selected to represent England in a European international orienteering competition to be held in Antwerp in February, a great result for one of the strongest orienteering clubs in the UK.

George Stevens (M14), Victoria Stevens, and Peter Haines (M50), all of Ilkley, Jack Wood (M16) of Menston, and Joe Mercer (M18) of Skipton, are all in the team for the annual Interland Trophy, whilst Hector Haines (M16) and Chloe Haines (W14) are to go as travelling reserves.

Meanwhile, they joined other Airienteers at East Pennine Orienteering Club's Regional Event which was held last Sunday at Ogden Reservoir, near Halifax - an event which attracted runners from all over the north and midlands.

The courses, planned in the complex woodland around the reservoir and onto the moors above, offered plenty of technical challenges and the physicality necessary to traverse the icy moorland. With temperatures below freezing, the bogs were frozen which meant for faster going as reflected in some of the impressive times recorded by some.

In the seniors, Shirley Wood (W45) was the only winner for Airienteers, completing her 4.3km course in 47.57. However, there were many impressive runs notably by Neil Conway (M21) who finished the 9.5km race in 61.22, whilst veteran international Peter Haines was runner-up in the 7.2km M50 race in 59.33. Meanwhile, a strong run was recorded by Michael Cox in the M55 race to finish runner-up in 56.43, pipping Frank Kew (on 57.00) into third place. Likewise, Joyce Marshall was runner-up in the 5.8km W40 race recording a time of 65.22.

Other top-ten finishers for Airienteers included Joe Mercer (M21), Steve Watkins (M21), Sarah Jarvis (W21), Neil Gascoyne (M35), Marc Teasy (M35), Ian Marshall (M40), Peter Jones (M45), Maurice Calvert (M45), Ruth Jones (W45), Wendy Carlyle (W45), Val Gilleard (W45), Tony Carlyle (M50), Martyn Gill (M50), Graham Stuart (M50), Susan Stevens (W50), Diana Gorton (W50), Gill Ross (W55), and John Richards (M70).

At junior level, Hector Haines (M16) had a stellar run in his 7.2km race winning in 54.24 - averaging about 7.5 minutes per km which is excellent orienteering given the terrain and climb. Likewise, Victoria Stevens (W16) had an equally impressive run finishing her 5.8km race in 53.18.

There were wins also for Gemma King (W10), Joe Woodley (M10), George Stevens (M14) in their respective age-group races, and prominent positions for Daniel Calvert (M10), Scott Marshall (M10). Beth Woodley (.W12), Arthur Phillips (M14), Cerys Jones (W14), Sam Brown (M16), Chloe Haines (W14), Ben Stevens (M18), and Alistair Everett(M18).

The weekend's main attraction will be the Regional Event to be held at Delamere Forest in Cheshire. Details of this and other events (including evening training runs) at this friendly club can be found at www.aire.org.uk.