FEARLESS orienteers marked the start of the new year with an arduous event.

Two hundred and thirty three runners flocked to Copehill Down on Salisbury Plain – a UK Ministry of Defence training facility – where they tackled gale-force winds, torrential rain and mud.

Competitors had an hour to visit as many of the 74 control sites in the village and ones surrounding Salisbury Plain, with penalties dished to those who spent longer than the allocated time.

The village provided for complex navigation to find 44 control sites, plus bonus controls including a crashed helicopter and a tank hull.

The remaining control sites were located on the downland to the north of the village.

Tim Morgan, of Edinburgh University OC, chalked up 364 out of a possible 375 points by visiting 72 of the controls in 58 minutes.

Best placed Sarum runner was Tom Butt in fourth place, who located 68 controls in 57:31 min, with 336 points. Other notable Sarum performances came from Charles Bromley Gardner (5th: 334 points), Rob Ashton (8th:333) and Chris Huthwaite (14th:317). Carolyn Dent, who recently won the Womens’ Vets Class in the South England Urban Orienteering League, was first Sarum lady (34th: 296). Among the junior Sarum runners, Alice Thirkell (99th; 250 points) just edged it over twin-sister Matilda (103rd; 247).

Sarum Orienteers’ next event, aimed at beginners and improvers, will be held on Saturday, February 6 at Stonedown Woods. This will be followed up by the Sarum Saunter in Grovely woods, near Wilton, on March 20.

Visit sarumo.org.uk for more information.