Kenilworth plot way to surprise fourth place at Schools Champs

Kenilworth School's successful British Schools Orienteering squad at Sandringham Park. Picture submitted.

The school’s Year 8 boys’ team of Tom Wimpenny, Cameron Williams-Stein, Nathan Chapple and Christian Roberts won their age group, while in their final championships before heading off to university, Year 13 student Heather Rogers was a silver medallist in her individual race and fellow international Stephen Elkington was fourth in his.

In addition, the Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 girls’ teams all came third in their categories.

School events manager and orienteering coach Ian Lockren was full of praise for the squad, calling it “an amazing achievement”.

“This was a tremendous set of results with the whole squad performing exceptionally well, particularly considering that for many of them this was their first major competition.

“Over the past few weeks they have been attending local orienteering events arranged by the Warwickshire club Octavian Droobers and training sessions at school and a practice event on Saturday in Norfolk to prepare for Sunday’s Championship.

“We are way ahead of where I thought we would be at this stage in the development of the squad - I was aiming for a top-ten finish overall but to come fourth was an amazing achievement by everyone and particularly for the Year 8 boys winning their age group and the girls also gaining podium places.

“We will now continue to build towards the West Midlands Schools Championships in May and then aim for a top-three finish in next year’s British Schools, which is to be held more locally at Sutton Park next November.”