EBOR'S international orienteering contingent are feeling fresh after their winter break from hard training and raring to go for the new season.

The new year will see senior British team runner Jenny Whitehead aiming for medals in both the Nordic Open Championships in Sweden in May and the World Championships in Switzerland in August. Last autumn she posted an impressive top 20 finish in the European Championships.

Meanwhile, British juniors internationals Matthew Speake and Heather Gardner will be aiming for the same in the Junior World Championships in Estonia in July after Speake's fantastic ninth place last year in Spain.

Sisters Fionne and Aislinn Austin who will be in the Irish team this year also join the trio in Eborienteers.

On the domestic front the Ebor women's team looks very strong for the British Championships and UK Relay League.

The Austin sisters, Gardner and Whitehead are also joined by England international Cath Ashton in a strong squad from which the best three will be picked for each race.

The league strides into action first on Easter Monday at Sandhurst.

Whitehead, pictured left, joins the British Senior squad in the Forest of Dean next weekend for their first training camp of 2003.

She will then fly out to South Africa on January 17 for their warm-weather camp for a first-ever excrusion for the York star.

She told the Evening Press: "It will be the first time I've orienteered outside of Europe and is sure to be pretty exciting.

"There aren't many orienteering maps but I've heard good things from orienteers who have been there and the training set-up is excellent - apparently the British triathlon team have been to the same camp.

"However, I do have to admit that I am slightly concerned about meeting a lion at a control station."

Gardner and Speake will be training on Cannock Chase with the British junior squad next wekend.

Anyone wishing to try the exacting yet exciting sport of orienteering is invited to attend Ebor's event at the White Horse, Kilburn on Sunday, January 19.

The event, which counts towards the local Schools' League, will be signposted from the A170 three kilometres east of Thirsk and there will be courses to suit all ages and abilities with plenty of help and advice to hand.

Would-be competitiors can enter on the day between 10am and 12noon at a cost of £4 for adults and £2 for Under-21s.

For the more daring there's a chance to have a tilt at 'night-orienteering' around Wheldrake Woods on Saturday, January 18 from 4.30pm when a torch is esential.

For more information on either of these events or orienteering in the York area go to www.eborienteers.org.uk

Updated: 10:19 Wednesday, January 08, 2003