EBORIENTEERS returned to York from the British Orienteering Championships at Newborough Forest, Anglesey, with a couple of trophies.

Helen Gardner, recently capped by England, won the highly competitive Women's 50-55 long class by a minute and a half whilst Celia Wells was victorious the Women's 65-70 long class by an amazing nine minutes.

Matthew Speake, a British Junior Squad member, produced the best result for the York-based men finishing just one and a half minutes down on the winner taking the bronze in the Men's Under 19 'A' class.

Roger Smith also finished third in the Men's 50-55 short class.

Having won the prologue Park Race near Caernarfon on Saturday, Jenny Whitehead was feeling confident before tackling the 9km women's elite course. Whitehead ran a fast, good run apart from taking a slightly longer route choice on the fifth leg and missed the tenth control.

That left her six minutes down on the winner, Jenny James of South Yorkshire Orienteers, as fifth British woman in the country.

Whitehead said "I am very disappointed not to have done better but can't wait to prove myself in Switzerland (in the Euromeeeting international at the beginning of next month."

"I really enjoyed the race but unfortunately a lapse of concentration in the complicated sand-dunes near the 10th checkpoint blew it for me this time although I dug in to pick up as much time as possible after that mistake and picked up several places'.

Updated: 11:59 Thursday, October 25, 2001