IT was medals all round for the three local schools that entered the British Schools Score Orienteering Championship held in Sutton Park near Birmingham on Saturday.

Score Orienteering is a very challenging form of the sport which involves visiting as many control sites as possible in a given period of time.

The year eight boys competition was keenly fought with Robert Farrington of John Masefield School, Ledbury and Daniel Hartmann of the Chase, Malvern, both collecting 20 controls, but Robert completed the task slightly quicker to take the gold medal.

Both boys were formerly class mates at the Wyche Primary School, Malvern, which has a national reputation for the sport.

Heather Hartmann of the Wyche gained the bronze medal in the year six girls' class while her sister Rosemary came fifth in the year five girls' despite being only a year four pupil.

Local year nine boys also had a tussle with Carl Jenkins of John Masefield finishing fifth and Ben Bates of the Chase in seventh position. The Chase managed to field a full team of six boys in the lower secondary school class and missed out on the bronze medal position by just one control.

The Wyche girls finished fourth on points despite having only two out of a possible four girl team.

Anyone who would like to try orienteering is welcome to come to Peachfield Common on Saturday, November 10 between 10.30 and 12.30 when there will be courses suitable for beginners of all ages.