Great North Forest Summer League
A History
The Great North Forest Summer League is a series of orienteering events held on Tyneside between April and July. It has been held every year (except 2001) since 1994 using venues from Durham in the south to Morpeth in the North. In 1995 funding for the trophies was obtained from the Great North Forest and the league took on the current title. In 2001 when the Foot and Mouth Outbreak prevented land access NN staged a "Not the GNF Series" of three races.
The format has changed only slightly over the years; 11 or 12 races with the best six scores counting towards the league standings. Originally designed to use the smaller parks on Tyneside each event was three laps with competitors choosing to do 1 2 or 3. Now depending on the size of the size of the area there are normally three courses on offer - short, medium and long, with approximate distances of 2, 4 and 6km respectively. The final event has always been a relay race (of varied format but the emphasis on fun!) with barbecue and prize giving.
A Record of the Winners
Long Course
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2005 Senior Male Patrick Smyth Patrick Smyth Rob McKenna Patrick Smyth Patrick Smyth Ed Nash Michael Sprot Rob McKenna Michael Dahnn Ed Nash Patrick Smyth M35 NN M35 NN M40 NN M40 NN M40 NN M21 UNOC M21 NATO M50 NN M21 UNOC M21 KNOBOC M45 NATO Senior Female Sarah Pattinson Sarah Pattinson C Heppenstall C Heppenstall Kath Ivens Kath Ivens Sheila Sprot C Heppenstall Tricia Davies K Heppenstall Kath Ivens W21 NEOA W21 NEOA W21 UNOC W21 UNOC W21 BOK W21 NN W45 NATO W21 CLOK W45 NATO W21 UNOC W21 NN Junior N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A David Sprot David Sprot Rory Matheson Rory Matheson Not Awarded Not Awarded M18 NATO M18 NATO M18 NATO M20 NATO Junior Male Ed Chester Andrew Rice Andrew Rice Michael Sprot Michael Sprot N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A M19 NATO M15 NATO M17 NATO M18 NATO M20 NATO Junior Female Olwen Armstrong Olwen Armstrong Claire Warner Claire Warner Claire Warner N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A W15 NATO W17 NATO W17 NN W20 NN W20 NN
Medium Course
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2005 Senior Male David Brook Bob Cooper Jem Wilcox Maurice Swales Chris Bradford A McDowall Dave Raymond P Clarke Damien Law Damien Law Michael Eve M50 NN M50 NN M45 NN M50 NN M45 NATO M21 NATO M35 NATO M21 IND M21 UNOC M21 UNOC M35 IND Veteran Male N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A R Dawson Frank Major Frank Major Julian Warren Frank Major Frank Major M50 NATO M50 NN M55 NN M40 NN M55 NN M60 NN Senior Female V Gilham Beccy Osborn Tricia Davies Tricia Davies Sheila Sprot Tricia Davies Tricia Davies Tricia Davies Debbie Warren H Ratcliffe H Ratcliffe W21 NN W21 UNOC W40 NN W40 NN W45 NATO W40 NN W45 NATO W45 NATO W35 NN W45 NATO W45 NATO Junior Male Michael Sprot Martin Brook Terry Russell Terry Russell James Myatt Not Awarded Not Awarded Not Awarded Matthew WhitwoodJonathan Malley David Smyth M15 NATO M17 NN M15 NN M16 NN M16 IND M14 NATO M12 NATO M14 NATO Junior Female V Currie V Currie Rachael Wilson Helen Dixon Helen Dixon Donna Russell Not Awarded Beth Pearson Not Awarded Not Awarded K Ratcliffe W17 NN W17 NN W17 NATO W16 NATO W16 NATO W16 NATO W16 NATO W14 NATO
Short Course
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2005 Senior Male Robert Brown I Pearce Graeme Rose Neil Lewis D Myatt Not Awarded S Edwards George Rose Ian Smith Andy Clarke John Crosby M40 NATO M40 Ind M45 NN M40 NN M50 NATO M40 Ind M21 NN M70 NATO M45 NATO M55 NATO Senior Female L Mallinson Ruth Rose Ruth Rose Debbie Warren Debbie Warren Carole Firth Carole Firth J Smith Carole Firth S Murphy Eileen Bedwell W21 NATO W45 NN W45 NN W21 NN W21 NN W55 NATO W55 NATO W21 NN W55 NATO W50 Ind W70 CLOK Junior Male Carl Cooper Carl Cooper Carl Cooper James Myatt Peter Myatt Not Awarded M Woods David Smyth David Smyth M Ratcliffe M Ratcliffe M10 NN M10 NN M11 NN M16 Ind M14 NATO M10 CLOK M10 NATO M12 NATO M12 NATO M12 NATO Junior Female Helen Anderson K Taylor K Taylor Donna Russell Donna Russell Les Maynard Beth Pearson Not Awarded K Ratcliffe K Ratcliffe Emma Ratcliffe W13 NATO W15 NN W15 NN W14 NN W16 NN W12 Ind W14 NATO W12 NATO W14 NATO W14 NATO