Orienteering By Ross Brewster

Last updated 09:14, Saturday, 10 May 2008

GOLDEN sisters Charlotte, 15, and Rosie Watson, 13, from Cockermouth brought world titles back to Cumbria from the I.S.F. World Schools’ Orienteering Championships.

Charlotte Watson

Charlotte and 13 year old Rosie were members of the England squad which led the way in events North of the Border.

Charlotte came second in the 3.9 km race then won gold in the 2km middle distance event.

And, with Rosie, they were members of the five strong England team which lifted team gold when the best scores were counted up at the final day’s prize giving at the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.

Both girls are keen members of the West Cumberland Orienteering Club and travel all over the country for training sessions and competition.

Charlotte said: “We’ve been orienteering for a few years. It started when my family took me along to events, then continued when I was at Ennerdale Primary School and has got a lot more serious since I’ve been at Keswick School.”

The sisters, who are both students at Keswick School, go for runs after they have finished their day’s studies.

However Rosie admitted they don’t often go training together. “Charlotte is too fast for me,” she said with a wry smile.

The younger of the Watson sisters has a place in the Great Britain training squad in her sights. Charlotte is already a member.

But it wasn’t always unbridled enthusiasm for the sport. “I used to hate it when I was little, but we kept going to events because the whole family was involved,” she said.

Now, after showing their paces against top schools orienteers from all over the world, it seems the Cockermouth duo are set for further honours in their sport.

Charlotte said: “Our West Cumbria club holds events right through the year so we get plenty of practice and there are a lot of juniors to compete against in this area. They do night orienteering events in the winter when you have to practice your navigation skills.”

Charlotte’s next aim is to get into the Junior World Championships and win a place in the Great Britain senior squad.

After tackling the forests of Fife and Stirling in the World Schools’ Championships, and helping their England team mates to beat off competition from a strong Latvian squad for team gold, it can only be onwards and upward for the orienteering sisters who are heading in the right direction for further glory.