With a gathering of past and present members fit for a golden anniversary dinner, Border Liners celebrated their 50th anniversary in style.

The evening’s entertainment included a lovely meal, memorabilia and maps from ‘the early days’ and a speech and toast from the first Chairman of the club, Dave Gittus.

Formed in November 1969, the pioneers of Border Liners organised their first-event in May 1970, at Greystoke Forest, using hand-drawn maps and pin-punch controls. To mark that first fixture, the club is planning more special events in 2020.

Talkin Tarn was the venue at the weekend for the club’s penultimate event of 2019.

Organiser and planner Jane Yates produced three courses to test orienteers of all ages and abilities.

With the 3.2 km Green course cunningly missing all the paths around the Tarn, orienteers had the added challenge of using just the vegetation, contours and boundary features on the map for navigation.

Nonetheless, M21 competitor Simon Gardner (Clyde OC) scooted round in an impressive 18.32, just three seconds ahead of local Border Liner James Daplyn.

James Chapman was just under a minute behind the leading duo (19.26) with Emma Stuart the first woman home in 25.43 and the Liner’s Christine Goulding just a few seconds behind in 26.10.

With the advantage of paths marked on the map, the Light Green orienteers ran a similar course with the quickest time going to Howard Leslie of the (West Cumberland OC) in 26.24. Norman Jackman of Keswick took second place with a time of 28.23 with Border Liner junior Ewan Simpson third in 28.35.

It was around the Yellow course, however, that competition was fiercest as the juniors had the added incentive of a team prize to aim for.

Gil Burns of Lanercost School was quickest around the 1.6km course in a time of 10.34 followed by the Hayton School trio of Oliver Philips, Ryan Batey and Jack Batey in 12.20, 12.55 and 12.59 respectively.

It was the Caldbeck Fellview School team of James Kenning, Jonty Razzetti, Steven Dickinson and Anna Kenning who took the team prize, however, with their full team of four filling the next places on the result sheet.

Border Liners final event of 2019 is their traditional festive fundraiser, which will be held at Whittas Park, near Bothel, on Saturday, December 28.