MACCLESFIELD orienteer Vicky Thornton has won gold in the 2007 British Orienteering Championships.

The testing event, held in South Wales, earlier this month, saw competitors face challenging routes and countless small control sites to test their navigation.

The individual and relay events took place on an area known as Pwll Du, consisting of rough open heather moorland with bilberry, scattered boulders and extensive opencast workings.

Manchester and District Orienteering Club (MDOC) members were out in force, as they had been the previous month at the JK International, but there was a confidence within the club that some members would come home with gold.

The competition on the longer courses was tough and competitors needed to ensure that full concentration was maintained throughout the race on the complex terrain. The perfect weather, good views, and rural setting for the assembly, with clubs from all over the country attending and pitching their banners and club tents and cheering fellow club members to the finish.

Thornton, who has 30 years' orienteering experience, was running against strong competition in the Women's 45 long class. After her third position at the JK, Thornton was the form runner and in with a chance for the British title.

Extra training in the Peaks during April boosted her fitness and, with the support of her family, friends, who were also competing, she put in a fine run to take gold over Sheffield based rival Wendy Billing by two minutes.

Other top MDOC performers were Andrew Gregory (first, M70), Lizzie Britton (first, W20), Lucy Harris (second, W20), Rae Lomas (third, W65), and Matthew Fellbaum (fourth, M10).

Up and coming youngsetrs Thomas and Alice Fellbaum have also been selected for the Start summer tours, which will see them join the country's top orienteers for intesnive training in Scotland.