Run hard, think fast - World Orienteering Championships taking place in Scotland

Some of Britain's best runners are taking part, this week, in the World Orienteering Championships that are being held on home soil.

Orienteering is a sport that combines map reading and running. Competitors have to find their way between a series of checkpoints, called controls, as quickly as possible. There’s no set route between the controls, so you have to decide which way to go and then find your way there without getting lost.

Supreme running fitness is required to be able to compete at World Class level and some of Great Britain's best athletes are racing, against the best in the World, this week. There are several different disciplines and each requires a slightly different kind of endurance.

The sprint events take place in an urban setting with around 12 - 16 minutes of running. Competitors require good running speed and the ability to change gear and direction quickly as they run in and out of tight corners. The middle distance and long events take place in the forest. The middle distance takes the runners around 30 - 40 minutes and strength-endurance is the key here as the controls can be fairly close together on technical and hilly terrain with less opportunity to run fast. The long distance takes runners around 70 minutes (for women) and 90 minutes (for men) and this event typically has some long distances between the controls with the opportunity to bring speed into play and so speed-endurance and strength-endurance are needed here.

After the opening ceremony, The Mixed Sprint Relay took place, through the streets of Nairn, on Saturday. This event is run predominantly on the tarmac and each leg involves around 15 - 16 minutes of running. The running order is female, male, male, female. The British team was made up of Hollie Orr (handicap 10.8), Dave Schorah (handicap 2.6), Chris Smithard (handicap 5.7) and Catherine Taylor. The team finished in 14th position.

The Sprint Final is also run on the tarmac and this event took the runners through the streets of Forres, on Sunday. The athletes had already taken part in the Sprint Qualification race and Great Britain had all six athletes through to the final and the results were:

The final results were:

Men:

Kris Jones (handicap -2.1) (pictured)  8th

Scott Fraser (handicap -3.1)12th

Murray Strain (handicap -4.2) 18th

Women:

Charlotte Ward (handicap 4.1) 17th

Alice Leake (handicap 5.5)  22nd

Ruth Holmes (handicap 7.3) 39th.

The Middle Distance is run through the forest and this World Championship race took place yesterday at Darnaway Castle. The British results were:

Men:

Hector Haines (handicap 1.6) 10th

Graham Gristwood (handicap 24.5) 20th

Alasdair McLeod (handicap -0.2) 28th

Women:

Catherine Taylor 5th

Jessica Tullie (handicap 19.7) 17th

Hollie Orr 57th

The Forest Relays take place today with three runners in each team. This event will also take place in Darnaway Forest. The British teams are:

Men: Scott Fraser, Graham Gristwood, Ralph Street (handicap 1.6)

Women: Claire Ward (handicap 5.6). Catherine Taylor, Jessica Tullie

You can watch the race on BBC ALBA here.

The Long Distance takes place on Friday at Glen Affric. The British runners are:

Men: Graham Gristwood, Hector Haines, Alasdair McLeod

Women: Catherine Taylor, Claire Ward, Charlotte Watson (handicap 13.7)

You can see coverage of the events via the BBC iPlayer.

Photo: Kris Jones running to 8th place in the Sprint. Credit: Martin Ward