Perse orienteers heading in right direction with England squad
Hebe (Upper Sixth) and Erik (Year 10) will aim to plot a course to success with the England squad at the Ward Junior Home International (JHI) orienteering competition in Wales this weekend.
The Perse students, who both train with West Anglian Orienteering Club, will represent their country at the JHI in the Brecon Beacons following impressive performances in a series of high-level selection races this season.
They will both be racing in individual events on Saturday, followed by age-group relay races on Sunday.
For Erik, who will compete in the boys’ U14 class, it will be his first time in national colours after winning the British Middle Distance Championships for his age group in West Sussex in March.
He said: “It feels really good to have been recognised that I’m one of the best in the country for my age and it makes me feel more confident with my orienteering.”
Erik got into the sport six years ago after his mum was searching for activities that could be enjoyed as a family.
“My mum found a leaflet for an event in our local park, so we went along and we all really liked it,” he said.
From there, Erik quickly progressed and has gone on to win medals at the British Championships, as well as being crowned British Schools champion for the last two years in his year group.
He said: “I really like the running aspect of it, but it’s more interesting than just running because you have to find the controls. The terrain is also different every time and I particularly enjoy competing on open fells.
“The Home International is going to be on an open area of hills, so I hope I’ll do quite well, but everyone is very evenly-matched. It should be a good competition.”
Hebe is no stranger to an England kit, having been part of the women’s U20 team at the Interland Cup in the Netherlands in April.
However, it will be her first time competing in the JHI, having initially been named as first reserve for the girls’ U18 team.
The reigning British Schools champion said: “It’s always a very close competition and I don’t know how it’s going to go this year.
“The individual race is a long distance of 7.5km, but with only 165 metres of climb, which is a lot less than I was expecting.
“I’ve been looking on Google Maps street views to find out about the area and it looks like it will be fast. There’s a lot of open grassland and moorland and we’ll be running along the sides of hills rather than on the top of them.
“I’m hoping to do well. I’d like to finish among the top three English runners and the top five overall, but I also just want to enjoy it because it will be my first time in the Junior Home International.”