The British is not a race that everyone will run. Of course they are the National Championships, and arguably the most prestigious as the "classic races" - what some regard as the proper orienteering challenge. They are not, however, selection races for GB teams, unlike those at the JK weekend in the North-West at Easter a fortnight later.

The JK has a race programme looking very like the 2015 JK, the year of the last home World Championships. That JK got a very large and strong entry - Graham Gristwood and Doug Tullie were the only GB runners in the top 10 of the men's long race. In the women's long race Cat Taylor was first, and Hollie Orr, Helen Palmer and Claire Ward were also in the top 10, but the other six were from other national teams.

Entries are still open for the British; currently about half the top set from the national ranking lists are entered. For the women's race the highest ranked entries are Cecilie Andersen and Fiona Bunn. For the men's race, Nathan Lawson (1), Jonathan Crickmore (4), Chris Smithard (5), Will Gardner (6), Joshua Dudley (10) and Peter Taylor-Bray (11) will all be in with a chance.

By the way it was the driest February in England for 30 years.

British Nights

The British Nights were hosted by Wimborne Orienteers 18th February in Moors Valley Country Park. This year's champions are Richard Robinson of Nottinghamshire and Kezia Jukes of British Army. Second on W21L was Rebecca Aspin of Southampton OC, and third was Kerria Lines of West Anglia.

Not many current British Squad runners ran. Cecilie Andersen was third on M21L , behind Richard and Harry McMurtrie of Devon OC.

Icenian Sprints

A two sprint race format was used for the first UK Elite League races of 2023, the same day as the British Nights. These were hosted by Cambridge University OC.

In men's open the leading finishers were Jonathan Crickmore (South Yorkshire), Duncan Birtwistle (Octavian Droobers), Ben Windsor (DRONGO) and Michael Crone (South London / South Africa). In the women's Laura Robertson (South Yorkshire / New Zealand) had a good margin ahead of Fay Walsh (Airienteers).

Northern Champs

These were in Yorkshire, the day before the English National Cross-Country in Cheshire. Joe Woodley of Lakeland won the men's and Chloe Potter now of South Yorkshire, the women's.

From the final details: "All senior courses also have a 1:2000 2.5m contour interval detailed insert of Burbage Boulders on the reverse side of the map.".

National Cross-Country

There are usually orienteers running the National Cross-Country. In the (English) men's race on Saturday Peter Taylor-Bray made the top 100 - he was 100th. Close behind were Will Gardner (124th), Jonathan Crickmore (147th) and Matt Elkington (203rd). In the women's race Alice Leake was 47th helping Leeds City A.C. to fourth in the Teams Competition (they won the men's.).

Results - Saucony National Cross Country Champs

In Wales Ben Mitchell was 12th.

The National Cross-Country was wet underfoot in 2011

Other

After his first run of the marathon distance in Seville, Kris Jones said it was "not great, not terrible": he ran 2:17:53.

Kris Jones writes about his marathon training

Kris Jones writes about his first marathon

In Cardiff Megan Carter-Davies won the Welsh Indoor Champs 1500m - Results

Photo of Megan at front of the 1500m field from Glenn Sports.