FURTHER history was made on Saturday when Huntingdon town centre became the first ever venue for the new South of England Orienteering Urban League.

More than 100 competitors from all over the south of England took part in the race with participants doing battle with shoppers to get around town in the quickest time.

In the end, Rachel Pocock from Royston, was the sole-class winner, after navigating her way around the course which began at Pathfinder House in St Mary’s Street, zig-zagged its way through the town, over a marshalled Ring Road crossing, and up towards Sprint Common – and back again, via Huntingdon Regional College.

Of course, the five age-group and class routes were top secret, kept from the competitors until the very last second – when they were handed a compass, a map and an electronic tag so that they could check in at the various stations.

“This is a new league for clubs in the south of England,” said event organiser Ian Lawson from the West Anglian Orienterring Club. “Huntingdon will be the furthest north of any of the venues.”