TWO hundred Year Five pupils from across the region descended on Wey Valley School for the third annual Orienteering Festival.

Several orienteering courses were placed around the school campus, helping to develop the youngsters’ map-reading skills, teamwork and stamina as they navigated their way around the school for 90 minutes.

Students used state of the art electronic timing equipment as seen in the world championships and kindly loaned by Wimborne Orienteering Club.

Among the schools taking part were St Andrew’s, Radipole, Wyvern, St John’s and St Nicholas & St Laurence.

The festival was run by Wey Valley’s Year Nine Duke of Edinburgh sports leaders, who have been studying orienteering and developing their coaching skills in their PE lessons.

Co-organiser Tanya Howlett said: “The Year Nine sports leaders were a credit to themselves and the school, showing high quality sports leadership skills and continual encouragement for the Year Five pupils.

“Everyone had an exciting time and received a certificate. The fastest pairs were identified for each course and the pairs who showed most effort and determination, chosen by the Year Nine sports leaders, also received stickers.”