Navigational skills point to top award for Brentwood School's orinteer

Congratulations to avid orienteer Janie Horton whose dedication to the sport has been recognised with a prestigious Jack Petchey Award.

Fifteen-year-old Janie, who caught the orienteering bug when she started at Brentwood School, regularly represents the School and Essex Stragglers Orienteering Society (SOS) in local, regional and national competitions.

Janie, who will be presented with her award when social distancing rules allow, has also inspired her family to test their navigational skills and see if their map and compass reading prowess is up to the challenge.

Having been introduced to orienteering at Brentwood, Fourth Year Janie joined Essex Stragglers and competes and trains regularly (lockdown permitting). She has capped off a successful season by finishing top of her age-group table in the South West Essex Local Orienteering League.

Proud dad Mr Glenn Horton paid tribute to Brentwood School’s former Head of Orienteering, Mrs Rachel Barford, who inspired Janie to take up the sport. “Janie not only represents her club, but she continues to represent the School in a manner which is befitting of the School motto: Virtue, Learning and Manners.

“Janie tries very hard and is determined to do her best. She has inspired me and her mum, Emma, to have a go as well as her brother Jake who also participates when he is not playing chess!”

Brentwood School regularly takes the honours in the Essex and Suffolk Schools League and this season is no exception. Despite the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic and the curtailing of events, the School will take the Senior School league title and second place in the whole school category.

The Jack Petchey Foundation was set up by Sir Jack Petchey CBE to inspire and motivate young people and recognise them for their achievements. Since 1999, over £133 million has been invested in programmes, from sport to science, art to internships, vlogging to volunteering, to benefit young people aged 11-25 across London and Essex.

Headmaster Michael Bond congratulated Janie: “The award and citation make for wonderful reading. I have been following the orienteering updates on Twitter and have enjoyed reading about the various competitions and Janie's success in them.”