TOP local orienteer, Becca Roberts, was in action in Denmark over the weekend, rubbing shoulders with the World's elite.

Altogether there were over 2,000 competitors from 18 countries competing in different age classes.

Navigating across unknown terrain is difficult enough in daylight.

It's much harder in the dark.

Nevertheless Becca, competing against others of similar age, finished 7th in Friday's "night event".

Saturday, was Classic day.

Becca was disappointed to make a couple of errors in the tricky forest not far from Hillerod, north of Copenhagen.

Against fierce competition these mistakes were costly and Becca finished 28th.

In Sunday' s relay Becca ran the tough first leg for GBR.

This time Becca faced competition from boys as well as her female rivals from the previous 2 days.

Analysis of the results showed Becca was 3rd girl on her course, just 2:24 behind the older Danish girl who'd won both previous races.

Becca's teammates, Rosie Brocklebank from Cumbria and Scotland's Duncan Coombs, built on Becca's excellent start, with the team finishing 6th overall.

Becca said, "The purpose of the weekend was for Britain's World Class Start programme squad members to experience top competition in a foreign country with all the adjustments to routine that are necessary in those circumstances.

Overall I was pleased with my performances and I learned a lot which I hope will benefit me in the future."

The Citizen has followed Becca's progress for some time now and feels her achievements as a young sportsperson are on a par, if not better, than anyone else in the area.

To succeed against the best in the world requires dedicated training and commitment as well as opportunities to train and experience top competition in a variety of terrain.

This means extensive travel both in the UK and abroad.

Any local businesses or private individuals able to encourage Becca's sporting excellence through sponsorship should contact her coach, Stephen McLean, by e-mailing sjmosport@hotmail.com, faxing 0870 1326828 or leaving a message on 01524 730598.