HOLY Family found the right path to win the Furness Schools orienteering finals in Barrow Park.

Among 192 children, the Barrow school claimed top honours with a strong display of running and map-reading skills – earning their place at the Cumbria School Games finals in July.

With Lakeland Orienteering Club overseeing proceedings, teams of Year 5 and 6 pupils – each made up of six girls and six boys – set out on an expedition in the park.

Checkpoints were set up throughout the area, with children having to visit them each in turn before returning to base.

As well as Holy Family, Sir John Barrow, Dane Ghyll, Pennington, St Paul’s, Burlington, Penny Bridge, South Walney Juniors, St James, Sacred Heart, Yarlside, St George’s and St Columba’s sent teams to take part.

The day compromised two runs, separated by lunch, with all the children enjoying the weather and keeping themselves entertained.

Due to some technical difficulties in the morning, the afternoon run was used to calculate the results, with the times of the three fastest boys and girls from each team added together. The winner was the team that had the quickest time, with Holy Family closely followed by Dane Ghyll in second and South Walney Juniors in third.

Furness School Games organiser Oliver Carswell said: “Thankfully, the weather held out so that everyone could have an enjoyable day.

“This competition is a little bit different to the other ones, because even though the children are part of a team, they are individually trying to get the best time possible.

“Some children decided to wait for each other and try and work it out together, even though it was detrimental to their time. Others were happy problem solving by themselves and got good times.”

He added: “Massive thanks go to Lakeland Orienteering, without them the competition wouldn’t be anywhere near as good.”