ORIENTEER Jenny Whitehead, a member of York-based Eborienteers, flew back from the first set of World Cup races in Belgium and Switzerland with a total of 21 points to her name.

Whitehead made her British Team World Cup debut two years ago but failed to score any points that year in events held in the Ukraine and Finland.

The top 40 finishers in each 'A' final race score points and so far this Whitehead has scored points in each of the four races.

She was the second British runner home in Belgium to finish 29th overall in the middle distance race in 29 mins 6 seconds for the 4.56km course having qualified tenth best from her heat.

Whitehead finished 39th in the next day's classic distance (9.8km) having lost two minutes looking for a control on a small hill.

In Switzerland, she managed 38th in the sprint race round the Olympic Park in Lausanne.

In the final race in this stage of the series Whitehead finished 37th and third British runner over a 7.5km course.

Also present from Eborienteers was Fionne Austin, representing the Irish team. She was disqualified early on due to punching a wrong control.

Some 29 nations were represented in Belgium and Switzerland with over 250 runners competing.

The British team fly out for the next set of World Cup race in Norway and Sweden a week tonight where Whitehead is hoping to pick up more points and her main goal - a top-20 result. Whitehead will be running in the women's first team relay in Norway aiming for a podium finish.

Updated: 12:24 Thursday, June 20, 2002