The Canberra Cockatoos have narrowed the NSW Stingers’ National League lead to three points after the final race of the Easter carnival, the Victorian Relays near Bendigo on Sunday. Just 18 points cover the four leading teams in the most closely-contested National League season since 1998.

The Cockatoos set up their result with a comfortable win in the men’s event. With their two fastest runners, Grant Bluett and David Shepherd, running the last two legs, they were always going to be difficult to beat as long as Gareth Candy came back with the lead group or close to it on the first leg. He achieved this, crossing the line in first place, together with NSW and Queensland and with Victoria and South Australia also in close proximity. Bluett pulled out four minutes on the field on the second leg and it was never in doubt after that, with Shepherd extending the gap to nine with the day’s fastest time. David Meyer gave NSW a two-minute break in the battle for second, which Eric Morris was able to hold, whilst Rune Olsen just pipped Simon Uppill in a sprint finish to give the Victorians third over South Australia.

Tasmania went in as hot favourites and were even hotter favourites when Grace Elson was matched only by Queensland’s Anna Sheldon, with four minutes to everyone else and juniors running the last two legs for Queensland. As the Cyclones gradually drifted back through the field, the Foresters went from strength to strength, as Danielle Winslow and Hanny Allston extended the gap to five minutes at the second change and nine at the last. There was a tight battle for second, with Kathryn Ewels breaking clear of Anna Quayle on the last leg to give it to the Nuggets; Orla Murray gained two places late to get into fifth and salvage some potentially important points for the Stingers.

The small junior men’s field provided a finish to remember as all four teams were within seconds of each other at the end. Nick Andrewartha, for Tasmania, led into the final control circle, but missed it slightly to let all three other teams through. Leon Keely’s running speed was enough to bring his Victorian team home ahead of Queensland. Victoria were the only state to field a junior girls’ team, giving them enough points to take the lead in the Junior National League for the first time this season, but Queensland now have the next two rounds at home and will fancy their chances.

Full results are expected to be available onhttp://www.vicorienteering.asn.au/2006/Foot/State/vicrelays06.html on Monday morning.