Swedish (and Cockatoo) delight at today’s NOL Round 7 with Canberra Cockatoo, and recent emigre from Sweden, Anna Danielsson taking victory by 4 seconds in the Sydney Sprint at Sydney Park. In a demanding park course Danielsson, who has moved to Canberra after becoming engaged to long-time Cockatoo Tom Quayle, showed the form that has brought her success in Sweden with a breakthrough victory in NOL race 7. Danielsson, a former representative of Sweden at junior world championships level, got home by a whisker over NSW Stinger Tracy Bluett who completed a weekend of first and second placings with another second place. Consistent Cockatoo, and leader of the NOL Senior Women’s division, Jo Allison, finished third another 2 seconds behind and Hanny Allston of the Tassie Foresters was 4th. In other notable performances first year seniors Julia Davies (Queensland Cyclones) and Mace Neve (Canberra Cockatoos) showed their potential with 5th and 6th places respectively.

In the men’s race it was another victory for one of Australia’s pre-eminent Sprint racers Grant Bluett (Canberra Cockatoos) holding off Julian Dent (NSW Stingers) by 10 seconds for victory. Bluett and Dent are continuing a ding-dong battle for the lead in the NOL Men’s title race with both of them only being out of the top three in the NOL after 7 rounds on one occasion. Tom Quayle (Canberra Cockatoos) who through an achilles injury had not been able to complete either of the longer NOL races this weekend overcame the injury to finish third, 14 seconds behind Bluett and 5 seconds ahead of round 5 winner Dave Shepherd (Canberra Cockatoos). In other notable performances Victorian Nugget Rune Olsen, NSW Stinger Eric Morris and Southern Arrow Ben Rattray all produced season-best placings for 5th, 6th and 7th respectively.

The National Orienteering League resumes in a fortnight at the ‘Call of the West’ series of races in Western Australia.