The SILVA National Orienteering League continued on Sunday with a long distance mass start multi loop race for elites.

For some runners, the biggest navigational challenge of the day was finding the event, with one car load of runners arriving at 10:01am and just missing the start.

Once the race began, it was clear that packs would be split into groups.  There were 3 combinations on the first half of each lap, and another 3 combinations after a common control on the second half of each lap (with everyone running the same last 4 controls).

The Men’s elite had 14.4km, and when the leaders came together for the last common loop, it was David Shepherd who was ahead.  He went on to win, ahead of Simon Uppill and Grant Bluett.  But it was the Southern Arrows’ runners Reuben Smith and Kerrin Rattray who finished 4th and 5th to win the teams race ahead of Canberra Cockatoos.

At the half way point of the season, the Cockatoos still lead the standings on 74 points ahead of the Southern Arrows on 68 and NSW Stingers on 48.

The Cockatoos gained maximum points in the women’s race though, with Jo Allison winning convincingly.  Susanne Casanova had a great day coming second ahead of Kathryn Ewels.

Again the Cockatoos lead on 74 points ahead of Victoria Nuggets 67 and Southern Arrows 47.

The SILVA National Orienteering League takes a short break now with rounds 10–12 in Tasmania in May.

Results and Splits* now available.

[*there is a known bug in the splits file and the organisers will fix it as soon as possible]