Bridget Anderson had a very good race in the JWOC Middle Distance A finals at Hogsbro. Finishing 28th in a very competitive field of 60 competitors is a promising result for 2009 where Bridget is going to work towards a podium finish in Italy. The terrain was rough and tough with open clear and bare rock on the ridges interspersed with complex gullies and tiny marshes in the green. Picking your route was one challenge and then being able to approach the circle and read within the circle accurately and quickly was the next challenge. Bridget was able to do both reasonably well.

Nick Andrewartha and Rachel Effeney were able to clear some ‘demons’ from the previous day to come up with better runs in their races. Nick finished 4th in his C final but knows where he lost time on 6th and 12th control. Oliver Mitchell had a steady run finishing 8’41” behind the winner in the B final. Aislinn Prendergast and Oscar Phillips showed potential with some fast splits but still made costly mistakes on some controls. The middle distance race is about accurate sharp navigation and minimising mistakes.

This terrain is unforgiving and when one loses contact with where one is it is very costly in terms of relocating and a couple of the Aussies have found this out. Leon Keely and Laurina Neumann are struggling in this complex terrain.

Hilary Wood