Okay, I know this is the Australian Orienteering home page but I’m sure that Aussie orienteers are also very excited by the outstanding success of 19 year old New Zealander Matt Odgen in winning the middle distance championship!   Matt started mid-field and had an excruciating wait to see whether later starters would beat his time.  Matt’s success wasn’t totally unexpected as he is a third time JWOC team member and did well in all races in 2011 finishing 15^th (middle), 21^st (sprint) and 30^th (long).  The Kiwis have a strong group of top orienteers at the moment and they will finish high up in the country team category at these championships.  As one Kiwi wrote on their forum:  “to borrow and modify a phrase from Thierry The Great, “no longer will the Scandinavians laugh when they see NZ on the starting list.”

On the Aussie front Ian Lawford had a solid run to finish 27^th in the A final, thus adding to his 20^th from the sprint.   WA’s Oscar McNulty came through with a pleasing 3^rd place in the “C” final, after not being totally healthy earlier in the week.  There were 47 starters in that race.   Michele Dawson again had a really classy result to finish 17^th in the “B” final.      The Championships conclude with the relays on Friday.

1. Ogden Matt NZL      27:55.9
2. Petržela Jan CZE      28:08.5            0:12.6
3. Schneider Florian SUI 28:09.2            0:13.3
4. Hann Nick NZL      30:50.8            2:54.9
5. Lawford Ian AUS     31:24.3            3:28.4 

Men “B”

1. Diener Lukas SUI       26:35.0
2. Robertson Tim NZL      28:44.6            2:09.6
3. Dewett Magnus DEN     29:01.5            2:26.5
4. Morrison DuncanNZL     32:27.1            5:52.1
5. Gregory Kasimir AUS     33:37.6            7:02.6 
6. Nankervis BrodieAUS    34:31.9            7:56.9 
7. Paterson Liam NZL      35:32.8           8:57.8

Poland Oliver                         AUS     DNS / DNF 

Men “C”

1. Baudot Remi FRA      24:05.9
2. Gillet Julien BEL     25:37.7            1:31.8
3. McNulty Oscar AUS     25:57.7            1:51.8 
4. Batin Ryan NZL      28:08.5            4:02.6
5. Massey Alex AUS     28:33.6           4:27.7 

Women       3.6 km 

1. Alexandersson Tove SWE 23:42.5
2. Sandberg Frida SWE     24:35.6            0:53.1
3. Mueller SandrineSUI       25:30.1            1:47.6
4. Robertson Laura NZL      28:45.0            5:02.5

Women “B”

1. Klysner Cecilie Friber DEN     23:19.6
2. Ivanova KristinaBUL     24:29.5            1:09.9
3. Poirot Delphine FRA      24:32.8            1:13.2
4. Dawson Michele AUS     28:06.6            4:47.0 
5. Saville Cosette NZL      29:01.9            5:42.3
6. Anderson Sarah NZL      29:53.3            6:33.7
7. Metherell Selena NZL      30:19.5            6:59.9
8. McMillan Jula NZL      30:24.3            7:04.7
9. Muir Heather AUS     31:47.3            8:27.7 
10. Burrill Lilian AUS     33:34.4            10:14.8
11. Buckerfield Amy AUS     46:40.7           23:21.1