The recent MTB Orienteering World Championships in Portugal saw Australia’s contingent of 5 riders have great success.

Victoria’s Carolyn Jackson won gold in all three distances, sprint, middle & long in W50. Peter Cusworth (M60) was 2nd in sprint, 3rd in long and 8th in middle.

Thor Egerton (W40) was 2nd in sprint and took the bronze in the other two events.  Jon Sutcliffe (M40) & Carolyn Cusworth (W50) also participated well.

This week-end in Canberra sees the last round of the MTB Orienteering National Series events being held in the fantastic trails of Sparrow Hill & Kowen Forest.   There will be the Australian (and ACT) sprint championship & the ACT middle championships on the Saturday followed by the ACT long championships on the Sunday.  MTBO statistician Blake Gordon will be on hand to do the final maths so that the national series trophies can be presented on the Sunday.

In men’s elite the WA pair of Ricky Thackray & Ian Dalton are making the trip across, with local Seb Dunne and NSW’s Steven Todkill amongst a strong field that will challenge them.  Women’s elite is a three way match up.  The M20 class sees Victorian Tim Jackson being confronted by ACT brother’s Ian & Paul de Jongh.   Paul is very fast normally but could be a little tired after riding outstandingly well for 3^rd in the U23 class at the Solo World MTB 24 hour event last weekend.

Carolyn Jackson, having just won three gold medals at the Masters, will be challenged by ACT riders Jasmine Sunley and Danielle Winslow.  Jasmine has just made the transition from the juniors while Danielle is a former WOC foot O orienteer and outstanding adventure racer who is getting back into competition after the birth of her first child.

Full details of the following MTBO positions (and WOC & JWOC foot O positions) will be uploaded tomorrow.

Australian MTB Orienteering Coach.

Time Period: October 2013 to September 2015.

Job Requirements:

Primary role:

Coach of the combined WMTBOC & JWMTBOC team, with a management role within Australia.

Remuneration: The position is voluntary in its nature. Negotiated funding is available to support squad & team activities and coach expenses within Australia. All expenses will be met for travel to WOC. 

2014 Mountain Bike Orienteering World Championships Australian Team Manager.

Time Period:  For 2014 World Championships.

Role:

Co-ordinate the day to day arrangements of the Australian team (WMTBOC & JMTBOC team members) whilst they are overseas, both at the pre-champs training camp and at WMTBOC itself.   This specifically involves food, accommodation and travel needs.

Assist the coach through being present at the finish of all WMTBOC competitions, so as to meet the immediate needs of the riders.

Manage the team budget on a daily basis and maintain financial records of items spent whilst overseas and forward these on in orderly fashion to the coach, at the conclusion of the WMTBOC carnival.

Assist with publicity for the team via the OA website, Facebook and any blogs, in conjunction with the Coach.

Remuneration: The position is voluntary in its nature. All overseas based expenses at the training camp and during WMTBOC will be met.  This covers accommodation, food and car travel.