Author: craigf

Jo Allison was the best performer in the six-person Australian team who are contesting Rounds 4 and 5 of the World Cup, near Oslo in Norway. She had a solid run to finish 20th, just ahead of fellow Australian Grace Elson, who was 24th.

The men found the going harder and the field deeper. Julian Dent was the best of the Australians at 37th, with Dave Shepherd 45th, Simon Uppill 49th and Blair Trewin 62nd.

At the front end of the results there was a Norwegian double. Ann Margrethe Hausken continued an excellent season and was almost a minute clear of the field, while Anders Nordberg came back from a disappointing European Championships to post a fast time early that was never really threatened.

The event continues with a long-distance race tomorrow.

The IOF has published revised competition rules for foot orienteering, applicable from July 2008.

Changes to the 2007 revision are mostly applicable to IOF events. The only significant change to rules affecting general competition is new rule 24.15 (The results must be based on competitors’ times for the whole course. No changes may be made to these times on the basis of split times). Although OA rules have not yet been updated to reflect the IOF changes, the intent of rule 24.15 is to remove the option to adjust times where problem legs occur (a misplaced control, for example).

Previous guidelines recommended that times not be adjusted in such circumstances, but rule 24.15 explicitly disallows such an adjustment.

Revised rules.

Jukola, the world’s biggest orienteering relay was held today in Tampere, Finland, with nearly 1500 teams competing in the notoriously tough terrain. The relay is composed of 7 runners and starts in the dusk at 11pm on Saturday night and continues throughout the night, with the winning teams finishing on Sunday morning at 6am.

Several of Australia’s JWOC and WOC competitors used Jukola as part of their World Championship preparation. The Aussie Kangaroos, a team comprised of Warren Key, Kerrin Rattray, Jim Russell, Oli Mitchell, Leon Keely, Nick Andrewartha and Blair Trewin finished 230th.

The best placed Australian overall (24th) was Julian Dent who ran first leg for Malung (pictured in the front row), he started well but lost time in the wet and dark conditions later in the course. Dave Shepherd, running for Göteborg Majorna (26th) provided Australia’s best performance to be 19th fastest on 4th leg. Troy de Haas (Rasti Kurikka) and Simon Uphill (Malung 2) both produced respectable performances to be 48th and 58th fastest respectively on the competitive 6th leg.

Jo Allison took Göteborg Majorna from 66th to 44th on the second leg of the Womens Venla relay held on Saturday afternoon. She had the 59th best time on the leg. Anna Quayle produced a fantastic performance on the first leg finishing 3rd, her team Sundsvall OK eventually finished in 116th.

The IOF has published revised competition rules for mountain bike orienteering, to apply from July 1st, 2008.

Changes are generally minor, and are noted on page 30 of the new rules. Perhaps the most significant is new rule 24.9 (The results must be based on competitors’ times for the whole course. No changes may be made to these times on the basis of split times).

The rules are available from the at IOf website.

Orienteering returned to Kooyoora State Park on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend for 3 days of technically demanding orienteering.

The weekend started with good weather and Jim Russell’s high class course setting on Kooyoora Spur.  Blair Trewin (YV) led the way in M21 with a technically clean run to win by 31 seconds from Bruce Arthur (MFR), and Simon Goddard (YV).  JWOC team member, Aislinn Predergast (EU) won W21 by 2 minutes from Clare Brownridge (BG).

A stronger field started the day 2 Badge event with new WOC runner Jasmine Neve (MFR) and South Australia’s Ben Rattray winning the day.  However in the 2 day Winter Classic competition, Prendergast and Arthur came through to win the prestigious Bayside Kangaroos Winter Classic Trophy. Bruce is now closing in on Blair Trewin’s record number of men’s wins whilst Aislinn was a first time winner.

There was a good turn out on day 3 of the winter classic at Melville Caves, despite the wet and cold conditions. Simon Goddard’s innovative handicap course setting saw all grades and abilities of orienteers coming across the line together, after the quickest runners on the first short loop were sent out on longer second courses. It was a very efficient, successful and fun event. Kathryn Tarr (YV) won the queen of the mountain prize, Torgeir Watne (MFR) won king of the mountain after successfully foxing out the others in his bunch and Rob Fell (NE) took out the best dressed Captain Melville prize.

Day 1 – Results, Splits, RouteGadget
Day 2 – Results, Splits, RouteGadget
Day 3 – RouteGadget

With June 30 approaching, the minds of many Australians turn to tax. The Australian Sports Foundation provides a vehicle for you to make tax-deductible donations to your sport. Donations may be made towards one or more of the following projects:

• World Championships
• Junior World Championships
• MTBO World Championships
• Hosting Major International Events
• Hosting National Schools Championships
• State Association Equipment
• National Development Programs

Donations made towards the teams will go to support the 2008 teams which are soon to leave for Europe (or may already have left by the time you read this). Please note that a tax deduction cannot be claimed for international team projects if the donor, or an associate or relative, is a member of that team.

All donations should be made using the official form, which is available (along with further information) at www.orienteering.asn.au/donations.

To receive a tax deduction in 2007-08, donations need to be processed and received by the ASF by June 30. To make sure of this, please make sure donations are sent to the OA office (address on the form) no later than June 23. (Don’t send them directly to Blair Trewin – he will be overseas).

Sadly Bryan Keely (pictured right on the cover of the current National Magazine) has had to withdraw from competing in  Gothenburg, Sweden in JWOC2008 due to a broken foot requiring plaster and perhaps surgery.This has meant a last minute change for Geoff Stacey, as first reserve to step into his place.

Geoff has agreed to make the necessary arrangements to arrive in time for the training camp. Geoff’s comment to the management team “Wishing Bryan all the best, he’s put in so much work and is performing so well I’d be really sorry to see him miss the races” aptly reflect everyone’s thoughts at this time.

Hilary Wood
Manager Australian JWOC Team 2008

Colin Price

Marketing and Promotions Director for;
Orienteering NSW and World Masters Orienteering Carnival 2009

Finland dominated the women’s Middle Distance Final at the European Orienteering Championships taking all three medals with Heli Jukkola in first, followed by Merja Rantanen and fellow World Champions Minna Kauppi.

Australia’s Grace Elson continued her outstanding form with 37th place in the middle distance final, showing that her preparation for the World Champs is right on track.

In the men’s race it was a return to usual service with Thierry Gueorgiou once again proving that he is the world’s best orienteering technician. There was a popular silver medal to local favourite Martin Sirmais with former middle distance world champion Pasi Ikonen in third.

The middle final proved to be a true technical test in swampy low visibility terrain, even the king of middle distance Thierry Guergiou could not claim a clean run but still did enough to hold on to his crown.

Without any team mates Grace Elson will not be able to continue her fine run of form in the Relay tomorrow but you can be sure that the Australian women will be one of the teams to watch at the World Championships in the Czech Republic in July.

Grace Elson qualified for the Middle Final today with a strong perfrmance, finishing 11th in her heat which included double EOC Gold Medallist Anne Margrethe Hausken (2nd) and World Champion Minna Kauppi (1st).

Emma Engstrand (SWE) and Helena Jansson (SWE) were the other heat winners, it is sure to be an exciting final tomorrow with Elson in the thick of the action. Fastest qualifiers from the men’s heats were Thierry Gueorgiou (FRA), Valentin Novikov (RUS) and Matthias Muller (SUI).