World Orienteering Championships – Long Distance Qualification

Yesterday the athletes were racing in Ballens in the Long Distance Qualification races.  For Claire, Matt and Scott, it was about putting their results from the day before aside and starting anew.

In the women’s qualifications Simone Niggli-Luder once more dominated her qualification group, and in heat A, the Russian Tatyana Riabkina topped the standings, whist Minna Kauppi (FIN) managed to win heat C.

On relatively fast courses, Claire qualified strongly with a 4^th place in her heat and said of her run afterwards that it was a scrappy run that improved as she got into the course so she was pleased to have qualified strongly.

Both Sarah Rollins (12^th in her heat) and Helen Bridle (14^th in her heat) join Claire in Thursdays finals. Helen enjoyed her run because she ran felt she ran steadily in a forest that was more runnable than expected.

Sarah Rollins (Credit - World of O)

Helen Bridle (Credit - World of O)

In the men’s qualifications, the Norwegian Olav Lundanes won heat A, Matthias Merz took advantage of his upcoming three days off (he will not take compete for the middle distance) to qualify in first position in heat B, and the Latvian Edgars Bertuks won heat C.

Of the British men, Scott finished in 9^th in his heat, but unfortunately both Matt Speake (20^th) and Hector Haines (19^th) failed to qualify for the Long Distance Final.

Matt Speake (Credit - World of O)

Hector Haines (Credit - Martin Ward)

Matt and Hector in quiet reflection (Credit - Martin Ward)

Dave Rollins said after the Long Distance Qualification races had finished “It was fantastic to see members of the team qualify well, Scott and Claire both performed brilliantly, and it was great to see all the women getting though to the final. Unfortunately not everyone does get through and that is really tough especially after the hard work and time that goes into an athlete’s preparation. Having spoken with the athletes that failed to make the Long Distance Final, they have learnt some valuable lessons and are more determined than ever to make WOC finals in the future.”

Full results can be found on the World Orienteering Championships here

The athletes meet again today for the Middle Distance Qualification races in St-George.