IOF President Brian Porteous with Kris Jones (left) and Peter Hodkinson (right).  Photo credit :Erik Borg

The International Orienteering Federation (IOF) President Brian Porteous went proudly to greet his national team at the end of the race yesterday. Great Britain did better than ever before in a Sprint Relay, but there is still more to aim for.

Cat Taylor at the Finish with team-mates.  Photo credit: Erik Borg

There were a lot of happy British faces after Cat Taylor (27) had finished the last Leg. The GB team finished in fourth place. That’s a big step forward. “We have all run good Legs, and an important reason for doing well is a very good team spirit”, Cat's team-mates say. “This is the best for GB in the Sprint Relay at the World Orienteering Championships so far, and there is more to come”.

A medal position is something the good British sprinters really want to achieve.

The Leg times show that Kris Jones (25) was particularly fast on the third Leg, but all did well. Charlotte Ward (23) and Peter Hodkinson (25) ran the other two Legs.

One year ago the British team was fourteenth on home ground.

Great Britain Mixed Sprint Relay Team (left to right): Cat Taylor, Kris Jones, Peter Hodkinson, Charlotte Ward.   Photo credit: Erik Borg

For Cat Taylor it will soon be one more diploma from the World Orienteering Championships, with this fourth place. She will get it at the prize-giving tonight (Monday evening). She received two diplomas last year, coming fifth in the Middle Distance and six on the Long. Now she is running in her other ‘home country’. She’s been living in Sweden for some years now, and knows how to tackle her next race – the Long Distance on Thursday (25 August). “And the good result in the Sprint Relay has taken away a lot of pressure”, Catherine says.
 

Item posted by Jennie Taylor, Marketing Manager on behalf of the International Orienteering Federation (IOF).