Sunday saw the first race of the World Orienteering Championships, the Mixed Sprint Relay. Taking place in the complex old city centre of Kolding Denmark, the route choice involved railway and river as well as narrow streets, alleyways, and backyards.

The GB team of Charlotte Ward, Ralph Street, Kris Jones, and Megan Carter-Davies was going into the Championships as one of the strong contenders for a medal, especially after a good performance in World Cup 1, where the team was also hit by illness.

Charlotte Ward (GB) ran a confident and strong first Leg handing over to Ralph Street (GB) in 3rd place. The race was already thought to be both physically and navigationally challenging but during the second Leg, several of the international teams made an unexpected error that cost 30-45 seconds. Ralph however demonstrated his strong navigational skills to not follow the pack but make his own route choice which saw him hand over to Kris Jones (GB) in 2nd place.

Kris Jones (GB) who showed exceptional performances on the track last year, ran a great leg to hand over to Megan Carter-Davies (GB) in 1st place, with World Champion Tove Alexandersson (SWE) starting close behind. Alexandersson once again demonstrated her usual strength and speed, and although Megan kept her within sight for a good proportion of the course, she finished well ahead after the final forking.

This is the first Relay medal won at the World Championships since 2008 and hopefully the start of a great Championship.

Sprint Relay results

1. Sweden (Lina Strand, Max Peter Bejmer, Gustav Bergman, Tove Alexandersson)
2. Great Britain (Charlotte Ward, Ralph Street, Kris Jones, Megan Carter Davies) + 1.02
3. Norway (Ane Dyrkorn, Lukas Liland, Kasper Fosser, Andrine Benjaminsen) + 1.41
4. Switzerland + 1.47
5. Denmark + 1.49
6. France + 1.52

Results and more can be found at IOF LIVE.

Congratulations to the GB team…Charlotte Ward, Ralph Street, Kris Jones, Megan Carter-Davies.

Fantastic result!  Well done, and very well deserved.

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The next event is the Knock-Out Sprint on Tuesday (28 June), with a qualification in the morning and quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals in the afternoon.

The Knock-Out Sprint event saw Megan Carter-Davies bring home a silver medal in the recent World Cup 1, behind Alexandersson (SWE), and will also have GB Ralph Street, Kris Jones, and Charlotte Ward joined by GB Jonathan Crickmore, and GB Grace Molloy.

Follow the competition at IOF LIVE - Knock-Out Sprint

The Individual Sprint will take place this Thursday (30 June).

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All photo credits: IOF / William Hollowell

Follow all the action live here.

Wishing the GB team all the very best of luck. 

Experience:  When did you start/How did you get into Orienteering?
“I started orienteering around the age of 12 when my parents started taking me to events.”
 

Clubs:  What orienteering clubs have you been part of?
"​Forth Valley Orienteers, Swansea Bay Orienteering Club."
 

Coach: 
​"Self-coached."
 

Training Routine:
"​Typically, two harder sessions a week - normally on Tuesday and Friday - with a longer run on the weekend. All other runs are easy. Normally I run between 80 and 100 miles a week."
 

Race Routine/habits:
"​I normally like to do a short 15–20-minute jog in the morning before a race but this might not happen on the day of the Knock-out Sprint as there are already four races that day."
 

Favourite terrain/venue/event in UK/World ​
"Sand dune terrain like the areas on the Gower peninsula."
 

Favourite Food:
"Anything sweet."
 

Other Hobbies:
"​Mostly just running and orienteering. Alongside full-time work that keeps me busy."
 

Inspirations:
"​The 2008 World Orienteering Championships Relay Team - Jamie Stevenson, Jon Duncan, and Graham Gristwood.​"
 

What advice would you give to a younger version of yourself?
​"Enjoy what you are doing, and success will follow."

British Orienteering wishes you all the very best Kris with your final preparations.

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The World Orienteering Championships 2022 in Denmark starts tomorrow afternoon (Sunday 26 June) with the Sprint Relay. 
In the run-up to the Championships, British Orienteering has been posting interviews of the GB team so that all members can get to know the GB team.  Today is the last interview with GB Kris Jones, but if you missed any then you can still view them here on the following links.

Interview with GB Elite Athlete: ALICE LEAKE

Interview with GB Elite Athlete: MEGAN CARTER-DAVIES

Interview with GB Elite Athlete: CHARLOTTE WARD

Interview with GB Elite Athlete: GRACE MOLLOY

Interview with GB Elite Athlete: JONATHAN CRICKMORE

Interview with GB Elite Athlete: NATHAN LAWSON

Interview with GB Elite Orienteering Athlete: RALPH STREET

The International Orienteering Federation brings the World Orienteering Championships LIVE and the world's best orienteers to your living room with the HQ TV stream with English commentary and much more. 

Watch all the live-action here throughout the week.

Good Luck to the British Team.