This weekend saw Great Britain's best sprint orienteers congregate in Manchester for two days of high-speed racing to determine the team for the upcoming World Orienteering Championships in Italy.
On Saturday, South East Lancashire Orienteering Club (SELOC) hosted an individual sprint race on and around Salford University campus. The races started in a housing estate to the east, and concluded around the university buildings. Courses were planned by former GB international Jonny Crickmore (South Yorkshire Orienteers).
After winning the JK sprint convincingly, Grace Molloy (Forth Valley Orienteers) was back from Sweden for the weekend to once again dominate the women's race, finishing just over a minute ahead of Imogen Pieters (South Yorkshire Orienteers). Fiona Bunn (Edinburgh University Orienteering Club) was just 4 seconds behind Imogen in 3rd. Grace's race was particularly impressive, as she won 17 of the 18 leg times, and was just a single second behind on the other split!
Peter Molloy (Forth Valley Orienteers) continued his fine spring form, having also won the JK sprint, and had a breakthrough international performance with 13th in the World Cup sprint in Locarno. Peter won the race, 5 seconds in front of Eddie Narbett (Interlopers). The experienced Ralph Street (South London Orienteers) was 3rd, 9 seconds behind Peter. Junior James Hammond (Forth Valley Orienteers) was =4th as part of his preparations for the upcoming Junior World Orienteering Championships, with Nathan Lawson (Octavian Droobers) sharing that position, only 12 seconds behind the winner.
Below: An extract from the Men's Individual race on Salford University, and right: James Hammond at the Salford Uni GB selection and open races event. Credit: SELOC.
On Sunday, the action moved to housing estates in Offerton (Stockport). These races were organised by Manchester and District Orienteering Club, with Ben Kyd planning the courses.
In the morning, there was a short 'qualification' race, with a winning time of only 9 minutes. The winners were the same as the day before, with Grace and Peter Molloy once again showing their class. Grace was only 5 seconds ahead of New Zealand athlete Laura Robertson (South Yorkshire Orienteers), and 29 seconds ahead of Imogen Pieters. The men's race was extremely tight, with 6 athletes in 11 seconds, and 10 within 40 seconds. In 2nd and 3rd were Eddie Narbett and Ralph Street, mirroring the results from Saturday.
The afternoon saw two head-to-head rounds, simulating the Knock-Out Sprint discipline. Athletes were split into 2 'even' Semi-Finals, and the top 3 from these qualified for the A Final. In the Women's Semi-Finals (which including a butterfly), Grace Molloy and Laura Roberston were both clear winners. It was much tighter in the Men's Semi-Finals, with Peter Molloy and David Bunn winning tight sprint finishes.
The Women's A Final was again dominated by Grace Molloy and Imogen Pieters, with Imogen pushing Grace all the way - in the end Grace was the strongest in a sprint finish, with Laura Robertson 3rd and Fiona Bunn 4th. The Men's A Final was also, once again, won by Peter Molloy, in a very tight battle with Freddie Carcas (Interlopers). Nathan Lawson, Ralph Street, and David Bunn all finished within 10 seconds.
Selections will be made and announced this week.
Thank you very much to all the organising teams from South East Lancashire Orienteering Club and Manchester and District Orienteering Club.
Latest News
Selection races take over Manchester ahead of WOC Team GB Announcement
Sarah Brown of South London Orienteers passes away
