New Zealand orienteer Mathew Ogden has won the Middle Distance Junior World Orienteering Championships in Slovakia.

Ogden completed the 4.8km course in 27min 55sec, 13 seconds ahead of Jan Petržela from the Czech Republic.

The forest used for the race was steep in parts with intricate terrain detail including gullies and marshes.

Only the top 20 competitors from each of the three qualifying heats, held the previous day, went through to the A final. The remainder competing in the B and C finals.

Nick Hann, from New Zealand, also qualified for the A final, finishing in 21st place..

The best New Zealand result for the women was Laura Robertson finishing 27th in the A final.

All New Zealand Results

Men A Final
1. Matthew Ogden
21. Nick Hann

Men B Final
2. Tim Robertson
25. Duncan Morrison
45. Liam Paterson

Men C Final
7. Ryan Batin

Women A Final
27. Laura Robertson

Women B Final
21. Cosette Saville
27. Sarah Anderson
29. Selena Metherell
30. Jula McMillan

Full Results
http://jwoc2012.sk/files/middle-f/results.pdf

Men A Final Split Times:
http://www.jwoc2012.sk/files/middle-f/M20A.HTM

JWOC 2012 Middle Final: Maps and Results
http://news.worldofo.com/2012/07/12/jwoc-middle-final-maps-and-results-2/

Matt Ogden at last year's Junior World Champs

Race three of the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) World Cup will be held on Hawke’s Bay farmland in January 2013.

Over 200 athletes are expected to take part in the World Cup races in New Zealand starting with a middle distance event over intricate sand dunes on a coastal strip around Otaki and Waikanae. Race two is a sprint event based in Wellington City while race three will be a middle distance event over farmland between Rissington and Patoka to the west of Hastings.

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule says “Congratulations must go to members of the Hawke’s Bay Orienteering Club who have worked so hard to bring this event to the region. This is the first time since 1994 that the World Cup has been raced in New Zealand.”

Mr Yule says “These types of events are great for our accommodation providers, tourist attractions and retailers. January 2013 is going to be a massive time for Hastings District and we look forward to our visitors enjoying a positive experience during their stay.”

“Race three of the World Cup will double as a round of the Oceania Championship and that should see a further 600 athletes come to the region. The venue for the races has been chosen with spectators in mind but will prove very challenging for the competitors, Mr Yule says.”

Organisers are promising varied terrain for the three rounds which includes fast sand dunes, rolling farmland with bush and pine plantations, open farmland with intricate limestone rock and the urban setting of Wellington City.

The Hawke’s Bay round will include a World Cup MODEL event on Saturday January 12th which also acts as race six of the Oceania Carnival. On Sunday January 13th, race three of the World Cup will be held which will double as race seven of the Oceania Carnival. The three races in New Zealand are compulsory events for anyone who is serious about contesting the overall world title.

Competitors and supporters will be invited to a prizegiving/farewell dinner to be held at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House on Sunday January 13th 2013.  

The Orienteering World Cup Carnival has become part of the recently released Hawke’s Bay Regional Events Strategy. The strategy focuses on having different organisations work in collaboration and form partnerships to ensure Hawke’s Bay is an event friendly destination. The orienteering event is a great example of this, with five organisations joining together to support and promote the event.

The organisations involved are Hastings District Council, Napier City Council, Tourism Hawke’s Bay, Hawke’s Bay Orienteering Club and Sport Hawke’s Bay. 

Further details are available at http://www.oceania2013.co.nz/

More superb results for Lizzie Ingham and Chris Forne at the World Orienteering Championships.

A third top 20 placing for Wellingtonian Lizzie Ingham at the World Orienteering Championships - in the middle distance - makes her the best performed New Zealander at a World Championships.

Lizzie’s 18th place in the Montagne de Lachat map near La Féclaz in France was a hard-fought effort on a course designed to test the world best to the limits, with all expected to make some mistakes in the rocky and intricate forests in sight of Mont Blanc.

The ultimate winners Thierry Gueorgiou (France) and Helena Jansson (Sweden) made the smallest of mistakes and recovered within seconds.

Ingham was one of just two women (Helena Jansson the other) competing in all three finals after three successful qualifications, and was orienteering fantastically through the forest, with minimal mistakes and staving off weariness almost to the end.

But it was the last of the tricky controls in the forest that cost her a top ten placing as she overshot it, relocating on the clearing past it and returned having lost 3 minutes of crucial time.

The three individual placings of Ingham - 11th, 18th and 13th - have been slightly bettered in single instances by Katie Fettes (10th in long) and Tania Robinson (16th in the middle), but none have put together such a comprehensive week of world-class performances.

Chris Forne, who has in the past reached the top twenty twice in a Worlds week was also in good form and closed out his week with a second top 30 placing.

After his gruelling 5.4km race, Forne as first starter was cautiously optimistic of a good performance: “It was real tricky, and hot too. I’m pleased with my run but a minute lost on finding the last forested control might cost me a few places.”

After 80 minutes of waiting all the results were up and Chris’s 28th was the third in the top 30 for the men in the week with Ross Morrison 25th in the sprint and Chris 25th in the long.

Along with Lizzie Inghams 3 top 20 places and the excellent middle distance qualification races of Penny Kane and Amber Morrison the 2011 team have put together a superb week in challenging terrain.

And more is to come - the team relays - with high hopes for both mens and womens teams who have raced themselves into top form.

The relays commence at 2:00pm (12:00am NZ time) and 2:30pm (12:30am NZ time), and comprise teams of three men and three women.


Results: World Orienteering Championships, Savoie Grand Revard, France
Middle distance, La Féclaz, August 17

Women 3.8km

1 JANSSON Helena SWE 33:10
2 BOBACH Ida DEN 34:26
3 WYDER Judith SUI 35:11
4 KAUPPI Minna FIN 35:19
5 VINOGRADOVA Natalia RUS 35:28
6 ALM Maja DEN 35:31
7 ANDERSEN Marianne NOR 35:49
8 RANTANEN Merja FIN 36:32
9 BILLSTAM Annika SWE 36:42
10 CHATAING Amélie FRA 36:59
18 INGHAM Lizzie NZL 39:08
38 MORRISON Amber NZL 47:30
40 KANE Penny NZL 47:51

Men 5.4km

1 GUEORGIOU Thierry FRA 34:38
2 ÖBERG Peter SWE 36:59
3 LUNDANES Olav NOR 37:01
4 KRATOV Oleksandr UKR 37:30
5 VYTAUTAS GVILDYS Jonas LTU 37:45
6 GONON François FRA 37:46
7 LASSEN Tue DEN 38:26
8 MUELLER Matthias SUI 38:40
9 ADAMSKI Philippe FRA 38:43
10 ROLLIER Baptiste SUI 38:55
29 FORNE Chris NZL 43:31


 

New Zealands top orienteers face a day of truth today in the World Orienteering Championship Middle Distance final.

Last Sunday four of the six person team advanced through the heats, all three of the women: Lizzie Ingham, Amber Morrison and Penny Kane as well as the indomitable Chris Forne.

The middle distance is the most technically demanding of the three individual disciplines. With winning times of around 30 minutes, tomorrows events will take place largely on a steep and rocky karst slope under the shade of mature beech trees. Competitors will pop out to the glare of the spectator arena before a final loop that adds to the drama.

In World Championship finals all competitors wear a gps tracking device that feeds live onto the internet and into the television broadcast that is displayed on a big screen at the event. Mistakes can be seen and replayed around the orienteering world.

Of the kiwis, Lizzie Ingham is the most likely to feature near the top of the results list. She has stepped into top echelon of world orienteers this week. Three confident and secure qualification races capped by 11th and 13th places in the sprint and long finals. A top ten result is very plausible.

Morrison and Kane are also eyeing top 20 results. Morrison who qualified an outstanding 5th in her heat seems to be finally over the foot problems that have dogged the beginning of her elite career. The challenge tomorrow will be finding the right opportunities to use her undoubted speed. Kane on the other hand will be looking for the rough detailed legs to gain an edge on her competition.

As for Forne, what can you say. The world 24hour rogaining champion prepared for this championship with a 200km mountain race and a road cycling tour of Iceland. He will bookend it with a month travelling in Nepal and the World Adventure Racing championship in Tasmania. He is not your usual athlete! Starting first expect him to hold the lead until at least halfway down the field.

As for the favourites, eight times world champion Thierry Georgiou must be a good chance although Swede Peter Overgrown defeated him in the qualification. While in the women it is hard to go past the all conquering Swedish team who have garnered five of the six medals won to date.

Tough going for New Zealanders at World Orienteering Championships.

Lizzie Ingham followed up her superb 11th place in the sprint with an equally impressive 13th place in a tough 10.3 km long distance race at the 2011 World Orienteering Championships.

Soaring temperatures of 30 degrees plus and a steep, physical 10.3 km course on the hillsides across from Mount Blanc in La Féclaz, France pushed the 45 female finalists from 50 countries right to their limits.

Ingham’s performance in the long distance - the original - format of orienteering has been bettered by a New Zealander only once: Katie Fettes who finished 10th in Czechoslovakia in 1991.

As one of only two women to qualify for all three finals at the 2011 Championships, Ingham gets a welcome rest day before tackling her least favoured format, the middle distance.

The NZ long and sprint distance champion will have her teammates to race against though, as NZ middle distance champion and fellow Wellingtonian Penny Kane, and Hawkes Bay’s Amber Morrison also qualified strongly for the middle final.

New Zealand’s best performed male at sprint, middle and long distance Worlds, Norwegian-based Cantabrian Chris Forne, drew on all of his renowned endurance skills to finish the extreme 15.8 km mens course where only the top ten finished in under two hours.

The former World Adventure racing champion finished strongly in 2 hours and 13 minutes for 28th place, with his 17th long placing in 2009 still standing as the best by a NZ male at any distance.

Forne also has a rest day before tackling the middle distance final and then the relay, where this year New Zealand fields exceptionally strong and talented male and female teams.

Host country France were dominant in the mens with Thierry Geourgeou picking up his first long distance title and his seventh in total; teammate Francois Gonon was third.

Sweden came close to another clean sweep of the top three places, with Annika Billstam taking first and Helena Jansson third.

Results: World Orienteering Championships, Savoie Grand Revard, France Long distance, La Féclaz, August 17

Women 10.3km
1 Annika BILLSTAM SWE 1:22:26 0:00
2 Dana BROZKOVA CZE 1:26:54
3 Helena JANSSON SWE 1:29:55
4 Eva JURENIKOVA CZE 1:30:58
5 Heidi Østlid BAGSTEVOLD NOR 1:31:57
6 Anni-Maija FINCKE FIN 1:34:06
13 Lizzie INGHAM NZL 1:39:42

Men 15.8 km

1 Thierry GUEORGIOU FRA 1:47:29
2 Pasi IKONEN FIN 1:51:56
3 François GONON FRA 1:53:35
4 Baptiste ROLLIER SUI 1:55:26 +
5 Daniel HUBMANN SUI 1:57:05
6 Olle BOSTRÖM SWE 1:57:
28. Chris FORNE NZL 2:13:38

 

New Zealand finalists in top form at World Orienteering Championships.

Lizzie Ingham set a new standard for New Zealand in the sprint running the race of her life at the World Orienteering Championships to finish 11th in Chambéry, France.

This is the best ever sprint performance by any New Zealander at World Orienteering Championships, and is tantalizingly close to the 10th place achieved in the long distance by Katie Fettes twenty years ago.

“Absolutely stoked” said Lizzie, who qualified for all three finals at the Worlds, “I had the fitness and I’m pleased my navigation was solid.”

Just 1.5 seconds separated Lizzie from the ranks of the top ten.

Ross Morrison also produced his best-ever World Championships race to place 25th in the final, the same placing achieved by team-mate Chris Forne in 2010; only Chris has placed higher, with 20th in 2009.

A flying start for Ross saw him in 5th place at the halfway point, dropping to 9th at the map change.

But a small 20 second navigational error at the 17th control was the end of Ross’s top-ten chances as he - and former sprint World Champion Andrey Khramov who was leading at this stage - both slipped out of the top ten to ultimately finish 25th and 26th.

The placings were also affected by a touch of controversy, after runners were disqualified in the heats, and then reinstated; Scott Fraser (Great Britain) benefited most to finish 9th.

The hot favourites – the Swedish women and Swiss men - were true to form with the women cleaning up 1st (Linnea Gustafsson), 2nd and 3rd place, and the Swiss men taking 1st (Daniel Hubmann), 3rd and 6th place.

Lizzie Ingham joins a well-rested Chris Forne, New Zealands other finalist, in the long distance at 11:55pm and 11:03pm (NZ time) Wednesday evening.

Results
World Orienteering Championships, Savoie Grand Revard, France
Sprint distance, Chambéry
Women
1 GUSTAFSSON Linnea SWE 13:14.3
2 JANSSON Helena SWE 13:22.7
3 ELIASSON Lena SWE 13:28.5
4 ALM Maja DEN 13:54.4
5 TIKHONOVA Anastasiya RUS 14:00.3
6 FINCKE Anni-Maija FIN 14:01.1
6 KLINGENBERG Emma DEN 14:01.1
8 VINOGRADOVA Galina RUS 14:04.5
9 FRIEDERICH Rahel SUI 14:05.7
10 JURENIKOVA Eva CZE 14:10.8
11 INGHAM Lizzie NZL 14:12.3

Men
1 HUBMANN Daniel SUI 13:11.8 0
2 HOLMBERG Anders SWE 13:37.8
3 MUELLER Matthias SUI 13:41.2
4 GRISTWOOD Graham GBR 13:58.8
5 ZINCA Ionut ROU 14:05.1
6 MERZ Matthias SUI 14:07.1
7 MERL Robert AUT 14:11.6
8 PROCHAZKA Jan CZE 14:13.0
9 FRASER Scott GBR 14:14.8
10 TRANCHAND Frédéric FRA 14:15.7
25 MORRISON Ross NZL 14:42.8
26 KHRAMOV Andrey RUS 14:46.4

 

A strong start for some of the New Zealand team and a rest day leads to tactical team changes before the sprints start today.

Chris Forne, after qualifying for both the middle and long distance finals, is taking an extra days rest to prepare and will sit out the sprint heats and finals.

Although New Zealand’s best at the sprint distance in previous Worlds, he leaves the sprint team in good hands with top ranked New Zealander Ross Morrison and current NZ sprint champion Toby Scott, and reserve Tane Cambridge.

After missing out on qualifying for the Middle distance final by 2 minutes, Tane had thought his Championships campaign was over, and he’s relishing his second chance: “Time for the bonus round for me! Can’t wait.”

Morrison is aiming high in the sprint where he has made a big impression on the European circuit over the past two years, and is hoping to improve on his World Games 10th placing of 2009 to make the podium (top 6).

After a top 10 against a “mean field” at the Swedish O-Ringen, Morrison was pleased with his quality racing buildup and lack of major injuries and is “looking good for the Worlds”.

Already making an impact at the Worlds is Ross’s sister Amber who in her middle distance debut qualified for the final comfortably in 5th place (first 15 to qualify).

Joining her in the final are the rest of the NZ womens team, Lizzie Ingham, in scintillating form after qualifying for the long distance, and several-times NZ middle distance champion Penny Kane.

They are up against a very strong Swedish team including favourite Linnea Gustafsson, and a strong Danish team.

The Swiss are strong favourites for the mens sprint with current world champion Matthias Müller the weakest of the Swiss team, but neither Russian Andrey Khramov nor the Swedish, French or Norwegian sprinters can be discounted for top placings.

Racing commences (heats) at 9am France time (7pm NZ time) Tuesday 16th August and finals at 3pm (1am NZ time) the same day.

 

The New Zealand orienteering team is in great shape as they count down the final hours before the World Orienteering Championships kick off in Savoie Grand Revard, France.

In stark contrast to 2010 the team is at full-strength and uninjured - with no bruised ankle-bones for Lizzie Ingham, or last minute appendectomies for Ross Morrison.

A week of intense competition in Europe, has put Ingham into top form - with a win on day 5 at the Swiss 7-day: “ Six races in seven days have seen the rust off my navigation and my fitness is now the best it’s been.”

With a full-strength womens team this year - with NZ Champion Penny Kane (middle distance) and long distance runner-up Amber Morrison alongside her - Lizzie is looking forward to a big week of racing: “All the preparation is done now, all that's left is to put it to good use in the forest.”

Dual National and Silva Superseries Champion Ross Morrison has put himself into the top ten placings in build-up races, in-line with his goal of a podium (top six) placing in the sprint: I’ve been getting a good feeling for the maps, terrain and the best places to run. One of the highlights for me has to be the sprint training in Annecy. It was such a beautiful city, and we finished the training (with sister Amber) with huge grins on our faces.”

Last years campaign was impacted by an appendectomy ten days prior to the week of the Worlds and the only issue this year for Ross is sore ankles from intense training in the rough and rocky terrain.

A positive mindset is his secret weapon for the week: “the running is difficult in places, and the navigation even more so, but that’s what orienteering is all about!”

Norwegian based Chris Forne has kept a low profile in his buildup, but his efforts in running 225 km in under 27 hours to smash the record for the Norwegian ‘26 peaks Race’ by 11 hours have not gone unnnoticed.

The former World Adventure Racing champion and current World Rogaining champion(24 hour navigation) has the supreme fitness and navigational skill to be the best in the world in the longer finals at the tail-end of the Championships week.


With in-form NZ junior representative Toby Scott joining the team, after superb racing at the Junior Worlds, and specialist runners Michael Adams (long distance) and Tane Cambridge (middle distance), the mens team has one of its strongest relay teams in years, and two talented reserves in hand.

Racing gets underway at 1130 am French time Saturday 13 August (930 pm NZ time)

World Orienteering Championships Programme

Saturday 13th – Long Qualification: 1130-1400 (French time) Women, 1310-1620 Men
Sunday 14th – Middle Qualification: 1400-1530 Women, 1510-1700 Men
Monday 15th – Rest day
Tuesday 16th Morning – Sprint Qualification: 0900-0950 Women, 0935-1035 Men
Tuesday 16th Afternoon – Sprint Final: 1501-1600 Women, 1605-1705 Men
Wednesday 17th – Long Final: 1231-1610 Women, 1300-1700 Men
Thursday 18th – Rest day
Friday 19th – Middle Final: 1331-1535 Women, 1510-1715 Men
Saturday 20th – Relay: 1315-1500 Women, 1515-1700 Men

Note: France is 10 hours behind New Zealand time




 

An exciting relay finish to the Junior World Orienteering Championships saw the New Zealand team pick up more world-class results and justify their tag of "best-ever junior team".

The women were the first out in the forest in the high-speed relay format.

Led by Kate Morrison the New Zealanders were in 10th at the first changeover, and Jaime Goodwin took over for the team, just 3 minutes back from the leading Swede.

A see-saw battle ensued but Goodwin kept the team in 10th place, handing over to Angela Simpson for the final leg.

After a superb week of four tough races - including a podium 6th place for Angela - pressure and tiredness were expected to impact on the anchor leg runners.

But adrenaline and a “big-race” mentality kicked in, and Simpson had another world class run to move the team into 9th place, equalling the best-ever relay performance by a junior team (9th in Lithuania in 1997).

New Zealand champion Lizzie Ingham summed it up: “We've never quite put it together in the girls relay like we're capable of - it seems hard to get 3 good runs together. But this year the team has done it!”

More excitement come as the mens team of Gene Beveridge, Matt Ogden and Toby Scott toed the start line.

Gene Beveridge was the first man out and ran a world-class race to keep pace with the lead pack, despite the “splits” - course variations to reduce following in mass starts.

He was just 29 seconds behind the Estonian Raido Mitt at the changeover - with 16 runners all bunched within just 71 seconds.

New Zealander spectators hopes soared to see Matt Ogden head out amongst the worlds best juniors, some 2 minutes in front of middle distance champion Robert Merl.

Spectators were occasionally informed of the “swarming” lead packs progress via radio controls, with the Austrian Merl drawing closer to the front and Matt Ogden racing like never before.

Then - "in second at the spectator control" - "in fourth at the second last control" - Ogden was right up there and New Zealand was looking better than ever before!

Robert Merl accelerated to the lead with the host nation’s Rafa³ Podziñski nine seconds behind him, and then Matt Ogden flew in to the 3rd leg changeover at the front of a pack of ten runners strung out over 52 seconds.

Toby Scott then took on the anchor leg against the world-class orienteers, all heading at breakneck pace through the Polish forest, one eye on the map and the other on the pack.

It was a long and tense eight kilometres and when they emerged at the finish the Polish runner raced in ahead of a long line strung out over several minutes.

Scott had raced his heart out and stayed in touch with the race but couldn’t get past the determined Europeans, bringing the team home in a spectacular 12th place.

Spectators and web-viewers could now draw breath after witnessing one of New Zealand’s bravest and talented tilts at relay glory, for men and women, capping off a wonderful week of top performances from the team.

Highlights:
 

Sprint - 6th place for Angela Simpson, 21st for Matt Ogden, 30th for Toby Scott;

Middle - 6 qualifiers for the final with 4 in the top 7 of heats; Matt Ogden 15th and Toby Scott 30th in final;

Long distance - 22nd for Toby Scott, 22nd for Angela Simpson, 30th for Matt Ogden;

Relay - 9th place for women - Kate Morrison, Jaime Goodwin and Angela Simpson; 12th place for men - Gene Beveridge, Matt Ogden and Toby Scott

And amongst all the top performances the younger team-members were running their hearts out, setting new personal benchmarks and gathering valuable experience for future championships; notably finishing all the men in the top half of the sprint and the mens and womens second relay teams finishing ahead of both Australian and all other non-European teams.

Results: Junior World Orienteering Championships Relay
Rumia - Wejherowo, Poland

Men
1 Poland, 01:53:33, Piotr Parfianowicz 00:28:23, Rafał Podziński 00:42:43, Michał Olejnik 00:42:27;
2 Sweden 01:53:56, Jonas Nordstrom 00:27:06, Richard Olsson 00:44:32, Albin Ridefelt 00:42:18;
3 Czech Republic 01:54:47, Michal Hubacek 00:27:11, Marek Schuster 00:44:28, Pavel Kubat 00:43:08;
12 New Zealand 01:59:42, Gene Beveridge 00:27:23, Matt Ogden 00:44:14, Toby Scott 00:48:05.

Women
1 Sweden 01:42:32, Helena Karlsson 00:30:55, Linea Martinsson 00:37:09, Tove Alexandersson 00:34:28;
2 Czech Republic 01:48:51, Adleka Indrakowa 00:32:00, Denisa Kosova 00:39:01, Tereza Novotna 00:37:50;
3 Denmark 01:48:57, Ita Klingenberg 00:35:53, Emma Klingenberg 00:37:49, Ida Bobach 00:35:15;
9 New Zealand 01:56:02, Kate Morrison 00:34:57, Jaime Goodwin 00:40:22, Angela Simpson 00:40:43.
 

Nerves were replaced by focus and excitement for the six New Zealand orienteers competing in the Junior World Championships in Poland, leading to more fine results.

Toby Scott was the first to face the demanding finals terrain at Wejherowo, steeper and scattered with slow-running vegetation.

And - for the third time in the championships - he cracked the top 30 in the world-class field, showing the maturity and consistency that led to his second place in the 2011 NZ Silva Superseries behind elite Ross Morrison.

Gene Beveridge didn’t match his superb 4th placed qualifying run, but absorbed the pressure of the intense racing against the European orienteering stars to finish 55th.

The race of the day for New Zealand was that of Matt Ogden, who started steadily and hit the halfway spectator control in midfield.

Shrugging off about one minutes worth of errors, Ogden then accelerated through the second half of the course to move into equal 14th place, equal with Scandinavians Jonas Nordström and Yngve Skogstad.

However, final calibration of the electronic timing led to Nordström’s time coming down by a second and Ogden and Skogstad sharing 15th, one of the best ever NZ male performances at Junior Worlds, after Richard Bolt and Tom Reynolds

.
Matt Ogden was pleased with the final result: “It was good. Although I wasn’t satisfied with my run, dropping a minutes worth of mistakes early on. Today was all about being aggressive through the green, strong up the tough hills and making no mistakes.”

With the individual racing completed, Ogden now turns his attention to the relay, where he teams up with Scott and Beveridge in the three-man format, where they have an excellent shot at a top-six podium placing.

Lost in translation
Jaime Goodwin staked a claim in the womens ‘A’ relay team after a fine run for 43rd place, 51 seconds ahead of team-mate Kate Morrison in 49th.

Angela Simpson, 6th in the sprint three days prior, wasn’t having her best run but then took the wrong compulsory crossing point/gate to the spectator control.

Unable to understand the Polish-language instructions Simpson continued on and finished but was disqualified for not going through the correct gate.

The New Zealand team lodged a protest - as later runners were told by officials to go through the correct gate.

Unfortunately the protest was unsuccessful and the disqualification still stood.

Winner of the womens middle distance was sprint and long distance champion Ida Bobach of Denmark, claiming her third gold medal for the week.

And, for the first time in international orienteering championships three gold medals were awarded - to Robert Merl, Austria, Dmitry Nekonechnyy, Russia and Topias Tiainen, Finland.

The final race of the Junior Worlds - the relay - will be held today at 8pm NZ Time (10am Poland).

Results
Junior World Orienteering Championships Middle distance finals
‎A final
1 Robert Merl, Austria 25:43,
1 Topias Tiainen, Finland 25:43,
1 Dmitry Nakonechnyy, Russia 25:43,
4 Lucas Basset, France 26:08,
5 Florian Howald, Switzerland 26:22,
5 Eskil Kinneberg, Norway 26:22,
7 Miika Suominen, Finland 26:41,
8 Martin Regborn, Sweden 26:54,
9 Toni Saari, Finland 27:27,
10 Marius Thrane Odum, Denmark 27:33,
11 Andreas Hougaard Boesen, Denmark 27:36,
12 Johan Högstrand, Sweden 27:38,
13 Andreu Blanes, Spain 27:42,
14 Jonas Nordström, Sweden 27:46,
15 Yngve Skogstad, Norway 27:47,
15 Matt Ogden, New Zealand 27:47,
30 Toby Scott, New Zealand 28:42,
55 Gene Beveridge, New Zealand 33:47.

B final
1 Christian Tingström, Sweden 23:52,
1 Thor Norskov, Denmark 23:52,
3 Patrik Waegeli, Switzerland 24:19,
19 Nick Hann, New Zealand 27:19,
23 Tim Robertson, New Zealand 27:31,
30 Scott McDonald, New Zealand 27:59,

Women
A Final
1 Ida Bobach, Denmark 23:10,
2 Tove Alexandersson , Sweden 23:45,
3 Emma Klingenberg, Denmark 24:17,
4 Ita Klingenberg, Denmark 24:34,
5 Helena Karlsson, Sweden 25:01,
6 Denisa Kosová, Czech Republic 25:04,
7 Johanna Olsson, Sweden 25:15,
8 Linnea Martinsson, Sweden 25:28,
9 Aušrine Kutkaite, Lithuania 25:45,
10 Ingjerd Myhre, Norway 25:49,
43 Jaime Goodwin, New Zealand 30:12,
49 Kate Morrison, New Zealand 31:03.

Angela Simpson, New Zealand disq.

B final
24 Selena Metherell, New Zealand 31:44,
27 Laura Robertson, New Zealand 32:05,
48 Anna Gray, New Zealand 36:42.

 

The excellence continues - six New Zealand orienteers have qualified for the middle distance finals at the Junior World Championships, easily the best ever effort for New Zealand.

Matt Ogden, Toby Scott and Gene Beveridge made it look easy, all finishing in the top 7 of their heats – where the top 20 go through to the final.

Angela Simpson continued her superb week with a comfortable 7th in her heat: “It was fast running in open forest, with a patchwork of green; it was essential to keep map contact all the way.”

Team-mates Kate Morrison and Jaime Goodwin had to wait nervously for all orienteers to complete their heats, before confirming their finals place, both in 16th.

Australia were the unlucky country, with two missing the cut with 21st placings.

New Zealand has never qualified six – half of the team – to the finals of the Junior World Championships before.

“The New Zealand team did great” added Simpson “We are all excited and will battle our hardest in the final!”

After three races the high fitness levels of the New Zealanders are starting to make an impact and hopes are high for more podium places to accompany Angela Simpson’s podium 6th in the sprint race.

The finals will be held today at 8pm NZT (10am Poland).

Results
Junior World Orienteering Championships Middle qualification race
‎Heat 1
1 Eskil Kinneberg, Norway 19:47;
2 Christoph Prunsche, Germany 20:05;
3 Micha³ Olejnik, Poland 20:25;
4 Pavel Kubát, Czech Republic 20:28;
5 Rafa³ Podziñski , Poland 20:29;
6 Yngve Skogstad , Norway 20:40;
7 Toby Scott, New Zealand 20:51.

Heat 2
1 Andreu Blanes, Spain 20:49;
2 Philipp Schiel, Austria 21:14;
3 Lucas Basset, France 21:23;
4 Jonas Nordström, Sweden 21:29;
4 Gene Beveridge, New Zealand 21:29.

Heat 3
1 Marius Thrane Odum, Denmark 20:14;
2 Kristian Jones,Great Britain 20:44;
3 Martin Vister, Norway 20:45;
4 Topias Tiainen, Finland 20:54;
5 Albin Ridefelt, Sweden 20:56;
6 Matt Ogden, New Zealand 21:04.

Women
Heat 2
1 Johanna Olsson, Sweden 17:54;
2 Helena Karlsson, Sweden 18:12;
3 Ita Klingenberg, Denmark 18:52;
4 Tereza Novotná, Czech Republic 18:57;
5 Maren Jansson Haverstad, Norway 19:29;
6 Paulina Faron, Poland 19:46;
7 Angela Simpson, New Zealand 19:47;
8 Sarina Jenzer, Switzerland 19:49;
9 Kerstin Uiboupin, Estonia 20:13;
10 Anna Nilsson - Simkovics, Austria 20:20;
11 Natalia Chepaeva, Russia 20:21;
12 Sari Anttonen, Finland 20:29;
13 Emily Kemp, Canada 20:44;
14 Camilla Sogaard, Denmark 20:46;
15 Henna Haikonen,Finland 21:06;
16 Jaime Goodwin,New Zealand 21:14.

Heat 3
1 Tove Alexandersson, Sweden 19:01;
2 Mairead Rocke, Great Britain 19:10;
3 Julia Blomquist, Great Britain 19:24;
4 Julia Gross, Switzerland 19:49;
5 Emma Klingenberg, Denmark 20:07;
6 Anna Segersson, Sweden 20:16;
7 Therese Haare, Norway 20:26;
8 Adéla Indráková, Czech Republic 20:34;
9 Mira Kaskinen, Finland 20:39;
10 Olena Fedorova, Ukraine 20:49;
11 Julia Bauer, Austria 21:13;
12 Stine Bagger Hagner, Denmark 21:21;
13 Carlotta Scalet, Italy 21:24;
14 Andra Cecilia Anghel, Romania 21:28;
15 Marion Aebi, Switzerland 21:55;
16 Kate Morrison, New Zealand 21:57.

Great running from the New Zealand team saw three orienteers in the top 30 for the second day running at the Junior World Championships in Poland.

Toby Scott and Angela Simpson ran strongly over a tough, hilly course to each finish 22nd while team-mate Matt Ogden was close behind with an excellent 30th place.

The 11km long mens course was a big test of endurance and mental strength requiring intense navigational focus through the steep and open forests of Wejherowo Park.

Toby Scott improved on his opening day sprint 30th place with a gutsy 22nd.

“It was tough” said Scott “I had a pretty decent run, with a small mistake early on, losing about 30 seconds overshooting the control. I could have been a bit stronger over the hills. “

A river crossing near the end almost stopped him from finishing: “I cramped up really badly at that river.”

Matt Ogden was again in great form in the top 30 and has his favourite distance – the middle – to look forward to, after a rest day.

Norwegian Yngve Skogstad won gold in the mens race, ahead of Austrian Robert Merl.

While not on the podium on the second day, 22nd placed Simpson was the pick of the online supporters, polling as the favourite to win the women’s championship early on, polling at 30% against eventual winner Ida Bobach on 27%.

Simpson’s top fitness – including a recent 79 minute half marathon - should give her a strong chance against Bobach in Thursday’s middle distance final.

But firstly she will need to finish in the top third of Wednesday’s qualification race.

Denmark took gold and silver in the womens, with Ida Bobach picking up a 6th gold medal and Emma Klingenberg once again runner-up.

Kate Morrison ran her heart out to finish two minutes behind Simpson in 35th place, and is looking forward to the rest day before the middle qualifiers.

Consistency and mental strength have become the trademark of this years Junior team, who are fit and able to produce excellent results in the races that count.

The next big test for the team, who are shaping up to produce our best ever results, will be to qualify as many as possible for the middle distance final.

Official results: Long distance 4.07.2011 - Junior World Orienteering Championships
Women (131 starters)
1 Bobach, Ida Denmark 00:55:23
2 Klingenberg, Emma Denmark 00:56:51
3 Alexandersson, Tove Sweden 00:57:37
4 Chepaeva, Natalia Russia 01:00:54
5 Närhi, Anna Finland 01:01:14
6 Kutkaite, Aušrine Lithuania 01:01:21

22 Simpson, Angela New Zealand 01:04:37
35 Morrison, Kate New Zealand 01:07:00
91 Robertson, Laura New Zealand 01:20:41
98 Metherell, Selena New Zealand 01:25:08
102 Gray, Anna New Zealand 01:27:09
106 Goodwin, Jaime New Zealand 01:29:29

Men (158 starters)
1 Skogstad, Yngve. Norway 01:08:49
2 Mer,l Robert. Austria 01:10:23
3 Basset, Lucas. France 01:10:36
4 Howald, Florian. Switzerland 01:12:03
5 Kubát, Pavel. Czech Republic 01:12:17
6 Tikhonov, Gleb. Russia 01:13:29

22 Scott, Toby. New Zealand 01:17:03
30 Ogden, Matt. New Zealand 01:18:47
90 Hann, Nick. New Zealand 01:33:13
93 Robertson, Tim. New Zealand 01:34:07
95 Beveridge, Gene. New Zealand 01:34:33