NZ Rider Takes Fifth Place at World Champs


Marquita Gelderman was less than two minutes away from the bronze medal at the second event at this year's World Mountain Bike Orienteering Championships. Gelderman finished a frustrating 5th in the middle distance champs, after finishing 4th the previous day in the sprint. Gelderman made a slow start to be back in 16th place by the second control, however she was 4th at the fourth but slipped back to 5th on the final two legs. It was the third time the Helensville orienteer has made the top eight in this event in the last four years.

Overall, however, it was an excellent day for the six-strong New Zealand team with the Christchurch pair of Chris Forne (men's) and Georgia Whiltla (junior women's) both taking out top 15 places. The championships in Ostroda, Poland, continue next with the qualifying races for the long distance championships..


Results
Women (58)
1. Ksenia Churnah Russia 51:43
2. Michaela Gigon Austria 52:13
3. Palvi Tommola Finland 52:39
4. Line Pedersen Denmark 53:12
5. Marquita Gelderman New Zealand 54:17
26. Kath Copland New Zealand 64:42
51. Emily Wall New Zealand 85:38

Men (93)
1. Adrian Jackson Australia 54:13
2. Soren Strunge Denmark 54:39
3. Lubomir Tomacek Czech Republic 55:26
13. Chris Forne New Zealand 58:23
82. Greg Barbour New Zealand 82:03

Junior women (45)
1. Hana Hancikova Czech Republic 50:19
2. Irina Levina Russia 52:51
3. Ursina Jaggi Switzerland 52:59
15. Georgia Whitla New Zealand 59:26

This page was uploaded by Peter Bakos on 27 August 2008