Marquita Gelderman rode outstandingly to finish 15th in the World Middle-
distance Championship in MTB-Orienteering at Castlemaine in Victoria today. The
Aucklander was just 5 minutes behind the winner, Austria's Michaela Gigon.

But the kiwi men were not as successful, top hope Stu Lynch missing one control
after mistaking one of the women's controls for his. The former downhill rider
and adventure racer would have placed in the low 20's. NZ's top man was Andy
Rhodes in 47th place.

The mens race was won by 21-year-old Adrian Jackson of Australia, who beat the
long-distance champion Alain Berger (Swi) by 46 seconds. Jackson's mother
Carolyn was also in the Australian team, finishing 29th, while Belinda Allison
finshed second equal for the host country.

Other NZ results:
Claire Heppenstall 32nd, Fiona McBryde 37th, Christina Renhart 40th, Joanna
Forbes 43, Dianne Michels 46th.
Craig Starnes 49th, Nreil Kerrison 50th, Phil Wood 56th, Darryul Taylor 62nd.

Full results are at www.2004worldmtbo.org. The championship concludes with a
relay tomorrow Saturday.

Page installed 23 October 2004