NZ men placed 10th in the World Championship in Relay MTB-Orienteering, decided today at Maryborough in Victoria. This puts NZ in the top half of the countries represented at the second World Championship, the first outside Europe. The team consisted of Phil Wood, Andy Rhodes and Stu Lynch.

Although the womens field was smaller, Marquita Gelderman, Fiona McBryde and Claire Heppenstall placed 7th.

Finland which is due to run the 2006 championship won both mens and womens classes, but this year's host Australia captured the bronze medals. Although its star rider Adrian Jackson lost the race for second with a clumsy checkin at the final electronic control, he finished the week with three medals including a gold. What's more, his mother Carolyn was a member of the third-paced womens relay team!

New Zealanders also achieved distinction in the public age-group competition held concurrently. Jackie Sinclair and Roz Clayton won the womens 40+ and 50+ classes, while Rob Garden won the mens 50+.

Full results on the World MTBO website.

Page installed 25 October 2004