World Rogaine Team Changes

Changes likely right up to the day

Here's the latest we have heard on the grapevine. These won't be the last changes!!! Disclaimer: we can't guarantee the accuracy of these items.

• Rebecca Smith has withdrawn, and sister Rachel will now compete with Spanish elite orienteer Encarna Maturana. Will they be a match for the open womens title-holders Pam James and Catherine Hagen from Canada?
• WRC1 winner Jim Russell is reputed to be unable to take part. This from his partner Colm Rothery who is considering his options, he is looking for someone capable of winning.
• WRC3 winners Iiro Kakko and Nigel Aylott didn't team together because Iiro was unsure of his fitness after taking part in an Eco-Challenge event (South America?).
• Nigel Aylott's new partner may not be able to make it. Anyone feel like being extended? Colm???
• Phil Wood's partner will be his sister Antonia. The top NZ elite orienteer also has an impressive mountain-running CV.
• David Baldwin and Adrian Sheppard from ACT (Australia) are the current Australian Open Mens Champions.
• Top Swiss M50 Dieter Wolf is looking for a partner.
• Alexandra Tyson (ACT) won open women in WRC1. She teams with Jenny Casanova (SA) who won at WRC2.
• And more on the Czech pair: Tomas Rusek is said to be the national, European and World Champion in the ultramarathon, not sure what distance this is. Tomas Vaclavek is a top veteran orienteer, scoring 4th-10th i the last 3 WMOC's. The pair won the toughest rogaining event in Czech Republic this year, the Gemma Marathon-O event.