Two Races in One Day, 20 Apr 03

Rob Jessop (Auckland) increased his lead in the Orienteering Superseries today after a decisive win in the NZ short-distance championship in Woodhill Forest this morning. Meanwhile Dane Carsten Jorgensen scored his first victory of the Easter week in the sprint-distance championship at Three Kings in suburban Auckland. Penny Kane (Dunedin) edged ahead of Chch's Rachel Smith after the morning race, but the flu-affected runner did not start in the afternoon, putting Smith in the lead once more.

Jessop's 31min time in the short-distance race was 3min ahead of Darren Ashmore, formerly of Auckland but now outdoor-instructing at Turangi. This margin in a short race isequivalent to his 11min win over Jorgensen in the classic on Saturday. The Dane was third in the short, but came through in the 4km/15min orienteering sprint which climbed the Big King volcanic cone and finished in the Three KIngs shopping centre. After three days of fine weather, the sprint was run in torrential rain.

A surprise second was Chris Forne from Christchurch who professes not to be serious about orienteering but is turning in good results. He moves into fifth place in the series behind Jessop, Jorgensen, early leaderJason Markham (Chch) and Mark Lawson (Helensville).

Third place in the sprint, also a surprise, went to Swiss Andreas Haldi. But the high speeds possible in ultra-short races on urban terrain are rewarding different skills
and athletes.With the sprint distance now part of the World Championship, NZ selectors are going to have to consider sprint specialists in the team. Markham gained no points from the sprint race when he failed to properly insert his electronic timing card into one of the control units, and this cost him second place in the series, maybe even the lead.

Tania Robinson won the womens short race from Marquita Gelderman (joining the series for the first time) and Penny Kane. Gelderman has just been given the NZ
Orienteering Federation's Silva Performance award for her win in the 35 class of the World Masters Championships last year. The Helensville vet has returned to top performance after severe cruciate ligament damage six years ago appeared to spell the end of her competitive career.

The sprint was a completely different matter with Magdalena Danielsson appearing for the first time. The Swedish student led Rachel Smith and Robinson over the 3km womens course, but her late start in the series will probably keep her out of the placings. With Kane not appearing in the sprint race Smith goes back
into the lead ahead of Kane, Lisa Frith (Auckland) and Lara Prince (Chch). Robinson is fifth.

After a relay tomorrow which doesn't count for the series, and two rest days, orienteers resume the battle on Thursday at Weiti on the eastern side of the Auckland isthmus.

Full results are on the event website http://auckoc.tripod.com/ea2003

This page was written by Michael Wood and installed 21 April 03