Angus Robinson, Tim & Carolyn Jackson
Callum Fagg
Declan Dickson
Angus Robinson
Orienteering Victoria are offering a smorgasbord of MTBO events this weekend with both Victorian Championship titles and Australian selection for the World Championships in Estonia on offer. The Saturday races are based at Castlemaine with sprint courses designed by Peta Whitford on the 1:10,000 Clinker Hill map and middle distance on “Hills Upsan Downs” at 1:15,000, with Peter Hill course setting. The latter has some 25 kilometres of purpose built single track which should figure prominently in route choice decisions.
On Sunday riders travel to “Balaclava Hill” out east of Bendigo to take on a 1:20,000 scale map that is predominantly spur gully terrain with a touch of detail. Rob Edmonds is setting the long courses here.
The elite fields are chock full of talent. In M20 previous Australian team members Tom Goddard (Tas) and Karl Withers (Qld) will receive strong competition from Angus Robinson and Tim Jackson (both Vic) and Queenslander Paulo Jun Alvear Fujii.
In the elite it will be on for young and old. No 1 seed Alex Randall, in peak form after a 4th in the Wombat 50km xc race, will be challenged by a variety of “young guns.” Luckily it’s not a road race as the Tassie trio of Callum Fagg, Chris Horne and Oscar Phillips would outnumber him at the front. Callum is a former Tasmanian Institute of Sport road rider who undoubtedly has the legs, but though a former foot orienteer, he’s new to the mtbo discipline. Gisborne resident Heath Jamieson, who debuted at Jwoc last year, has the smarts to be at the pointy end, especially in the sprint and middle. But perhaps the biggest challenge comes from Brisbane’s Chris Firman after his tremendous 5th at Jwoc last year. However he has spent most of the last 3 months on his wind trainer after requiring shoulder surgery after an altercation with a tree.
The women’s elite field has some new names with Victorians Kate Gavens, Carrie Edney and Rebecca Shaw stepping up. However punters would predict an almighty battle between former WOC representatives Carolyn Jackson (AUS) and her Kiwi counterpart Marquita Gelderman for the top step on the podium. Whereas Marquita has won most duels in the past it would be no surprise to see Carolyn (now fitter and faster than ever) outgun her this time.
Note that the 2012 National Series Award trophies, for all classes will be presented at the Saturday night dinner.
ACT MTBO Night and Relay Championship entries now open on Eventor
ACT MTBO Night and Relay Championships entries are now available on Eventor. Both events will use an expanded Pierces Creek map. Riders of all abilities are welcome to enter. Cotter Camp ground is 5 km from the Assembly Area.
ACT MTBO Night Championships 25 May 2013
Mass Start 75 minutes Score event, enter here.
ACT MTBO Relay Championships 26 May
Mass Start, multi-loop Relay. Two-person teams, each person riding two loops, enter here. An option for one person to ride all four loops is available under “Available Services” when entering. If you have a two-person team e-mail juliesunley64@gmail.com otherwise you will be placed in a team. The expected distances for each rider (double for one-person Relay):
– M21: 24 km
– M20/M40/W21: 21 km
– M16/M50/W20/W40: 18 km
– M14/M60/W16/W50: 15 km
– M12/M70/M80/W12/W14/W60/W70/W80: 12 km
For more information email juliesunley64@gmail.com
2014 NEWS