Geoff Lawford has provided the Australian highlight of the sprint at the World Masters Orienteering Championships when he took the gold medal in today’s M60 final in Gothenburg. He was not expected to feature in the race for the medals after qualifying 28th, and was still in fourth place with four controls to go, but hit the lead as a result of getting a key route choice right and took the race out by four seconds from Pieter Hendrickx of Belgium.

Natasha Key was also in the medals, repeating her second place from the heats to take the silver medal in W40. Yvonne Gunell caught her near the end of the race but she was well clear of the rest of the field.

Three other Australians made the top ten. Warren Key was fourth in M55, Jo Allison sixth in W35, and Ted van Geldermalsen made it two Australians in the M60 top ten with a ninth place.

Other Australian A final results:

W40: Jenny Casanova 14th, Clare Hawthorne 19th

W55: Liz Abbott 34th

W65: Libby Meeking 59th

W70: Ann Ingwersen 55th

M35: Simon Rouse 28th

M40: Blair Trewin 33rd, Dion Keech 35th

M55: Tim Hatley 24th, Phil Walker 64th

Competition continues with the first long qualification race on Wednesday.

Geoff Lawford presented with his gold medal.