In seering heat in Rapperswill central Switzerland Jamie Stevenson took the first Gold Medal of the World Orienteering Championships in the Sprint Competition. Jamie's performance to win by 19 seconds over a 13 minute course through the town was outstanding. Even over the relatively short distance many competitors found the heat too much at the end.

The orienteering sprint discipline is run against the clock through towns and parks to attract spectators. It was first introduced in the World Championships in 2001. Rapperswill and the Swiss Orienteering Federation prepared a splendid course through this historic town by lake Zurichsee. The town turned out in force to cheer on all the competitors and were well rewarded in the end, seeing their local heroine Simone Luder win the womens Sprint by 9 seconds from another Swiss, Marie-Luce Romanens

The British pair for the Sprint was Jamie and Nick Barrable who finished in a very creditable 21 place in his first championships. The women's pair was led by Sarah Rollins with a suberb 8th and Helen Bridle17th, again in her first Championships.

Jamie put his win down to concentration particularly at the start, making the right route choices throughout and stamina to finish fast at the end. He is due to compete in the middle distance race on Friday and the relay on Saturday. Jamie comes from Edinburgh and lives and trains in Sweden

RESULTS

MEN

1 Jamie Stevenson GBR 12.43
2 Rudolf Ropek CZE 13.02
3 Thierry Georgiou FRA 13.04
21 Nick Barrable GBR 13.59

WOMEN

1 Simone Luder SUI 13.21
2 Marie-Luce Romanens SUI 13.30
3 Jenny Johansson SWE 13.40
9 Sarah Rollins GBR 14.42
17 Helen Bridle GBR 15.30

The Long final was run in Eschenberg-Kyburg in Winterthur, central Switzerland. The temperature kept climbing throughout the day making it exceptionally hard for athletes. Competitors started in reverse order according to their position in the qualifying heats. The course was technically challenging and required great physical strength as it was on steep slopes with deep valleys and ditches around the hills. The vegetation varied from mixed forest with undergrowth and thick vegetation on the ground to areas with nearly no vegetation.

Dan Marston expressed 'I have never had to use my hands so much in Orienteering scrambling up the climbs!'

The race was tough but Dan Marston making his debut at a WOC had a fantastic run. Dan was unable to compete in WOC2001 as he broke his arm at the 2001 trials. Dan finished 14th with Jon Duncan finishing the course in 25th. Unfortunately for Oli Johnson he was disqualified.

For Hannah Wootton this was her debut at WOC and finished 23rd which is fantastic result, Heather Monro finished 14th.

MEN

16.7KM CLIMB: 540KM, 51 RAN

1 Thomas Burhrer SUI 1.48.20
2 Yuri Omeltchenko UKR 1.50.35
3 Emil Wingstedt SWE 1.51.08
14 Dan Marston GBR 1.56.09
25 Jon Duncan GBR 2.03.27
Oli Johnson GBR DQ

WOMEN

11.8KM CLIMB: 350KM, 51 RAN

1 Simone Luder SUI 1.26.14
2 Karolina Arewang Hojsgaard SWE 1.29.19
3 Brigitte Wolf SUI 1.32.52
14 Heather Monro GBR 1.38.36
23 Hannah Wootton GBR 1.45.12
35 Jenny Whitehead GBR 1.50.51
 

Over the last week the 20th World Orienteering Championships in Switzerland has seen fantastic results by the British with Jamie Stevenson winning Gold in the sprint race on Tuesday with the only time under 13 minutes. Sarah Rollins came 9th in the women's sprint race. Today saw Heather Monro in the middle distance event finish 10th, 5 minutes behind the winner Swiss athlete Simone Luder who today won her 3rd GOLD of the Championships!!!!!

The Middle distance at the World Championships was based in Trin and the course was set on complex forested, alpine terrain with not many trails or paths. The athletes need to have precise navigation and physical strength to run through terrain. Qualifying for the event took place this morning and the top 17 of each heat went through to the final. Oli Johnson and Jamie Stevenson both qualified for Great Britain men, they both finished in the top 25.

MEN - 5km

1 Thierry Gueorgiou FRA 30.08
2 Bjornar Valstad NOR 32.45
3 Oystein Kristiansen NOR 33.08
19 Jamie Stevenson GBR 35.05
22 Oli Johnson GBR 35.37

WOMEN - 4.5km

1 Simone Luder SUI 32.40
2 Hanne Staff NOR 32.57
3 Heil Jukkola FIN 33.32
10 Heather Monro GBR 37.43
33 Helen Bridle GBR 42.57
47 Jenny Whitehead GBR 47.06

The Relay, the only team event of the championships was the final event of the World Orienteering Championships in Switzerland.

The World Championships started brilliantly and they finished brilliantly for the Brits. There were three athletes in the relay team and the first leg was 5.6km run by Dan Marston who came in 10th, the second leg which was the longest leg at 8.4km was run by Jon Duncan who moved GBR up to 3rd and the final leg was run by Sprint World Champion 2003, Jamie Stevenson, who maintained 3rd place to secure GB a BRONZE medal.

The women team finished 6th moving up 12 places after the first leg. The first leg was 5.2km run by Sarah Rollins who won the relay in the World Student Games 2002. After the first leg Britain were in 18 position, Hannah Wootton took the second leg which was a distance of 7.0km moving Britain up to 10th place and finally Heather Monro the winner of the premier event in Sweden the O-Ringen two weeks ago took the final leg of 6.3km finishing the relay in 6th place. Again another fantastic position for the British Team!

The event took place in Forch with over 6,500 spectators.

MEN

1: SWEDEN 1.58.42
2. FINLAND 1.59.27
3 GREAT BRITAIN 2.01.04

WOMEN

1. SWITZERLAND 1.57.41
2. SWEDEN 1.59.46
3. NORWAY 2.05.18
6. GREAT BRITAIN 2.09.31