WMOC 2004 ITALY

Asiago, on the southern slopes of the Dolomites in northern Italy, was the venue for this year's World Masters Orienteering Championships held from July 6 - 9. Forty Australians were among the 3,285 competitors entered for the various age classes, spaced at 5-year intervals from 35 up to 90 years old. The programme for all competitors was two qualification races and a final. Competitors’ performances in the qualification races decided which of the A, B, C etc. finals for which each runner qualified. Only those who qualified for the A finals could become World Champion in their age class. Alpine areas with fir tree forest and varied amounts of open ground typified the terrain used for both qualification and finals races. Day 1 offered forested steep slopes with stony and rocky areas, whilst Day 2 and the final were run on flatter terrain with a higher percentage of open ground but also more technical detail, especially on the finals day.

Paul Liggins (VIC) reports:

IN early July, 3,285 geriatric orienteers abandoned their walking sticks and wheelchairs to compete in the annual World Masters Orienteering Championship. This included around 40 home-based Australians, plus a few ‘expats’ who have infiltrated foreign clubs.

The areas used around Asiago in northern Italy were 1200 to 1600 metres high and doubled as downhill and cross-country ski areas in winter. We were greeted by a large 'Kangaroo Hoppet' sign at the assembly area on day 1 and some of the deeper depressions still had snow in them. The region was also the venue for fierce fighting between Italian and Austrian forces in World War I.

WMOC took its usual format with two qualifying races and a single day final. The top 80 competitors (or top 50% of the field where there were less than 160 competitors) made the A final, the next 80 in the B final etc. Reflecting the aging Orienteering population the 55’s and 60’s were by far the biggest classes.

The event kicked off with the traditional march and opening ceremony, watched by bemused Asiago shoppers. Highlights included the usual strained English interpretations, fortuitously brief welcomes by minor local dignitaries, and a hastily abandoned attempt by the compere to fire up the assembled septuagenarians by playing "We are the Champions" at 100 decibels.

Qualification day 1 was held in relatively steep terrain with a spattering of rock features and a reasonable track network. The second day and final were held on flatter terrain which had a section of intricate depressions and knolls created by glacial movements.

From an Australian point of view the star of the qualification races was Darryl Erbacher, who finished second in his M60 heat and scored a coveted elite-runner bib for the final. In number of other Australian men made it through to the A final, including Ian Prosser in M40, ex-Kiwi Ted van Geldermalsen in M45, Hugh Moore and Robert Rapkins in M55 and Hermann Wehner in M80. Three ‘expats’ – Eddie Wymer, Donald Staudte and Michael Warlters - plus Paul Liggins made it to the A final in M35. Bob Allison surprisingly only made the C final in M55 while John Meeking suffered from mouth lacerations incurred while eating sharp-edged cornflakes for breakfast and only made the C final in M60.

Of the women Karen Staudte and Jeffa Lyon made the A final, with almost all the others slotting into the B.

In the final the Australian star was Hermann Wehner who scored a bronze medal in M80, having clearly been taking it easy in the qualification races. France-based Eddie Wymer surpassed that with a silver medal in M35, only a matter of seconds behind the winner and ahead of hot favourite Stefano Maddelena who had easily won both qualification races. However Darryl Erbacher had a poor race by his high standards and only made it to 18th place.

All the other Aussie A finalists finished in the bottom half of their fields, with Hugh Moore, Paul Liggins, Ted van Geldermalsen and Jeffa Lyon doing the best.

Tony Whittaker won the battle of the Australians in the M50 C final with 22nd, and Lyn Stolze led the Australians in the W50 B final in 48th. Other notable performances were achieved by Bob Allison (5th in M55 C final) and Libby Meeking (5th in W55 C Final).

A number of ex-WOC medallists made the podium, with winners including Jorgen Martensson in M45, Urs Fluhmann in M40, Brigite Wolf in W35 and Alida Abola in W50.

Overall Sweden dominated the winners' circle taking M45, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85 and W 40, 60, 65, 70, 75 and 80. Only two champions from 2003 managed to repeat their success - Sweden's Birgit Lang in W65 and Finland's Erkki Lontamo moving up from M85 to M90 (where he was the only entrant).

The technical aspects of the competition - maps, courses etc were very good. The only blemishes were in areas such as parking and transport, which on the second qualification day left a bit to be desired. Cars were not permitted to go to the assembly area but the organisers provided too few buses and had nobody to control parking or queuing. As a result we were treated to the unedifying spectacle of Scandinavian grandmothers eye-gouging and applying half-nelsons in an attempt to queue jump and get to the start on time. For those who chose to walk the advertised 3.3km there were no signs or officials to indicate the way. As a result many people, myself included, actually walked 7.6km, which when combined with the 1km walk to the start, was more than enough of a warm up.

On the other hand, the formal banquet was by all accounts topclass, with about 10 courses of food, unlimited wine, and a hilltop venue with stunning views of the valley below.

If, like me, you're grey and wrinkly, next year’s WMOC will be held in Edmonton, Canada from 22 to 31 July. Check out www.wmoc2005. com

World War I relics.

Both the qualification races and final were held in areas that saw fierce fighting in World War I. In the first qualification race some hills were heavily carved out with trenches and bomb craters, creating interesting control locations. On the walk to the assembly area on the last two days competitors passed dozens of man-made one-contour hills with gun platforms still clearly visible. Fighting in the area broke out in May 1916 when the Austrians attacked Italian lines. The front moved back and forth marginally over the next month with 11,000 lives lost and tens of thousands injured and displaced. Trench warfare continued until June 1918 when the Austrians made a last desperate attempt to gain ground, but were hampered by a troop rebellion. The Italians were poised to counter attack when Armistice was declared on 4 November.