COMPETITION
BUSHRANGERS held up by Kiwi PINESTARS Sue Key and Blair Trewin The Grapes of Rock carnival in September included a Test series between the Australian Bushrangers and the N.Z. Pinestar elite teams. The Aspin Key trophy was convincingly won by the strong New Zealand team over the 3 days of competition and congratulations go to them. The Pinestars’ strength in the men's contingent was unbeatable. Chris Forne and Karl Dravitzki led the challenge each day. With only a small team at the World Championships, the Kiwis were close to fullstrength in Australia, and all six men challenged for high places at various stages The Bushrangers men were in amongst them with Julian Dent and Simon Goddard running well. The women's teams were more evenly matched with the Bushrangers women pegging back some points. Tracey Bluett had consistently good runs supported by the rest of the Australian girls. Tania Robinson was the only New Zealander challenging for top placings. It was probably the best performance, for consistency, of a New Zealand elite team in Australia, and the rematch in New Zealand during the Oceania Carnival in January will be eagerly awaited. Bushrangers representatives: Women: Tracey Bluett, Julia Davies, Mace Neve, Wendy Read, Anna Sheldon, Rachel West Men: Bruce Arthur, Simon Goddard, Julian Dent, Ian Meyer, Craig Dufty, Rob Preston, Blair Trewin
The Australian Bushrangers team: left to right, Rob Preston, Blair Trewin, Mace Neve, Bruce Arthur, Anna Sheldon, Simon Goddard, Julia Davies, Ian Meyer, Tracey Bluett, Julian Dent, Rachel West, Craig Dufty, Wendy Read, Sue Key (Coach/Manager).
World Cup Finals Blair Trewin Holger Hott Johansen (Norway) and Simone Niggli-Luder (Switzerland) are the 2004 World Cup champions, after the final round of events, contested in Germany in late October. Both secured their victories with wins in the final race, with Niggli-Luder particularly impressive, winning by five minutes. Sweden took out the relay titles for both men and women. In addition to her win in the final Long-distance race, Niggli-Luder won the Sprint, whilst Emma Engstrand (Sweden) took out the Middle-distance event. Men’s round winners in Germany were Mats Troeng (Sweden) in the Middle-distance and Oystein Kvaal Osterbo (Norway) in the Sprint.
New Zealand’s Karl Dravitzki performed well for the Pinestars against the Bushrangers. Photo: Bob Mouatt 20 THE AUSTRALIAN ORIENTEER DECEMBER 2004
Simone Niggli-Luder (Switzerland), the 2004 World Cup champion.
No Australians contested the final rounds. The best Australians in the overall pointscore were Grant Bluett (39th) and Natasha Key (44th), most of their points being earned during the World Championships. The Australians were not the only ones missing, with the German events being contested by an abnormally small field of only 52 men and 38 women, about half the usual size. Perhaps annual World Championships have relegated the World Cup to the background.
