WORLD CUP SPRINT

World Cup

BJ takes 2nd in Sprint

THIS year’s first round of the World Cup was held south-west of London, UK, with the Sprint qualifiers at Guildford University and the Final at Battersea Park on 2nd May. In the Final, David BrickhillJones showed he is fast becoming a world-rated Sprint specialist by taking 2nd place behind Switzerland’s rising star Daniel Hubmann.

The Sprint qualification race at Guildford University was surprisingly tricky with lots of buildings, alleyways, staircases etc. It’s also on the side of a hill so there were some fairly steep climbs. Sole Aussie, David Brickhill-Jones, said he was pleased with his qualifying run but reckoned he could have run a bit faster.

In the Sprint final at Battersea Park 24 year-old BJ had a brilliant run to finish 2nd behind the Swiss Daniel Hubmann. BJ took Australia’s first-ever top-three place in a World Cup race outside Australia. “It’s fantastic. This really means a lot to me”, he said. BJ was fastest through the first 15 of 26 controls by three seconds but faded slightly towards the end to finish 18 seconds adrift of Hubmann. Our reporter tried to get a word with him afterwards but he rushed to a phone to ring (National Coach) Jim Russell!

Our reporter noted that BJ was wearing the ultra-lightweight roadracing Nike Firefly shoes. They could have been worth a few seconds over those runners in heavier studs, which certainly weren’t necessary in Battersea Park.

For BJ this event marks a step-up in achievement for the once ‘wild man’ of Australian Orienteering. He has matured markedly in the past nine months and has strung together some very good recent performances with two wins and a 3rd place in the Park World Tour (Italy) and now a 2nd place in the World Cup. With an ounce of luck he might even go one better at the World Championships in Japan this coming August. (see interview with BJ in the Park World Tour section). Australian Sprint specialist, David Brickhill-Jones celebrating his second place in the Men’s World Cup Sprint at Battersea Park, UK. BJ thinking about his route as he marks it in the finish tent. Photo: Steve Rowland

Sprint success for Hausken and Hubmann

MONDAY morning saw a scorching UK Bank Holiday in Battersea Park, bringing out scores of potential spectators for an incredibly pacey Sprint Final held beside the River Thames. Courses were relatively long but with winning times of around 14 mins expected the day was always going to be an exciting one. Athletes raced across packed swatches of grass full of picnickers and vaulted fences much to the delight of people expecting a quite day’s Norway’s Anne Margrethe Hausken winner lounging in the sun. At a spectator of the Women’s World Cup Sprint at Battersea Park, UK. control, many runners went to the wrong boulder in full view of everyone. There were eight to choose from and they were all papier-mache, courtesy of Mike Murray (former UK champion). Briton Claire Ward summed up the day for many: “There was a bit too much thinking. There were so many controls.” Others found the atmosphere exhilarating “It was really fast. You didn’t have much time to think. I probably lost 10-15 seconds. At this speed, anything is challenging. The crowds were cheering at every control. It was too good. They probably made me push too early,” said one. A wonderful venue in the nation’s capital to hold the most spectatorfriendly event of the UK World Cup week. Two clear winners emerged in the Sprint Final. Norway’s Anne Margrethe Hausken was 38 secs quicker than Jenny Johansson (Sweden) and Longdistance winner Simone Niggli-Luder (Switzerland) who shared the same time after very nailbiting finishes from both athletes. Norwegian, Finnish and British colours completed the podium party, with Swiss Daniel Hubmann powers up a hill. Marianne Andersen 4th, Minna Kauppi 5th and Heather Monro 6th.

In the men’s race 22 year-old Swiss Daniel Hubmann was almost as clear a winner by 18 secs over Australian Sprint specialist David Brickhill-Jones. Third was the consistent Norwegian Øystein Kvaal Østerbø. Hubmann said, “It was a perfect race. I made no mistakes. It’s the best sprint race I ever have done”. Four Finns, Jarkko Huovila, Tero Föhr, Jani Lakanen and Mats Haldin, took the next three places - the last two sharing 6th place.

World Cup Sprint 2nd May 2005, Battersea Park, London

Main photos: Steve Rowlands

Sweden’s Elin Dahlstedt

Canadian Sandy Hott Johansen conquers the staircase

M21E 3.5 km; 60 m climb; 26 Controls; 27 starters

1 Hubmann Daniel SUI 14:15

2 Brickhill-Jones David AUS 14:33

3 Kvaal Østerbø Øystein NOR 14:40 4 Huovila Jarkko FIN 14:45 5 Föhr Tero FIN 14:48 6 Lakanen Jani FIN 14:50 7 Haldin Mats FIN 14:50 8 Sandvik Tore NOR 14:51 9 Näsman Johan SWE 14:53 10 Nielsen Christian DEN 14:54

W21E 3.2 km; 55 m climb; 24 Controls; 27 starters

1 Hausken Anne Margrethe NOR 14:33 2 Niggli Simone SUI 15:11 3 Johansson Jenny SWE 15:11 4 Andersen Marianne NOR 15:12 5 Kauppi Minna FIN 15:19 6 Monro Heather GBR 15:24 7 König Salmi Vroni SUI 15:34 8 Rollins Sarah GBR 15:44 9 Dahlstedt Elin SWE 15:49 10 Grüniger Brigitte SUI 15:53