INTERVIEW
Women’s WOC Coach – Sue Neve Late last year Orienteering Australia announced the appointment of WOC Foot-O Coaches for 2006-07. Previous teams to the World Orienteering Championships have taken one manager and one coach. In 200607 OA has appointed a men’s and a women’s coach who will share the managerial duties. The men’s WOC Coach will be Brett Weihart and the women’s coach Sue Neve. The Australian Orienteer caught up with Sue at the Christmas 5-Days: AO: Congratulations on your appointment. I see you’re already holding Squad meetings during this event. SN: It is a great opportunity to assist in an official capacity. The elite women are not together often so it was appropriate to make a start and how could I leave the guys out! AO: You’ve been coaching the Bushrangers for the past two years. Will there be much difference for you in this new position as WOC Coach? SN: Yes I think so. I am already sensing that at this level the demands are higher, the athlete expectations are greater and they have a quality about them. The Bushrangers is an excellent training ground to make this step. WOC would have to be more intense for the athlete. With the new coaching positions structure there will be greater support and each coach can offer their strengths and complement each other. AO: You probably know most of the Squad members well. Are there any who you haven’t worked with previously? SN: Yes, I am familiar with many of the elite women and men. I like what I see. I think that the depth of talent is excellent and this year some places will be highly contested. Different runners have various needs and at WOC level many have done a lot of work already. My role will be to keep the athlete on track and prepared. I cannot think of any I am not familiar with as most have come through our system where a lot of the good work is already done, it just takes something special for the next level. AO: You were a long time at the Elite level and now you’re back winning Age titles. How does this experience kelp you as a Coach (and manager)?
AO: What are your goals for the Women’s team at WOC2006 in Denmark? SN: Denmark is fast and navigationally less demanding, so it is a great opportunity for the Australian women to run well. However, it will be a high pressure race with no room for error. The girls by their nature have always run consistently well and if we have three excellent runs anything is possible in the relay. Each year the girls results look better and we are nudging closer to the podium. My goal is for those girls to run their hearts out. The results will come from that. AO: We’ve all read of Hanny Allston’s recent achievements and Grace Elson is doing well at this Christmas 5-Days. Is there something in the water in Tasmania? SN: …I have to agree Tasmania is a good training ground. It seems to build a strength of character that pays dividends in Orienteering. The lack of visibility prevents bad habits developing perhaps and just the more difficult terrain. I thought their water was quite nice but I did not grow hairs on my chest if that is what you meant. AO: Who else will we see coming to the fore this year? SN: I do not like to put names up but I think we have a good depth and some are already being noticed, which will lift the standard in general. Experience and encouragement will help these people. However, the oldies are keeping them honest. AO: What makes the terrain in Denmark special? SN: Denmark is fast and reasonably flat. The undergrowth of felling can be quite extensive and difficult for the less aggressive. It is more like continental running than Scandinavian terrain and so it brings the fast runners to the fore with the added pressure of speed on the course and determination in the difficult undergrowth. Most of the competitors, including the Australians, would have been well exposed to this terrain. In this situation the experience of racing hard will be good preparation for the Australians who are not as readily exposed to big races. It will be a good WOC where running ability is important. AO: Getting prepared physically is one thing, but what about mental preparation? SN: I am intrigued by mental preparation. It distinguishes the champions in this sport. Mental strength is a key component and no matter how well prepared we can be there is that unknown dimension to which we can be vulnerable. In this case it is hard to train for a WOC as they only come around once a year. Australians can still have difficulty with the aura of it all. Mental strength is the noticeable difference in making the grade. To be able to deliver on the day takes incredible belief in oneself and this is a reflection of where a trained athlete is at. Mental strength is not text book knowledge but you can tell who has it. AO: Does visualisation of the race ahead help in pre-race preparation? SN: So they say. You have to think you can do it before you actually do. It is called creating your world. Visualisation must assist with creating the scenario. More importantly knowing and believing something special is about to happen can be very strong at times and so you make it happen. It is a good day when you can decide “I am going to have a good run today”. AO: What about team uniform – some other countries seem to be going for the streamlined look. Is there a new look coming for the Aussie team? SN: Good girlie question. I like this question and I am already thinking of it. I hear avocado and buttercup are in this year. I do know that my daughters will be keen to offer lots of advice. I thought we looked good in Japan but we must keep up with the fashion to run well.
SN: Yes, it does help. What I am finding is that I learn from them as they would from each other. It is a process that works both ways and so when we gather as a group and discuss what we are thinking for today’s race someone My only obsession? The next control. is making the point required. There is so much to learn just by listening. I now have My only enemy? The clock. a wealth of experience that just gets better with age. Thierry Gueorgiou (France) – king of world Middle-distance Orienteering
AO: I’m sure all our readers wish you and the women’s team the very best of luck in Denmark. I know you’re very busy so thanks for your time.
MARCH 2006 THE AUSTRALIAN ORIENTEER 19
