17 minute read
WORLD ORIENTEERING CHAMPIONSHIPS
WOC QUEEN
Hanny Allston – World Sprint Champion
ORIENTEERING can be a funny thing. You can be so prepared, so organised, so confident and yet the whole course can fall apart with one little slip of the concentration. This little dilemma is only emphasised in a Sprint race. What was a small one-minute mishap in a Long-distance event can become a huge ‘thud’ to earth in a sprint…and that is precisely why I have to admit that sprinting isn’t really my thing! You see I am a relatively methodical person. I like organisation. I don’t like chaos so if it has to be present then it must be organised chaos. I like to be a bit more scientific than philosophical although I still believe it is healthy to daydream once in a while. I am always early and never late, over prepared rather than under prepared, and have to know which direction Australia is no matter where in the world I am. So sprinting goes against all my belief patterns. It defies the organised world I live in. And that is precisely why one week out from the World Orienteering Championships in Denmark I was on the phone to Grant Bluett claiming, “But why? I hate sprints! PLEASE… the middle distance is much more my style!” But thank goodness for Orienteering Australia and their fair rules. If I had had my way I doubt there would have been a gold medal for orienteering in Australia, our anthem sung, and Simone Niggli-Luder standing in 2nd on the podium. So how did it all happen? Why me? The day dawned early for me. I could feel a tingling pulse echoing through me and that slightly discomforting ache of nerves in my legs. I rolled over, glanced at the flag hanging in my window and beyond that the patchy grey clouds of a Scandinavian sky. Perfect. Once out of bed I began feeling better and darted out the door for a short thirty-minute jog. Whilst prancing along through the nearby forest, dodging bright orange slugs the size of cucumbers, I shot quick glances at the back of my hand: ‘Calm, disciplined, strong’ These were the words I had jotted down the night before. They were the three deciding words…the three words between me and a super performance. But from the moment I picked up my map at the start of the qualification and left the gaping athletics stadium behind, little went to plan. I found myself running out across the carpark rather than following the line of the stadium, found myself coming to a halt in front of a huge impassable fence, running…running…and with little method to my madness. And what was that?!! As I ran across the manicured oval I found myself glancing ahead at the end of the course. ‘Tivelli? Surely not’. But it was surely so and I am sure as sure that no athlete had picked it! We were entering the theme park. Through the gate I ran in what I would describe as a mildly mad panic. This was certainly what I would call chaos and there was no organisation to it. Everywhere we ran there were obstacles and barriers. Small gardens with frustratingly small yet ‘impassable’ hedges, waterways, ice-cream stalls, TV cameras, ferris wheels, and athletes darting around like headless chooks. The best description of it all would have to be a carnival. Somehow I survived the madness and found myself running strongly down a road through the Danish forest with no other than Simone Niggli. Glancing over my shoulder I noticed her discomfort in the moment and perhaps this was the changing point of the whole day because I suddenly found an inner gear. Stepping up the pace and taking control I found myself believing for the first time that I was as good, if not better, than her. I had found my own feet at last. I learnt a lot from that Sprint race qualification. Rather than fussing over my countless mistakes earlier in the course I began to feel a quiet calmness. I had seen Simone in action. Watched her run into barriers, fluster, and best of all heard her puffing along beside me…perhaps she was human after all. After a summer that can only be described as difficult and lifechanging I feel a changed person. Not immensely, and not necessarily externally. But I have found a calmness and strength that I never knew I possessed plus an ability to push myself harder and faster. I carried this strength and my new-found belief into the Sprint final like a shield. I don’t remember much, to be honest, of that race except this deep calmness from the moment I picked up the map. This was organised chaos at its best! The methodical individual was at work inside me and I found myself running with 100% certainty. The garden beds that had stumped me in the morning were floating effortlessly past me and the high fences which seemed to lean against me in the morning no longer presented such grave defences. I felt light, strong and in control. And the happiest moment of all was arriving early to the finish line! This gold medal was more than an individual’s World Championship title…I believe this was just the ribbon holding onto the gold medal. My win was the exit from the valley of the summer and the beginning of opportunities for everyone involved. To me it represents the strength and calmness that I have established, certainty in the decisions I have made, and the enjoyment and friendships I have gathered along the way. It also represents the efforts of the whole orienteering community in Australia. All of us at some point have either been athletes, organisers, parents, or all of the above. And without us there would be no competitors to practice against, no events organised, and no friendships made. So thankyou to everyone for sharing this journey and let us hope that this is just the signpost pointing towards many higher peaks. Happy days. Hanny
Success
in Denmark
Sue Neve WOC Women’s Team Manager/ Coach
Ithink that Orienteering for women in Australia is looking very healthy. We had the best ever results at WOC. What could have been thought of as a transition year has proven to be a consolidating year which we can further build upon. Australia has had opportunities in previous years and it is exciting to see them to come to fruition. The team consisted of experienced runners who are further improving and less experienced members who handled their first WOC readily by qualifying and doing well. Furthermore, we have proven performers standing in the wings and we have talented, exciting juniors eager and willing to learn. For me this indicates we are now at a stage where those making the WOC team can all expect to achieve world-class performances. To have the confidence, depth and development at this level is a good sign for Australian women in Orienteering. Australia was well deserved and fortunate to have such a breakthrough and there were many happy Australians excited by our prospects for the future. Others were also pleased for us - such as nations aspiring to achieve similar success and interested in what we were doing, those thinking it was good for the sport with strong countries being respectful of the competition, (and New Zealanders who celebrated as Australians, temporarily). Our women made an impression and many people congratulated them. As a coach it was inspirational and to experience it first hand was priceless. As a coach the insights into the athletes are invaluable. I can only feel in awe of any athlete whose training discipline and commitment digs deep. I saw many qualities that comprise an elite athlete - and imagine if you could put it all together. As a World Champion Hanny is an excellent ambassador and is a superstar who believes. She is wise beyond her years. Jo is the most bomb-proof orienteer I have seen. She had surgery after Easter and was not ideally prepared but she never needed to mention it once through the WOC week. Grace, a naturally talented orienteer who feels the terrain, was impressive at her first WOC and can only improve with experience. Anna has guts and a strong work ethic. She qualified for both her events and thrives on competition. Danielle is a Long-distance specialist who needs more confidence with her ability. She was very supportive and crucial in navigating us to the Sprint race that day when the rest of us could not think! I saw the qualities that get them to that level - staying focused, staying calm, believing in oneself, focus on navigation, great under pressure, running till you collapse at the end of the race are many of the special characteristics in all the team members. It was a privilege to be in that company. I saw my role as WOC Women’s Team coach as being to get the best out of them for Australia. To look at what they had and to work with that to develop their potential. To instill confidence and belief when it was tested. To keep them on task and focused but to reduce the pressure in an intense demanding week. Physical and technical skills are basics but at this level the headspace plays an important part after the preparation has been done. I listened very carefully to where each orienteer was in their headspace and tried to get them into a positive frame of mind. I truly believed they could run well. I found myself personally wanting the team to have a healthy energy, by keeping the group dynamics respectful and incorporating the understanding that everyone had their part to play and was valued equally. To maintain a positive energy and focus so there were no distractions or other issues that can so readily come into play in such a tense situation. To focus on illness, injury, difficulties, excuses, relay orders, etc, at this last hour was not the right headspace for these people to be in. I listened carefully to the athlete’s needs and responded accordingly. I tried to inspire by giving them an honest opinion of my thoughts and to make that work for them. To identify their strengths and inspire. I was also quite protective in keeping the accommodation as a place of refuge for the athlete who has a lot to deal with already. Also balance and measure were necessary in a week that has high demands. All this feels better of course if it is coming from a natural source rather than contrived. I found myself enjoying the time and this reflected in my caring. The love of Orienteering was evident. It was a World Championships! I went to Denmark a little daunted by what we were up against but I have come away thinking we are nearly there. From what I saw at WOC I feel we can consistently achieve within the top10 and, realistically, win medals. Our navigational skills are as high as the best from other countries but we need to learn how to race harder. The top runners tend to thrash around more with some risks involved, a product of a lot of racing overseas, whilst we navigate steadily and tend to fade a little physically toward the end of races. I truly believe with this added confidence the Australian Women’s Team will establish themselves as an Orienteering nation of note. Well done girls.
Jo Allison, Hanny Allston and Grace Elson celebrate 4th place in the Relay.
Above: Relay moments – from left: Troy de Haas takes off for a fast last leg; Jo Allison finishes strongly on the first leg; Hanny Allston is all concentration as she starts the last leg; Grace Elson brings the Aussie girls into 9th place on the second leg.
Left: Tasmanians Grace and Hanny present Prince Frederik with a boomerang signed by the Team.
Right: Hanny punches the spectator control in the Long-distance final Below: Rob Walter starts the first Relay leg.
Gold Medal map
the WOC Women’s Sprint
Hanny passes 6th placed Helen Bridle (GBR) on the finish line.
Prince Frederik of Denmark presents Hanny with her Gold medal.
WOC Sprint – Women Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 F 1. Hanny Allston AUS 13:13.3 0:36 0:22 0:23 0:25 0:31 1:40 3:21 1:00 1:24 0:34 0:35 0:42 0:22 0:11 0:10 0:44 0:13 2. Simone Niggli-Luder SUI 13:19.1 0:34 0:41 0:19 0:21 0:29 1:31 3:26 0:57 1:30 0:35 0:37 0:42 0:20 0:10 0:09 0:44 0:14
Defending champion, Simone Niggli-Luder (SUI) could not match Hanny.
Aussies in the Crowd
Mike Hubbert
THE drama and euphoria of WOC2006, the World Orienteering Championships in which particularly our women’s Team did so remarkably well, was an incredible experience. Hanny Allston became Australia’s first WOC Champion and the first orienteer from outside Europe to wear that crown. That she had only just come from the World Junior Championships in Lithuania, where she won Gold and Silver medals, just added another dimension to her achievement. For the Aussies present in the crowd at WOC in Denmark, the atmosphere on those special days was electrifying. Some fifty or so gathered each day around the Australian flags strung up on makeshift poles, creating a point of focus and support for our Team. Many wore the de facto Australian t-shirt discovered by one of our number in an outlet shop. The bright colours and distinctive design attracted the attention of TV cameras, especially after Hanny’s storming win in the Sprint, so that we were featured on the Big Screen in the finish arena and later on Danish national TV. Hanny’s win in the Sprint Championship created something of a sea-change in international Orienteering. So many people of many nationalities came up to us in the following days with congratulations, saying how great it was for Orienteering that the Title had been won by someone from outside Europe. That the European dominance of WOC Titles had finally been broken was certainly being celebrated by Europeans and non-Europeans alike. For the Aussies in the crowd it was an amazing moment which we will all remember for a long time. For your reporter in the press area, when it was clear that Swiss star, Simone Niggli-Luder, would not beat Hanny’s time pandemonium broke loose and it was a case of fighting for position to get the all-important photos of the youthful winner. For the rest of the Team it seemed that cloud-nine was far below them. The following days were punctuated by good, solid performances in the Long- and Middle-distance disciplines. Then it was on again in the women’s Relay. Jo Allison and Grace Elson had set the Australian team in a very good position when Hanny took over in 9th place for the last leg. Sweden’s Karolina A. Hojsgaard had taken off with a substantial lead but had faltered early and was caught by the Finnish runner. By the half-way spectator control Hanny had nearly caught the Czech and Norwegian runners and up ahead Switzerland’s Niggli-Luder had made some bad mistakes. In the crowd our hopes were running high for a podium (top-6) finish. But the Czech, Brozkova, was running fast. Could Hanny catch her? Then, in the lead the Finn, Minna Kauppi, made a three-minute mistake. Out in the forest could she hear the booming voice of the announcer proclaiming that Finland would win, “That’s for sure!”? Had her concentration been broken for a vital moment? For the Aussies in the crowd there was only one runner who mattered – how was Hanny going?? Kauppi recovered to take the Gold for Finland, pausing to bow to the crowd from the last control before running down the straight with her team-mates. Sweden’s “Karro” claimed Silver after making some big mistakes early and Niggli-Luder ensured Bronze for Switzerland. But the drama was happening behind her. Hanny had run straight through the Czech and Norwegian girls. She came storming (there’s that word again) up the hill to the last control almost a minute clear of Brozkova. She turned, punched her fist in the air and, hair flying, raced down to the finish with a big grin on her face and clearly in 4th place, Jo Allison and Grace Elson running at her side. She had taken nearly 5min off the Swiss super-star, Niggli-Luder, and close to 4min off Minna Kauppi, the Finn. It’s the kind of run which makes relays so exciting and we Aussies in the crowd were so proud to have seen it on that day. Congratulations to all three girls for giving us such a wonderful exhibition of Aussie spirit and determination, and particularly to Hanny for putting the icing on the cake.
PEO BENGTSSON OVER THE MOON
In the early days when Orienteering in Australia was just gaining a foothold, Sweden’s Peo Bengtsson played an important role in the development. Several times he brought teams of Swedish experts out to assist us with mapping, course setting, and the like. Later, Peo brought out tour groups of Europeans to our multi-day events and he was a roving ambassador with the IOF, establishing Orienteering in other far-flung lands. He has a lasting and close affinity with the sport in Australia. August 1st is Peo’s Name Day (for Per) and it was on that very day Hanny Allston won her WOC Sprint gold medal, becoming Australia’s first WOC gold medallist and the first orienteer from outside Europe to win a WOC title. To say that Peo was elated is to grossly understate his reaction – he was over the moon (perhaps several moons). Hanny’s win created a sea-change in international Orienteering, something Peo has been working towards for many years. And he was doubly delighted that it was an Aussie who created this history. Peo is still a very active orienteer. At the World Masters in Austria he won the M70 title.
NUTRITION Buy yourself a JET this year!
JET compasses have the unique super-fast “Rare Earth” broad magnetic needle for the fastest settling and stability when running over rough terrain. Guaranteed to save precious seconds every time you check your bearing.
says Grant Bluett who runs with a Silva 6 Jet Spectra
SILVA 6 JET SPECTRA
For competitive orienteers who prefer the ultimate in thumb compasses. Features the broad fluorescent Jet needle and the unique time saving ‘Spectra’ colour coded ring. Elastic thumb strap and rubber pad for a safe and sure grip. Map scales in 1:10,000 and 1:15,000. Available in left and right hand models.
$138 from your local O-gear shop at events.
SILVA 5 JET
Features a scratch resistant ‘comfort-fit’ curved back-end baseplate and the unique fluorescent red/white, broad Jet needle. Easy-to-grip housing with enlarged dial. Detachable map scales in 1:15,000 and 1:10,000 and silicon baseplate feet to prevent unintentional slipping on maps. $133 from your
local O-gear shop at events.
SILVA 1S JET
Same high-performance Jet needle as in above model. Large magnifying lens in baseplate for enlarging fine map detail. Other features as in 5 Jet. $145
from your local O-gear shop at events.
