ULTIMAX STINGERS 5-DAYS

Norwegian junior Olav Lundanes.

Junior Internationals test Aussie terrain at the Ultimax Stingers 5 Days

Words & Photos: Eric Morris

SOME of the world’s best Junior Orienteers got a taste of the extremes of Australian terrain and weather at the Ultimax Stingers 5 Days, held in Orange in the first week of 2007. The event was designed to provide competitors with a taste of what they could expect when the Junior World Championships roll into Dubbo later this year. The men’s competition was a fascinating race headlined by dominating performances by three men. Julian Dent showed he is back from an injury blighted 2006 with several impressive performances, the best being a demonstration of his incredible technique at speed to dominate both sprints on day 1 at Kahli’s Rocks. Swedish senior international Mats Troeng was consistent, winning the Middle-distance at Gumble and never finishing far down the field on any day. But the one athlete that everyone was talking about was Norwegian junior Olav Lundanes. Lundanes already has a handful of JWOC medals and looks a certainty to start as hot favourite in Dubbo. He easily won the classic event on a hot day at Gumble and featured high in the standings on several other days. With the big guns all starting together, the reverse chase on day 5 at a wet and slippery Macquarie Woods was easily the highlight of the week. Dent caught Lundanes and frequent Aussie visitor, Danish international Carsten

Robbie Preston in front of a pack after the Day 2 mass start.

Swedish senior international, Mats Troeng.

Joergensen, half way round the course. They raced at high speed through the later controls chased by last starter Troeng running alone. Dent took the day victory and an unofficial first place with Troeng holding on as the official overall winner, with Dent ineligible as an event organiser. First official Aussie was junior Simon Uppill who continues to develop into a class orienteer and a genuine medal chance in Dubbo, particularly over the classic distance. The women’s class was dominated by Grace Elson. She was never seriously challenged being the one competitor showing consistency over all of the five days and demonstrating

Dubbo terrain

Photos: Paul Prudhoe and Eric Andrews

again how high she now rates on the Australian elite scene. Her best result was in the Long race on Day 4, showing her strength in blitzing the field by 5 minutes. In a contrast to the men’s race, only one foreign runner, Mali Fjogstad Nilsen, could break the Australian dominance in the top 5. Nilsen took second place overall with a win in the Gumble granite on Day 3 being her best result. In a battle between three Australians for 3rd place, Jasmine Neve showed her growing maturity to hold out World Champs runner Anna Sheldon and the experienced Susanne Casanova. As ever, the 5 Days kept its reputation as not only a high quality event, but a fun event too with a well organised round of social events. A feature of the five days was the strong support by event sponsors especially keynote sponsor Ultimax, providing a range of high quality prizes for the overall winners. The Orange community also chipped in with local businesses again showing an interest in Orienteering in the NSW central west.