DUBBO PREPARES

Dubbo prepares for JWOC –

the Junior World Orienteering Championships

The cream of the world’s junior Orienteering talent will be competing in and around Dubbo in July. Twenty-nine nations have entered teams for JWOC 2007, including (for the first time) Mongolia. At time of writing individual team members had yet to be nominated by the competing countries.

Louis Elson during the Prologue at Easter

In all, 288 athletes and officials will descend on Dubbo for JWOC. Add to that all those competing in the Western Plains Carnival and it’s likely to be standing room only when it comes to refreshments time at the end of each day. Australia has entered a full Team of six women and six men which means two relay teams for both men and women. How will our talented Aussie juniors go against the world’s best? How will the world’s best cope with the complex granite around Dubbo? All will be revealed come July. One thing is for sure – Aussies and internationals alike will enjoy the challenge of navigating in this terrain. Some will have great runs, some will not, but all will learn from their experiences and be better orienteers for it. Some of the international attendees at the first training camp have already enjoyed success this year and, no doubt, will be back in Dubbo looking for more. Jerker Lysell (Sweden) is now the Swedish M18 Sprint Champion. Olav Lundanes (Norway) and Jan Benes (Czech Rep) had good success last year and will likely be back for some more in Dubbo. Australians, Simon Uppill (SA) and Vanessa Round (SA), have been in very good form early in the year with excellent runs in the Australian 3-Days at Easter. This talented pair seem to have the best chances of the Australians for success in Dubbo. Both won the final trials in May in very convincing fashion. Heather Harding (ACT) dominated the junior class at Easter and also can be expected to do well. The full Australian Team for JWOC is named on page 11.

Hanny Allston joins the JWOC Coaching Team

In a fantastic boost for the 2007 Australian team World Champion Hanny Allston has joined the team for the 2007 Junior World Championships as Coach. Hanny is very much looking forward to working with the team to help our young athletes maximise their potential for success in Dubbo come July. She will bring a superb insight into the technical, physical & mental preparation required to compete with success on the world stage. Hanny met with all team contenders at the Australian 3-Days in Burra at Easter.

Michael Dowling

Jim Russell joins Hanny as JWOC Team Coach

Jim Russell joins with Hanny Allston as a joint coaching team to prepare the JWOC Team for competition in Dubbo. Both Hanny and Jim attended the final selection trails held on the weekend of May 19-20.

Michael Dowling