MTBO National Champs

Michael Posted: 9 November 2005, 5:25 AM   Bruce McLeod showed what an outstanding orienteer he (still) is by winning the NZ MTBO Champs at Naseby on Saturday, and cleaning up the score event within time on Sunday. Bruce hasn't ridden a MTBO event since winning the inaugural NZ champs at Hanmer five years ago. That's not to belittle the womens champion though, Marquita Gelderman taking the title off Dianne Michels. Results on the MTBO website www.mapsport.co.nz/mtbo/mtbo.html   Michael Posted: 29 March 2006, 4:58 AM   And Marquita Gelderman showed what an outstanding orienteer SHE is by winning both races of the second Australian trial for the MTBO World Champs. She had earlier won both races of the first trial. Results on www.ozmtbo.com And that's not all. The latest races were world ranking events. Our calcs put Marquita into the lead, with 129.5 points ahead of last year's middle-distance gold medallist Michaela Gigon (Austria) who has 109.5. Australia's Carolyn Jackson who was second to Marquita at the weekend is third on 94.5. There are some oddities in the ranking scheme, our calcs are completely unofficial and when the European season begins there will be many more opportunities for scoring there. But let's savour the moment!   The Clem Posted: 3 April 2006, 3:57 AM   The lastest world ranking update for MTBO makes it official. Marquita is currently ranked number one and will probably stay there at least until the next ranking events at the end of April. Go Marquita!