World MTBO Champs
 Michael
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Posted: 20 October 2004, 3:57 AM
All women in the NZ MTBO Team have qualified for the long distance final of the World MTBO Champs in Victoria. Three men have made the final which will be run today 20 Oct near Daylesford.
The finalists in order of their qualifying times are:
Women: Marquita Gelderman, Dianne Michels, Christina Renhart, Claire Heppenstall, Fiona McBryde, Jo Forbes.
Men: Stuart Lynch, Phil Wood, Craig Starnes.
The team will also contest a middle-distance event on Friday and a relay on Saturday. Results are appearing promptly on website www.2004worldmtbo.org
Michael Wood, Team Manager
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Michael
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Posted: 20 October 2004, 2:25 PM
Marquita Gelderman was the top New Zealander in today's Long Distance World Championship in MTB-Orienteering. She placed 27th in the 27km course near Daylesford in Victoria, 18min behind Germany's Anke Dannowski.
Australia's top hope Emily Viner limped into the finish on a flat tyre, dashing hopes of a female medal, but 19-year-old Adrian Jackson secured the bronze for the host country.
NZ's top male hope Stu Lynch was hoping for better than 52nd but Phil Wood placed 36th and Craig Starnes 42nd in a field of 100 from 27 countries. They were 17 and 21min behind Switzerland's Alain Berger.
NZ's ride of the day came from Wellington's Jo Forbes who placed 31st. The adventure racer from Wellington began orienteering on wheels only this year and was a surprise nomination to the team. The other kiwi finalists were Dianne Michels (35th), Christina Renhart (38th), Fiona McBryde (39th) and Claire Heppenstall (41st).
The team will contest the middle-distance championship on Friday and the relay championship on Saturday. Full details on the event website www.2004worldmtbo.org.
Michael Wood, Team Manager
This message was edited by Michael on 21 October 2004, 2:21 AM
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Michael
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Posted: 22 October 2004, 5:50 PM
Marquita Gelderman rode outstandingly to finish 15th in the World Middle-distance Championship in MTB-Orienteering at Castlemaine in Victoria today. The Aucklander was just 5 minutes behind the winner, Austria's Michaela Gigon.
But the kiwi men were not as successful, top hope Stu Lynch missing one control after mistaking one of the women's controls for his. The former downhill rider and adventure racer would have placed in the low 20's. NZ's top man was Andy Rhodes in 47th place.
The mens race was won by 21-year-old Adrian Jackson of Australia, who beat the long-distance champion Alain Berger (Swi) by 46 seconds. Jackson's mother Carolyn was also in the Australian team, finishing 29th, while Belinda Allison finshed second equal for the host country.
Other NZ results:
Claire Heppenstall 32nd, Fiona McBryde 37th, Christina Renhart 40th, Joanna Forbes 43, Dianne Michels 46th.
Craig Starnes 49th, Nreil Kerrison 50th, Phil Wood 56th, Darryul Taylor 62nd.
Michael Wood, Team Manager
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Michael
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Posted: 23 October 2004, 6:59 PM
NZ men placed 10th in the World Championship in Relay MTB-Orienteering, decided today at Maryborough in Victoria. This puts NZ in the top half of the countries represented at the second World Championship, the first outside Europe. The team consisted of Phil Wood, Andy Rhodes and Stu Lynch.
Although the womens field was smaller, Marquita Gelderman, Fiona McBryde and Claire Heppenstall placed 7th.
Finland which is due to run the 2006 championship won both mens and womens classes, but this year's host Australia captured the bronze medals. Although its star rider Adrian Jackson lost the race for second with a clumsy checkin at the final electronic control, he finished the week with three medals including a gold. What's more, his mother Carolyn was a member of the third-paced womens relay team!
New Zealanders also achieved distinction in the public age-group competition held concurrently. Jackie Sinclair and Roz Clayton won the womens 40+ and 50+ classes, while Rob Garden won the mens 50+.
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