The 2011 World Orienteering Champs start today with the Long Qualification with both team members from NSW, Julian Dent and Rob Preston competing. The team is fit and well and settling into life in Aix-Les-Bains, France.
The long qualification is in the foothills of the French Alps at about 1200 metres above sea level. The terrain is made up of two distinct types: one is steep, fast, open meadows which contrasts with the karst forest that has intricate rocky details with poor runnability in parts.
The start times for the long qualification are:
Aislinn Prendergast: 11.36 am (7.36 pm AEST)
Jasmine Neve: 12.09 pm (8.09 pm AEST)
Vanessa Round: 12.51 pm (8.51 pm AEST)
Rob Preston: 2.19 pm (10.19 pm AEST)
Julian Dent: 2.31 pm (10.31 pm AEST)
There are three heats for the men and three for the women, and the first 15 in each heat qualify for the final. There are 118 starters in the men's class and 84 starters in the women's. The women have a winning time of 45 minutes and an average distance of 6 km; the men have a winning time of 59 minutes and and average distance of 9 km.
If you want to follow all the action go to woc2011.fr, otherwise worldofo.com will have information and commentary if the live link at the WOC site doesn't work.
So you don't miss out on any of the action, the program for the week is:
Sunday 14 August: the middle qualification starts at 10 pm (AEST) watch out for Grace Elson, Vanessa Round, Jasmine Neve, Julian Dent, Rob Preston and Simon Uppill
Tuesday 16 August: sprint qualification starts at 5 pm (AEST) look out for Grace Elson, Rachel Effeney, Mace Neve, Julian Dent and Simon Uppill
Sprint final on the same day starts at 11 pm (AEST)
Wednesday 17 August: long final, 8.30 pm (AEST)
Friday 19 August: middle final, 9.30 pm (AEST)
Saturday 20 August: relay, 9.30 pm (AEST)
For more information see the Aussie Team Blog
http://australianorienteeringteam.blogspot.com/
Thanks to Hilary Wood and Orienteering Australian for this update
