Lena Eliasson (currently 3rd in World Rankings) and David Andersson (Bronze WOC relay 2011) were at the recent NSW Junior Squad camp in Tocal, training with the youngsters and offering advice, encouragement and a physical demonstration of what it takes to be at the front of the international orienteering pack. The two Swedes are an advance party of internationals who are taking advantage of the great orienteering festivals available over the holiday break, starting with the Christmas 5 Days in Victoria and moving on to the Oceania Carnival in New Zealand in the New Year.
The heat over the weekend didn't stop the visitors or the Junior Squad training hard ahead of these major competitions. The squad started with a super speedy sprint at Ourimbah University on Saturday bringing out the competitive instincts with a mass start, followed by an evening of some close questioning of the internationals for hints and tips. A Saturday workout at Pelaw in the morning, followed by a swim and sand dune training kept up the pace, with Sunday serving up the main event 'The Camp Champs'. This year's winners were Nicola Blatchford, Daniel Hill, Georgia Jones and squad newbie Alastair George.
