Nopesport

As Saturday afternoon heated up, the World Cup Relay Arena became the setting for the first middle distance stage of the 2005 Future Champions Cup Final. The Old Windmill Hill section of the World Cup map was used, again providing a big physical challenge for such short courses requiring on the ball navigation. Hot favourites coming into the race were Cerys Manning of SWOC & OUOC, having convincingly won 4 races of the series despite glandular fever over the Christmas break, and Duncan Coombes of MAROC, having being unbeaten all year, with many of the more established squad members missing due to injury.

The races proved to be tough, with runners through the spectator obviously feeling the heat of the day. Alison O’Neill of NOC & EUOC proved herself back on form after wobbles in the early season, with Cerys coming a respectable second after a bout of tonsilitis earlier on in the week. Helen Gardner of WAOC sneaked in behind jointly with Lizzie Adams of SOC & Sheffield Hallam in 3rd place. In the Men’s race, Duncan Coombes showed incredible form to win by almost two minutes, despite the fact he’s still an M18. James Tullie of RR & EUOC took second place with final year M20 Matt Dickinson of DVO & SHUOC taking 3rd.

Alison said it was her best race of the season so far, and she’s now well into her attack plan for this year’s JWOC, to be held in Switzerland in July. Cerys will be hot on her tail tomorrow however, when she hopes to repeat her classic race success from the JK. Duncan’s run was pretty good, but with a few small errors. When asked what Duncan’s major orienteering tip was, he said that consistency is the key to being a successful junior participant. We wish all the athletes best of luck tomorrow, where the girls will be racing over a gruelling 8.2km and the guys 10.7km.

FCC Final Short
Mens 4.8km
1 Duncan Coombs MAROC 29.38
2 James Tullie RR/EUOC 31.29
3 Matt Dickinson DVO/SHUOC 32.52
4 David Schorah DEE 33.00
5 James Bennett WCH/EUOC 33.38
6 Colin Olivant NOC/SHUOC 33.39

Womens 4.1km
1 Alison O'Neil NOC/EUOC 33.40
2 Cerys Manning SWOC/OUOC 34.07
3= Helen Gardner WAOC 36.00
4= Lizzie Adams SOC 36.00
5 Jessica Halliday OD 36.44
6 Ruth Holmes SARUM 37.18

For Full Results go onto the public race results, then Day 2 - Short