Nopesport

Its a couple of weeks ago now, but the Norwegian season opener in the Oestfold region of Norway provided some fast and furious racing.

In the individual SolRenningen competition Hanne Staff and Holger Hott Johansen took the Elite honours. Holger was one of many runners to leave Olso based Baekkelagets SK this winter to join the strengthened Kristinasand OK.

Dan Marston finished 11th on the tough classic race while further down the ranking Nick Morgan pipped Clive Parry by 30 seconds.

The individual also saw the first round of the new CRAFT-Cuppen, the junior league in Norway. Another Kristiansand runner Audun Bjerkriem Nilsen, a previous JK podium finisher, won M20E while his sister Betty-ann won D18E. 1069 Lene Bergersen won D20E and her clubmate Anders Skarholt won M18E

The Vaarstaffetten preceded the individual. It is a nordic league relay, and an interesting format - the mens race is over 5 legs of around 30 minutes, the last being slightly longer. The womens race is over four legs, the first three won in <25 minutes. Fast and furious!

The most improved team of the year is clearly Kristiansand OK. Two years ago Jorgen Rostrup, then World Champion, moved to Kristiansand after a spell in Turku, Finland. Since then a number of Borwegian team members have joined him there and they won their first major relay for a while at Spring Cup this year. And true to form, in the absence of Halden (who were organising) they took the lead from the start and led till the end, the most impresive run being Rostrup himself who used only 26 minutes for the 5km course - anyone who experienced the similar terrain at WMOC last year will know how impressive this is!
In the ladies race Hanne Staff anchored Baekkelagets to victory, showing they were in good form for TvaaMila.
Halden Skiklubb - Norwegina Spring