Nopesport

It was more like something from a ‘Nam movie than a orienteering event, platoons of young men and women pulling up to the barracks all fresh and eager, yet to have their souls broken by the army way. But this was not a movie, it was the 2004 BUSA Orienteering Champs, and the platoons were mostly arriving in minibuses from the most esteemed educational establishments in the country.

Most saw the champs, the first with an overall title, as a two horse race between Edinburgh and Sheffield, with perhaps Sheffield’s more mature team taking the edge. However with the new scoring system meaning only the top three runners from each uni would score it was wide open.

Longmoor presented many challenges to the competitors, its extensive path network often complicating rather than simplifying matters, while unrestricted speed in some areas meant control had to be kept. It provided a real mix of terrain as well, superfast forest through tough tussocks, sandy tracks sapped energy while steep slopes towards the end were either easy or hard – depending which way you were going.

The women’s A course was the closest of the day with victory going to Edinburgh’s 18-year old Mhairi Mackenzie, just 2 seconds ahead of Oxford’s Pippa Whitehouse. Hannah Wooton of Newcastle took Bronze, less than 2 minutes behind. Mhairi took the lead early, being 20 seconds clear by the fourth control, but she didn’t have it all her way. The chasers were never more than a minute behind, and with three controls to go Pippa took the lead after a series of slower legs for Mhairi. But a 30 second mistake on the penultimate control cost her dearly and Mhairi regained her lead and won the title. Can anyone remember the last time a fresher won the individual gold?

So the Top 10 was:

1. Mhairi Mackenzie Edinburgh 52:22
2. Pippa Whitehouse Oxford 52:24
3. Hannah Wooton Newcastle 54:03
4. Rachael Elder Sheffield 54:34
5. Christine Currie Southampton 55:33
6. Laura Daniel Sheffield 55:39
7. Abi Weeds Guest-WAROC 56:39
8. Anna Edenbrandt Guest-EUOC 57:32
9. Alison O’Neil Edinburgh 57:32
10. Aislinn Austin Leeds Met 58:38

The men’s A course was won with a flawless run by the reigning champion, Matt Crane of Sheffield. However it could have been different, as second place Murray Strain of Edinburgh had a one minute lead with 2km left, which he through away with small mistakes in the technical final section. While Crane was running alone all the way, Murray said he could see his two minute man, Graham Gristwood, by the second control. GG left Murray at the end and claimed bronze, a one place improvement on his 4th place last year.

Mens Top 10:
1. Matt Crane Sheffield 53:03
2. Murray Strain Edinburgh 54:33
3. Graham Gristwood Warwick 55:32
4. Chris Sellens Sheffield 56:04
5, Ed Nash Newcastle 56:14
6. Oleg Chepelin Edinburgh 56:19
7. Ian Nixon Leeds 56:22
8. Duncan Archer Guest – HH 56:59
9. Andy Middleditch Sheffield 57:17
10. Scott Fraser Edinburgh 58:22

So the overall scores for the individual were

1st Sheffield 37points
2nd Edinburgh 40points
3rd Oxford 84points

With each place counting for three points in the relay Sheffield only had to beat Edinburgh in one relay to take the overall title. But that thought was far from everyone’s minds as they prepared to party the night away….

Individual Results

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