Nopesport

Daniel Hubmann & Elise Esgeth both came from behind at the JK today to be crowned champions.

At yesterday's middle distance race at Leith Hill competitors battled the weather as much as the courses, with a mixture of snow and hail throughout the day. Sarah Rollins scored a second victory for the weekend, but surprisingly it was a much tighter result than in the sprint. Sarah finished just one second clear of Elise Esgeth, who in turn was only a second clear of Helen Bridle. All three were closely matched throughout the race with the second place only decided at the penultimate control.

In the men's middle distance race it was Scott Fraser who took victory, 15 seconds clear of Daniel Hubmann. Graham Gristwood finished a further 18 seconds back in third, with Baptiste Rollier only 2 seconds behind. Scott's consistent run, with caution in the right places, meant he avoided the big mistakes which Hubmann and Gristwood would be left ruing, as it was Hubmann and Rollier who had led for much of the race.

For today's classic distance race at Ashdown forest competitors once again faced the snow. Sarah Rollins didn't start today due to a cold, which left Elise Esgeth as the final starter and having caught Rachael Elder 3 minutes by the 6th control it would have taken a fantastic run to prevent her taking home the title. Pippa Whitehouse came closest but finished two minutes down having caught Grace Elson and Jenny Johnson along the way, but that was enough to leapfrog both Johnson & Elder to take second place. So overall Egseth was victorious, with Whitehouse in 2nd just nine seconds ahead of Elder with Johnson a minute back, Sandy Hott and Mhairi Mackenzie taking 5th and 6th spots respectively.

Oli Johnson set the early pace for the men's elite, posting a time of 88:37 for the 16.7km course, but given the form of the final starters Fraser, Hubmann and Gristwood if they came together the stage would be set for a very quick time. As it was, it was Humann and Gristwood who came together just over halfway round the course, and while GG beat the Swiss star down the run in, it was Hubmann's time of 84:17 that was victorious. Fraser, running alone for the whole course, faded over the final few legs to finish seventh in a time of 90:56. Overall it meant Hubmann took the JK title ahead of Gristwood, with Baptiste Rollier in 3rd, just ahead of Olav Lundanes and Fraser in 4th and 5th respectively with Øystein Kvaal Østerbø in 6th.

Day 2: Results | Winsplits | Splitsbrowser | Routegadget

Day 3: Results | Winsplits | Splitsbrowser | Routegadget