AUSSIES OVERSEAS
WORLD MASTERS ORIENTEERING CHAMPS
Asiago, on the southern slopes of the Dolomites in northern Italy, was the venue for this year's World Masters Orienteering Championships held from July 6 - 9. Forty Australians were among the 3,285 competitors entered for the various age classes, spaced at 5-year intervals from 35 up to 90 years old. The programme for all competitors was two qualification races and a final. Competitors’ performances in the qualification races decided which of the A, B, C etc. finals for which each runner qualified. Only those who qualified for the A finals could become World Champion in their age class. Alpine areas with fir tree forest and varied amounts of open ground typified the terrain used for both qualification and finals races. Day 1 offered forested steep slopes with stony and rocky areas, whilst Day 2 and the final were run on flatter terrain with a higher percentage of open ground but also more technical detail, especially on the finals day. Paul Liggins (VIC) reports: 16 THE AUSTRALIAN ORIENTEER SEPTEMBER 2004