AUSSIES OVERSEAS
WOC 2005 – Japan Australia in 1985, USA in 1993 and now Japan in 2005. The third World Orienteering Championships to be held outside Europe, and the first-ever in Asia. Competitors representing 36 nations gathered in Aichi Prefecture in August to contest the races of WOC 2005. Hanny Allston and Troy de Haas were Australia’s stand-out performers with Hanny taking 6th place in the Longdistance event. She became the first foot orienteer from a nation outside Europe to win a podium position in an individual race. Reports compiled from Bob Mouatt and Rob Plowright.
Troy de Haas finished 7th in the Sprint event. Photo: Bob Mouatt
Long-distance
Hanny Allston creates history
The Long-distance final was a great result for two Australian women. For Hanny Allston it was about creating history and for Jo Allison it was about getting to the start and finishing. Hanny Allston only become serious about Orienteering a few years ago when she decided to give away swimming because of shoulder problems. She won her first National League race in March 2003 and her first international medal, a bronze, at the 2005 World Junior Championships (JWOC) in Switzerland this July. She set up her final race with a great solo run in the qualifying heats in which she finished in 3rd place. The final was run in warm to hot humid conditions, but it was the terrain and vegetation that tested most people. The 8.8km course had 21 controls and 630 metres of climb. 12 THE AUSTRALIAN ORIENTEER JUNE 2005
Hanny Allston wears the garland of hydrangea (above) as she celebrates her podium placing, and (left) completes the final leg of the Relay to bring Australia home in 8th place. Right: She does it again - Switzerland’s Simone NiggliLuder won 4 gold medals at WOC 2005, repeating her success of WOC 2003.
