Rob Walter has dominated the early parts of the last three Australian seasons. This year, there is a major carrot in the form of two World Cup rounds at home. His 5-days dominance suggested that he would come to Daylesford as a clear favourite. It wasn't so certain for half the race, with the early lead being taken by the exciting Tasmanian junior David Brickhill- Jones, who was still in front at halfway. Walter was in third, just behind Alex Randall, but took complete command in the second half, with the help of having his shorter splits last. He was nearly five minutes clear in the end, stamping his class on the field. Randall had a lonely second half but was able to hold second place comfortably, in his best National League result; Brickhill-Jones drifted back towards the field but was able to stay in the placings. It was also his best result at this level. From there onwards it was more closely bunched, with three minutes covering seven places; a pack that might have been larger had not a group of four potential contenders put themselves out of contention with a major parallel error on the first long leg, losing about five minutes. Paul Liggins' fifth was a welcome return to fitness after an injury-affected 1999, and suggested that he will be a useful member of the World Cup team to go to Japan.
The Canberra Cockatoos were not their usual selves. Their much-vaunted depth was severely tested by the absence of Tom Quayle through injury and the non-finishes of Troy de Haas (who missed a control) and Anthony Scott, and in the end they struggled to hold second ahead of the Southern Arrows. Victoria, with three in the top nine, were comfortably clear.
Whilst little could be read from the women's event, Nicki Taws had done enough before the misplaced control to suggest that she would be one to watch the next day.
Men (12.2 km) Loop 1 Final 1 Rob Walter ACT 39.04 77.07 2 Alex Randall VIC 38.56 81.47 3 David Brickhill-Jones ALL/T 38.11 84.06 4 Ben Rattray SA 42.10 84.52 5 Paul Liggins VIC 40.45 86.13 6 Gareth Candy WA 41.37 86.34 7 Eric Morris NSW 44.07 86.40 8 Rob Preston NSW 43.38 86.46 9 Blair Trewin VIC 44.10 87.12 10 Michael White SA 44.01 88.56 11 Andy Hogg WA 47.08 91.31 12 Colm Rothery IRL 45.58 91.45 13 Craig Dufty WA 46.31 92.08 14 Reuben Smith SA 47.31 92.39 15 Kerrin Rattray SA 45.17 92.47 16 Jim Russell VIC 46.08 93.00 17 Michael Derlacki ACT 44.39 93.42 18 Bruce Graham ACT 48.16 94.53 19 Bruce Arthur SA 42.33 95.38 20 Justin Woolford ALL/T 97.17 21 John Toomey WA 46.04 97.59 22 Jamie Potter SA 48.53 106.36 23 Jason McCrae ACT 52.28 124.08 Scott Simson ALL/Q 42.40 DNF Anthony Scott ACT DNF Andrew Jones VIC DNF Steven Jones VIC DNF Troy de Haas ACT DNF John Maher VIC DNF Teams 1 Victorian Nuggets 255.12 (Randall 81.47, Liggins 86.13, Trewin 87.12) 2 Canberra Cockatoos 265.42 (Walter 77.07, Derlacki 93.42, Graham 94.53) 3 Southern Arrows 266.27 (B.Rattray 84.52, White 88.56, Smith 92.39) 4 Western Nomads 270.13 (Candy 86.34, Hogg 91.31, Dufty 92.08) Women No race.Return to Australian Orienteering League home page.
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