Nopesport

The 3rd World Mountain Bike Orienteering Championships take place this week in Banska Bystrica in Eastern Slovakia. GB has sent one of its strongest teams ever to this years competition.

Mens Team - Andy Conn, Andy Simpson, Liam Corner, Steve Heading, Phil Winskill, Killian Lomas, Res: Rick Featherston (has also travelled to take part in the open races)
Womens Team - Helen Winskill, Janine Hensman, Karen Heppenstall

Top names to watch out for in the first race this week - Reigning World Champions in the Middle race are Adrian Jackson of Australia and Michelle Gigon of Austria who is also the current Womens leader in the World Rankings, Mens Leader is Ants Grende of Latvia. Steve heading is currently ranked 7th & Janine Hensman 15th.

Some of the GB team have been competing in the Slovak Open Championships this weekend to prepare in similar terrain. Fine rides from Liam Corner & Rick Featherston secured 2nd & 3rd place in Sunday’s Free Order race. Two very respectable rides on Saturday from Steve Heading & Karen Heppenstall placed them in the top 5. Obviously a number of riders have not been riding all the races but certainly gives them all good confidence in this terrain for the races later in the week.

SLOVAK Open MTBO Championships

Saturday Middle Distance M 19- 20.2km 780m 15k

1.Viktor Korchagin Russia 96.35
2.Šurgan Štefan ŠK Biko Banská Bystr 104.23
3.Jérémie Gillmann France 104.33
4.Steve Heading Great Britain 108.53
18.Rick Featherston Great Britain 125.26
20.Greg Barbour New Zealand 127.10
24.Liam Corner Great Britain 137.00

W 19- 16.9km 750m 10k

1.Fajtová Stanislava ŠK Vazka Bratislava 104.35
2.Ksenia Chernykh Russia 109.13
3.Ramune Arlauskiene Lithuania 113.44
5.Karen Heppenstall Great Britain 121.16

Sunday Free Order Short Distance M 19- 15.5km 480m 10k

1 Urs Dauwalder SUI 63.19
2 Liam Corner GBR 66.26
3 Rick Featherston GBR 69.42

W 19- 13.7km 390m 10k

1 Fajtová Stanislava SVK 62.46
2 Bajtošová Hana SVK 64.37
3 Schaffner-Räber Christine SUI 65.58
7 Janine Hensman GBR 71.20
9 Karen Heppenstall GBR 74.17

The programme for the World Champs over the next week.
Monday – Model
Tuesday – Middle Final
Wednesday – Long Qualifier
Thursday – Rest Day
Friday – Relay
Saturday – Long

Hopefully you can watch the action unfold online at
MTB World Champs 2005 Website

If you would like to send a message of support to the team
Email : gbrmtbo.woc05@ntlworld.com

Liam Corner at the White Rose