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| 28/05/01: The WOC Trials. What promised to be a strong season for Ben, both physically and technically at his best pretty much ended over the weekend as a disappointment. In what some may describe as a cruel twist of fate, Ben, going into the races full of confidence, landed badly on the way to the first control in the first race for the weekend. Struggling on, and determined to make the WOC team, Ben struggled on for the next seven controls and while there were no navigational problems, the splits were slow due to the increasingly painful ankle. He did not finish. The classic race on the Sunday was Ben's last chance and he had to run, and run well to try to gain selection. In extreme pain despite the numerous anti-inflammatorys and pain-killers Ben started and found a rhythm, orienteering well. The rhythm was slow though and he was soon passed by later starters. By the 12th control, about a third of the way around the pain was too much, the race was over along with Ben's hopes of going to Finland. An x-ray today will shine more light on the injury. Meanwhile Ben hopes to recover quickly both physically and mentally before aiming for the next goal which at this stage has not been confirmed. |
| 23/05/01: Only 3 nights till WOC Trials. Over the weekend, final preparations were made on Stockton sandunes just north of Newcastle. The map Stockton Dunes provided for tough going both physically and navigationally, a great build-up to the tough racing promised this weekend. Ben has also dropped into a small taper but is more concerned by the mental challenge. "Physically I'm fine, I've done all I could. I just need to find the and punch the right controls..." painful memories from earlier this year still apparent. Ben will drive to Sydney Thursday night before flying to Queensland, and driving up to Stanthorpe the night (Friday) before the race. "You never know what will happen..." Realistically, Ben needs to place in order to make the World Champs team. Can he do it? |
| 4-6/05/01: Ben spent his 9th weekend away for the year back yet again in Victoria visiting some of the best orienteering terrain in Australia. Courtesy of ACTAS transport, Rob Walter and Ben met up with Troy de Haas after training on Kangaroo Crossing. From there they went on and trained on Kooyoora, the map used for the World Champs in 1985. Sunday morning they took onm the course with others up from Melbourne. The going was really tough as the forest has thickened since 1985 and only Rob and Troy managed to complete the course, although well behind the winners time in 1985. The weekend should prove a valuable training for the WOC trials now only 3 weeks away. |
| 8/05/01: It's not all orienteering for Ben, a major project he is undertaking is his Masters Thesis for which collection of data starts tommorrow. Ben will be testing Australia's premiere Orienteers to investigate physiological relationships between laboratory and field testing. It's a very hectic schedule and unfortunately for Ben, this makes this crucial lead up time to WOC trials much more difficult. |
| 13/06/01: Injury Rehabilitation The rehabiltation process is slow. Two and a half weeks since trials and I can now walk normally, but am still maybe 2 weeks away from running. It is particualrly frustrating since now that I am not going overseas I want to set my sights on other events, but can't even train for them yet. University is extremely busy too and while it helps to keep the mind off everything else, it minimises the time available for cross-training methods which always seem to take longer. I spent two weekends away, one in Adelaide for my brothers birthday, and one in Melbourne, they were great fun, and have made me feel normal since I am unable to train. Can't wait till I'm back running. |
| 15/06/01: NEW SPONSOR - NEW HORIZONS BODYASSIST It can't be all bad, and it's not, with the injury, Ben welcomes a new sponsor. New Horizons, Bodyassist are the sole importers of McDavid ankle braces. McDavid offer more than most ankle braces as the Guardian Brace offers additional stops to prevent hyperextension, a common ankle injury in Orienteers. With this brace, Ben might have been still going to Finland! Read more. |
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| ....and the NEW brace |
| 25/06/01: The Rehabilitation Process On Sunday, Ben went for his first run since the injury four weeks ago. "It was sore and restrictive, and the run was slow, but it's a start". frustration was getting high for Ben so it is good that he has been able to run. Ben owes much of the rehabilitation to Ros Penfold at Atlas Physiotherapy in Braddon, Canberra. It is thought that the rehabilitation process has been slow, in part because of a bone stress reaction. While no fracture showed up on x-rays, the bone is obviously in a state of repair has extra bone has been laid down making his left ankle noticeably larger. The bone should reshape itself and reduce in size over the coming months. Along with the bone changes should come some relief from the pain, and a return to more normal training. Meanwhile, Ben's 4 JWOC aspirants left for Europe today, JWOC is 3 weeks away. |
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| April-June |
| 18/8/01: Aussie Grant Bluett holds World Games Title! Grant Bluett what a legend. Today, Grant beat a world class field to take Gold at the World Games in Japan. The best ever result for Orienteering Australia. Grant obviously like racing in Asia where he has previously won Park World Tour races (picture), but this must top it off.His move to Sweden a few years ago has clearly paid off. Results here. Results 1st Grant Bluett AUS 1st Hanne Staff NOR 2nd Tore Sandvik NOR 2nd Annette Granstedt SWE 3rd Jamie Stevenson GBR 3rd Birgitte Husebye NOR 19th Rob Walter AUS 13th Jo Allison AUS 30th Natasha Key AUS |
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