Relay Day

Traditionally the relay is held on the last day of competition but not this year! In the absence of an Aussie Mens team, we decided to choose another country to back. This decision was not made lightly. After much deliberation and plenty of debate (ok it was an easy decision) we decided to choose the Swiss. Switzerland has amazing scenery, awesome chocolate and ice cream as well as spiky chestnuts. And aren't we glad we did! They won (after the first 4 teams stopped due to an injured swede).

Photos courtesy of Victoria's camera.

Our honorary team mate warming up

Still warming up...

Congratulations boys!

We are so proud of you guys

Why do you look shocked that your team mates are taking sneaky photos?

Great work team!

After the adulation of the Swiss boys taking gold, it was time to focus on the Aussie girls team. Another top 10 performance!! Well done girls :-)

Kathryn through the spectator

Kathryn and Hanny changing over...

Maryanne Andersen through the spectator in the lead - superstar!

Hanny flying through with just a small loop to go

The arena was packed!!

Shannon and Victoria sample the local sweet cuisine, yuuuuuuuummmmmm. Sweet sweet sugar donut thing.

kAtHrYn 5Th iN sPrInT fInAl!!!!!

Kathryn had a blinder to make the podium in today's sprint final - what a LEGEND!!!!!!!

Kathryn came 5th :-)

The results board!

Kathryn in 5th and a Finnish girl in 6th

The top 6 - 2 swedes, a swiss, a dane, a finn and an AUSSIE!!!!!

Kathryn and our physio extraordinaire Victoria

A proud coach with the star

Media were jostling to talk to Kathryn after her race

Kathryn gets a hug from renowned OA reporter Wendy Read

Kathryn starts hydrating for the relay

The aussie contingent are eager to hear about Kathryn's race

Kylie, Victoria and Hanny are part of the cheer squad

Kylie and Jas spot Kathryn on the huge screen!!

Middle Final

Today was the first final of the 2009 World Orienteering Championships. Hanny came 18th and Grace 15th (one better than last year!) We are all really proud of them both - it was a really tough course and area.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR COACH ROB!!!!!! We are about to celebrate with some cake :-)

Hoot dog anyone?

Does Rob look older or is the week looking after the girls taking its toll... ;-)

One of our stars of the day cooking dinner for us!

Chilling out at dinner

Happy birthday Rob!!!!!

How else would you want to celebrate your 30th birthday?

Hanny cutting the cake

Anna and Rob eating some yummy home made cake.

Kathryn multi-tasking (looking at the sprint map and eating cake)

We gave rob some really cool presents - like the thing that Jasmine is holding.

Tuesday - rest day and opening ceremony

Today was a pretty chilled out day. Some people went out to a sprint training map, Jasmine went to the Hungaria Cup and there was even a trip or two to Tesco. At 5pm everyone assembled outside for the Opening Ceremony. We are sending our best thoughts to Hanny and Grace for the middle final tomorrow!!!

From the long qualification

So hot right now

We are the lead out team for the parade!!

This is us

Wendy and Lance came over for a cup of tea and Lance showed us his strawberry bag :-)

Poser!

Huge team ;-)

Getting ready...

GROSS!!!!!

Christmas happens in August here

Hanny did us proud by giving the Athlete's oath

Some of the other teams

Monday - Long Qualification

Today was the long qualification. Hanny and Kathryn had solid runs and qualified in 5th position in their respective heats. Grace had a good run but unfortunately lost a couple of minutes towards the end. We had dinner together at a pizzeria (we cook ourselves usually) and some yummy ice cream for dessert. Tomorrow is a rest day, though we do have the official opening ceremony to look forward to.

Kathryn and Victoria went to Miskolc Tapolca - some thermal "cave baths"

Some of the team checked out the "Biker Pub"

These guys weren't afraid of the green water

Jasmine wants a career where she can use a headset (ok, so she wants to be Troy)

Uh oh - what is the red card on the windscreen?

Oops - shouldn't have parked here

Our first night out for dinner... our team took up one table. Then the Finns arrived and took up about 5 tables :-)

Ice cream for dessert