The 2019 World Rogaining Championship delivered an epic and picturesque event at La Molina ski resort in the Pyrenees mountains of Catalonia.
The organisers promised a 140km2 course of 86 controls requiring 103km with 9000 metres climb to complete. Postcard perfect weather in the preceding days did not last, with thunderstorms during the planning on the Saturday morning, another storm with hail in the afternoon, followed by gale force winds on the high open peaks all night. The event finished in glorious sunshine.
Standout performance of the 56 Australians in the field of 866 (386 teams) was Julie Quinn and David Baldwin, 1st in Mixed Veterans and 2nd in Mixed Open with 349 points.
The following are all the Australian placings:
- David Baldwin, Julie Quinn - 1st Mixed Veterans and 2nd Mixed Open
- Mike Hotchkiss, Jonathan Worswick - 1st Men Super Veterans
- Robin Spriggs, Sharon Crawford (USA) - 1st Women Ultra Veterans
- Karen Pedley, Christine Brown - 2nd Women Super Veterans
- Derek Morris, Ted Van Geldermalsen - 2nd Men Ultra Veterans
- Isaac Bell, Benjamin Rada Martin - 3rd Men Under 23
- David Rowlands, Jon Sutcliffe (GBR) - 3rd Men Super Veterans
Maria Plyashechko, based in Melbourne, clearly won the Womens Open representing Russia. The event organisers have released an excellent video (2 mins) capturing the atmosphere from the WRC. Compare team routes in Play-Map.