Ross In Ukraine

Hawkes Bays Ross Morrison has mixed it up with some of the worlds' top orienteers in the Ukranian Cup,on the eve of the World Orienteering Champs in the Ukraine.

Morrison  who won his first national title this year, triumphing in the long distance at Maramarua, will be competing at his second world champs after debuting in Denmark last year. He is out to prove that he is a much more focused and mature athlete than a year ago.

Somewhat of a child prodigy in orienteering, Morrison was competing for New Zealand at u16 level when he was eleven. Injuries and illness tarnished his junior career, but he is now flourishing as an elite. He is possibly now New Zealand's most dynamic male orienteer, alongside Chris Forne, who he beat narrowly every day in the Ukranian Cup. An exciting, developing rivalry for New Zealand orienteering.

The Ukranian Cup started with a long distance race in which Morrison finished 7 minutes down on the winner but ahead of top Australian runner Troy De Hass. While he was behind the Australian stars, De Hass and Julian Dent, in the following middle distance and sprint races, the small margins suggest that his navigation discipline has improved and he should be ready to handle the pressure of the World Champs. Orienteering is like golf in this way, when the pressure goes on, its the foundations of your game that allow you to see it through to a good result.

The World Champs starts this Saturday with the sprint qualification race.