Discussion: Sprint champs sledging

So now that entries have closed, what are the predictions?

M21: Based on season form, this is going to be decided between Sten, Oliver and me, with Sten the hot favourite you'd think. Oliver has the speed but can he navigate cleanly? I'd need a perfect run to win and based on past championship performances am likely to do something dumb and end up off the podium. Craig is always an outside chance, depending how much bush is on the map, but then he has solid runs in Championships.

W21: Jo Anna to romp it in if her ankle's healed with Rachel holding off Ceri for 2nd.

M35: Juffy the likely favourite given he mapped the place (but then prior knowledge of an area has never helped me before), Boltboi for 2nd and pretty close between Jason S, Simon T and Graeme H for 3rd. I'll tip Graeme to win that battle.

W35: With only three the podium is decided but in what order? No consistency in the field and other than one instance, they haven't raced on the same course as the other participants so hard to judge form.

M45: Nick and Andre go in with similar form but will Andre have to make a toilet stop on course? My prediction for Nick to brush former Australian Champion Andre aside, Andrew M to claim 3rd with Ian Finnie forgetting how to race sprints (having not done any this year).

W45: Coreen, Sharon and Andrea making it a BO trifecta, if Andrea can avoid the MP.

M55: No clear favourite with Noel and Ron in similar form. I'll tip Noel as the better navigator; Rob G for 3rd with DuncS doing a hammie/calf/hip on course.

W55: Anthea a clear favourite to win by miles, no question. I wouldn't even know who to pick for the minor placings so I'll just go with Rosalie and anyone else to take 3rd.

M65: Rob W, Ken D, Dreamweaver - in that order. No-one else in the category.

W65: Running out of interest here but Carol for the win, Lois in 2nd and Jill E knocking off Jennifer for 3rd.

M70: Too hard to pick between Phil D, Ian F, Ken B and Bryan H. I'll just go with Mike Howe for the MP instead.

W70: Also a very hard pick between Jan F, Moreen, Penny and Rosemary. I'll leave it to the runners to decide.

M80: Peter H a clear winner over Don. The latter to put in a suggestion at next year's AGM to change it two year age categories.

I don't want to put in predictions for the junior classes because I don't yet have a WWCC.

I'd need a perfect run to win and based on past championship performances am likely to do something dumb and end up off the map.

Fixed that for you. <3

Given that there was 2 seconds between me and Dalto at Canning Vale, I'm not game to make predictions on that one.

I think you'll find it's Fletch that runs off urban maps!

Wot? When? I won the last 2 sprint champs that I entered...

Since when has Fletch done any recent running?

Metro urban when you crossed a main road a few years back. I at least only run (or ride) off bush maps :-)

I will try and swim off the map this weekend

How much bush is on this map?

Can someone tell me the last time we had 7 competing in the m14 category at a state champs ?(with no Aus champs on)

Don't forget at the start to write your name on the back of your map, which is double sided. F***ing map flips during a state champs, always a problem.

Eliot - hasn't happened (outside 2014, obviously) since Eventor started in 2013. Highest otherwise was 6 at the long champs in 2013 and 2016.

It didn't even happen in 2014. State champs only had three that year (well two actually since one was a DNS). Our WA Aus champs representation was four.

He didn't specify only WA-based competitors.

He did specify state champs though :-)

"Competing" != "Eligible for state title"

My predictions: Ricky, Craig, Sten, Oliver, Simon, Cameron, Harry, Wayne, Hadrien

Sorry, I figured he was referring to sprint champs given it is the subject of this thread but then when has that ever stopped anyone from diverging!

Eliot that's a bold prediction. I'm going to need my glutes working again if I'm going to have any chance of sprinting.

tRicky will make a mistake early on. Oliver will catch up to him and win by a 57 second margin.

Ricky make a mistake early!!!! It just doesn't happen, he makes them late when he is leading. Sten when are you expecting to come down with the flu?

Haven't seen a start list yet. In theory, Sten, Oliver and I should be separated by other runners.

Ricky you're first starter for M21AS followed by Oliver 1 minute back

Just found it. I normally look for the S on Eventor but I see Simmo's using the old fashioned method of uploading start times.

Hmm...tRicky only has four minutes to catch on me. Anyone taking bets on whether I can hold him off or throw him into Jane Brook?

Shame to be missing this. I'm actually slightly familiar with the campus at Swan (from sleeping on their gym floor a couple of tines per year).
Tooms - I ran last night!

Impressive. Fletch that is. The sledging needs work.

I had a dream last night that Craig ended up winning because he navigated the bush sections better than the rest of us, thus ruining my previous predictions. I crashed out because I couldn't figure out the new hexagon symbol in the controls descriptions (it was apparently a really big boulder).

Hmm...tRicky only has four minutes to catch on me.

Looking at the start list, if I don't make a total meal of today I have the potential to catch the six people starting in front. The two M20s shouldn't be a problem, Jaco's not quick, you are a maybe and then Jason and Graeme I've been beating by around six minutes per event. At the very least it'll give me motivation.

So how did my predictions fare?

M21 - Picked the top three (or top four) but I never committed to an order so I guess I got that right.
W21 - Jo Anna with the MP reordered the top two but had those in the correct order.
M35 - Graeme let me down for the trifecta
W35 - Didn't commit to it
M45 - Nick wins but the two AMs with the MPs ruined the rest! Ian Finnie still off the podium.
W45 - Sharon bumped off the podium, Coreen and Andrea in different placings to the prediction.
M55 - DuncS with his failure to do an injury came away with the win; Ron with the MP left off the podium and Rob G withdrew from the event through sheer terror at the competition.
W55 - Anthea by miles but Rosalie down the order a fair bit.
M65 - Ken D mispunching not only his championship course but also his EOD course failed to split the other two runners.
W65 - Correct prediction for all five placings!
M70 - With Ken B getting the MP (or DNF or whatever), Mike Howe stepped up to take his place on the podium.
W70 - Toni came out of left field to take the final spot on the podium when I didn't have her in the picture.
M80/85 - Correct order and correct prediction with Don protesting against having to run against a younger competitor forcing a category change (and then commenting afterwards that it was good to have a joint photo with Peter as having individual photos would have been silly - much like having individual categories!)

Also correct final prediction with me passing the six in front :P