Training Log Archive: Bruce

Australian Relay Championships
1st Australian team in M21E
Matt Doyle, Bruce Arthur, David Brownridge



The Danish team got the win, but what really mattered was the first Australian team home. The field was depleted. We even had to make a late change with Bryan Keely not able to make the starting line today with injury.

Matt got off to a great start, coming back with the leading pack of Simon, Oscar and the Danes, with a bit of a gap back to Ian.
I started just behind Craig. I took the lead up the hill and felt that I had an edge in speed on him today after recovering better from a shorter race yesterday.
Craig had the shorter split at 1 and re-took the lead, but I ran away up the hill to 4 and 5.
I must have passed the Danish team at 5. I didn't notice this until I heard the commentators when I went through the spectator control in the lead.
Just before this the rain really started coming down hard.

The rocks were getting really slippery and I had to slow down to avoid any nasty falls. I had already slipped early in the course on the way down to 1, but luckily I landed on my feet.

My only time loss was a small mistake at 17. I though I left the fence at the bend, but on my GPS it shows that I left about 30m early.
My time wasn't brilliant, but I had a longish split of 7.7km and slippery conditions. Still, I did what I needed to do, which was put David out in a good position for the final leg.

Victoria was resident champion in Men's Elite at the Australian Orienteering Relay Championships for the first time since 2003 at Beechworth. This was my only other elite national title.

Thanks to my team mates Matt Doyle and David Brownridge. Not bad for a Year 12 student, an M40 and David stepping up at the last minute.

I thought that my days of elite national championships were now out of reach. We were a bit fortunate that the field was weaker than normal, but at this stage of my career I will happily take it.

I was also fortunate to have a proud Dad moment with Mason Arthur, Jensen Key and Torren Arthur taking out the Australian Orienteering Relay Champions in Men's 12.
Torren has had a great week with M10 wins in all competitions. He is now more than ready for the next challenge in M12 in Tasmania. He returns to Melbourne tonight (with Anne and Sophie) for Division Athletics on Tuesday and school camp on Wednesday.
Mason had a couple of very close seconds last weekend, so it was great for his confidence to be part of a winning team. He is looking forward to Sprint the South West on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

Well done also to the Victorian Elite Women for winning the National League title, and to all Victorian age group runners that contributed to the best overall state award at today's relays.