WORLD MOUNTAIN RUNNING ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER 2007 Issue No 12 March 2007 Matt Carpenter (Long Distance) (USA) Emma Murray (Long Distance) (Australia) Andrea Mayr (World Trophy) (Austria) 2006 MOUNTAIN Rolando RUNNING WORLD Ortiz CHAMPIONS (World Trophy) (Colombia) WORLD MOUNTAIN RUNNING ASSOCIATION EDITORIAL In this editorial comment I would like to say a few words concerning the WMRA now have nearly 40 national athletic federations signed up as relationship between the WMRA and IAAF. members and last year a record 36 nations participated in our flagship Because of the long term refusal of IAAF to grant mountain running event, the World Trophy. official IAAF championship status our relationship is sometimes perceived, In 1984 when the prospects for a worldwide mountain running movement by those outside the administrative structure, athletes, race organisers, were being discussed between Italy (Angelo de Biasi) and Gt. Britain sponsors, and some national athletic federations, as largely negative. (Danny Hughes) there was an important choice to be made. Do we opt Nothing could be further from the truth. for an independent movement similar to that taken by orienteering, or It is true that some IAAF Council members have only a vague idea of what do we integrate with the athletic federations and IAAF? We knew that mountain running is about, but that did not prevent them supporting the most mountain runners were also athletes who competed in traditional inclusion of mountain running in the definition of athletics (IAAF rule athletics, cross-country, road running, and even track. We also believed 1) in 2003. Neither has it prevented them granting $55,000 this year that the support of the powerful IAAF athletic body could introduce to WMRA to use in travel support for teams competing in the World mountain running to new countries, and this belief has been confirmed. Trophy, for Grand Prix support, and for WMRA administration. Hence our decision to go with the IAAF and they have been our Patrons In Pierre Weiss, now IAAF General Secretary, and Otto Klappert since the late 1980’s (Chairman of the IAAF Cross Country Committee) WMRA have great I hope that these few words persuade those doubtful about how support, advice, and encouragement. Communication between them mountain running fits into the athletic family, especially those DOUBTFUL and the members of WMRA Council are excellent and WMRA Council NATIONAL ATHLETIC FEDERATIONS, that mountain running is a meetings take place at the IAAF headquarters in Monaco. The latest valuable aspect of athletics which they should support with enthusiasm, aspect of our co-operation relates to Anti-doping arrangements for and even – dare one say it – with some financial support for their mountain running in which IAAF have absorbed some significant costs mountain running athletes. and agreed to one of their anti-doping staff sitting on the WMRA anti- doping commission. Danny Hughes (President WMRA) Left to right: Bruno Gozzelino (Secretary) Otto Klappert (IAAF Cross Country) Nancy Hobbs (Treasurer) Danny Hughes (President) Pierre Weiss (IAAF General Secretary), Isabelle Marachal (Female Council Member), Tomo Sarf (Development), Adrian Woods (Marketing), Wolfgang Muenzel (Administration), Raimondo Balicco (Technical), Carlos Cardoso (IAAF Cross Country) IAAF PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE It is my great pleasure to write a message of goodwill for the latest edition implementing the WMRA Anti-Doping regulations.The first meeting of of the WMRA Newsletter. Each year, the IAAF enjoys an even closer the Commission will take place on 9 March when the final text of the relationship with WMRA, and I am delighted with the regulations will be agreed and arrangements for both mutual support that our organizations enjoy, for the ‘in competition’ and ‘out of competition’ anti-dope benefit of the sport of athletics and runners all over the testing will be announced. world. The fact that meetings of the WMRA Council The 2006 edition of the World Trophy in Turkey was are in Monaco, the home of the IAAF, demonstrates also a great success and we are very pleased that this this excellent co-operation. year it will be staged in Ovronnaz, Switzerland, which I am particularly pleased with the initiative to begin a is a traditional heartland of this speciality. new anti-doping programme in the WMRA. At their recent meeting in Monaco, WMRA Council appointed Lamine Diack an Anti-Doping Commission, consisting of both WMRA IAAF President and IAAF representatives, who will be responsible for 2 WORLD MOUNTAIN RUNNING ASSOCIATION 23RD WMRA ANNUAL CONGRESS 2006, WMRA COUNCIL BURSA (TURKEY) PRESIDENT Danny Hughes Hallsteads The only elective issue at Congress was Gosforth that for the reserved position on WMRA Cumbria CA20 1BJ Council for a woman. England Tel/Fax +44 19467 25366 We had two well qualified candidates e-mail: [email protected] and Isabelle Marachal (FRA) was elected SECRETARY Bruno Gozzelino by the narrowest of margins – just one Via Susa 23 vote – from Anna Pichrtova (CZE). I-10138 Torino Isabelle is an experienced athletic Italy administrator working for the French Tel (home) +39 011 3855914 Athletic Federation (FFA) as their Tel/Fax (office) +39 011 4343372 Isabelle Marachal e-mail: [email protected] Deputy Competition Director. She has (FRA) been ‘thrown in at the deep end’ by TREASURER Nancy Hobbs PO Box 9454 Council when they appointed her Organisational Delegate for the Colorado Springs 2007 World Trophy in Switzerland during their recent meeting in CO 80932 Monaco. All organisational matters related to the World Trophy USA should be addressed to Isabelle at her e-mail address. If you can Tel +1719-573-4133 give your questions in French she will be much relieved! Fax +1719-573-4408 e-mail: [email protected] DIRECTOR OF Raimondo Balicco 2008 WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS COMPETITION via Div.Acqui 5 I-24011 Alme, Bergamo Dolni Morava (Czech Republic) has Italy been chosen as the venue for the Tel (Home) +39 0355 45293 2008 World Masters. The venue Tel (Office) +39 0355 86500 is a small ski centre near to the e-mail: [email protected] town of Kraliky in the north of the DIRECTOR OF Wolfgang Munzel Czech R. on the border with Poland. ORGANISATION Schippacherstr 6 D- 63906 Erlenbach The organiser and main sponsor is Germany Jan Simunek who is the managing Tel +49 9372 71426 director of the engineering firm Fax +49 9372 5610 ISCAREX. Jan Simunek e-mail: [email protected] Jan is an experienced athlete in DIRECTOR OF Tomo Sarf masters competitions. He finished 38th is the M55 category at DEVELOPMENT Nedohova 6 last years World Championships, and understands very well the 1210 Ljubljana-Sentvid Slovenia requirements of such an event. The races will take place on 7th Tel +386 41 785859 September 2008 and the courses are uphill only. Fax +00 386 17 216 752 e-mail: [email protected] INCREASE IN IAAF SUPPORT DIRECTOR OF Adrian Woods MARKETING Ty’r Mynydd IAAF Council announce an increase in support for mountain 7, Heol Coed Cae Uchaf running to $55,000. WMRA allocate $40,000 of this to travel Blaenafon, Torfaen, NP4 9JA, Wales subvention for the World Trophy, $6,000 towards prize money for Tel (Home) +44 1495 791754 the Grand Prix and the remainder for WMRA administration.. Tel (Office) +44 1633 644551 WMRA operate on a tight budget, all Council members being e-mail: [email protected] unpaid volunteers and some supported by their national athletic COUNCIL MEMBER Isabelle Marachal organisations for travel expenses. Our treasurer, Nancy Hobbs 8 rue de l’église presents Congress with a detailed financial report each year. 80800 Marcelcave France As further evidence of the close co-operation between WMRA Tel +33 6.10.48.91.81 and IAAF, WMRA Council members are now included in the IAAF e-mail : [email protected] travel insurance policy for their travels on WMRA business. WMRA WEB SITE (Courtesy of European Athletic Association): WMRA 2007 GRAND PRIX SERIES www.wmra.info NEW FORMAT THE WMRA ACCOUNT Our account details, held in US$, is as follows: With the help of IAAF WMRA have been able to increase its Wells Fargo Bank contribution to the overall GP prize fund to 6,000€. 5710 Constitution Avenue The GP this year will consist of just four races (best three results Colorado Springs to count) each of which will contribute 1,500€ and be classed as CO 80915 IAAF permit events. USA Discussions are under way with interested athletes on the form Routing number 102000076 that the 2008 Grand Prix may take. If you have any ideas pass them Account number 1013312721 to Council member Tomo Sarf who is in charge of all Grand Prix Note: add $12 to your bill to cover all wire transfers. arrangements. 3 WORLD MOUNTAIN RUNNING ASSOCIATION NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH An accident occurred last November in which Danny Hughes injuries – these being broken bones, rib, chest and vertebrae (President WMRA); Melissa Moon (Ex World Champion) Anna damage. Pichrtova (European Champion) and Izabela Zatorska (Multiple They were flown back to hospital in Calabar the following day medallist in European and where Anna underwent World Trophy races) were all an initial operation on her lucky not to be killed.. arm. They spent two nights They were being driven to in hospital before travelling the remote venue of the home on overnight flights Obudu Ranch Mountain Race, from Lagos. Cross River State, Nigeria on On arriving home, both Thursday 23rd November, were hospitalised and when the driver of the assessment of their injuries Mercedes Benz four-wheel drive vehicle lost control at speed on a showed that they were bend and turned the vehicle over. They were extricated from the more serious than was wrecked vehicle by media people following behind in a bus.