Participants from around the world were happy with how last week’s orienteering championships went, says Afan Jones of the Yukon Orienteering Association.

“I think overall we are satisfied with how it went,” he said this morning. “There was certainly some little wrinkles but we were satisfied.

“The response we got from people, the competitors, was generally good.”

Jones reiterated that in the world of orienteering, competitions need good maps and challenging courses, and the local association pulled off both.

Some 530 orienteerers from around the world registered for the North American and Canadian Orienteering Championships. While athletes from outside North America could not win medals, they were welcomed to compete, as some of the events carried world ranking status.

Jones pointed out the U.S. beat out Canada for the Bjorn Kjellstrom trophy as top country, but it was close.

Over the four days of the North American championships that ended last Tuesday, the U.S. accumulated approximately 430 points compared to Canada’s 400, he said.

The three days of the Canadian championships wrapped up Thursday and Friday with the long and middle distance events, and local orienteerers held their own.

In the men’s 45 to 54 age category, for instance, Brent Langbakk finished first in both events among all competitors, even among U.S. and European athletes who took part.

Leif Blake of Whitehorse was the top Canadian in both the long and middle events Thursday and Friday in thr 19-20 class.

Whitehorse’s Forest Pearson finished first overall in Thursday’s long event for the 35 to 44 age class. And in Friday’s middle distance race in the 21-34 elite class, he was the eighth Canadian across the line and 17th overall in a field of 47 from around the world.

In the women’s events, local orienteerer Philippa McNeil was the top Canadian in both the long and middle distance events for the 45-54 category.

And Nesta Leduc of Whitehorse finished first in both the long and middle events in the 85-plus category, carrying on with her success in the North American championships.

Several of the 30 or so local orienteerers had top 10 finishes in both the Canadian and North American championships.

Jones said there’s still a bit of cleaning up to do still but local organizers and volunteers kicked back over the weekend to catch up on some sleep and rest.

For some, said the race director, hosting the competitions meant working at all hours.

Jones emphasized funding from the Yukon’s Community Development Fund was instrumental in helping to host the championships, both in the months leading up the competitions and during the events.