Tim and Laura Robertson launched an amazing NZ performance in the Sprint Relay World Champs on Saturday, for 8th place. Building on Laura's 13th on leg 1, Tim gained 1sec on the leaders and 4 places, while ex OW Joe Lynch gained another place. US-based kiwi Penelope Salmon held the line for 8th. We were 3 places ahead of Australia and unusually 8 ahead of UK. Full results and maps at https://orienteering.sport/event/world-orienteering-championships-2026/

And in earlier news, Tim placed 23rd, Laura 28th in the Individual Sprint. In the Knockout Sprint Laura missed qualifying by 1sec, but Tim advanced thru the quarters and semis, to miss out on the finals by one place. The semi-finals were notable for a demon 3-way route choice (4-5) that had the vastly experienced runners flummoxed with no apparent way to go. In the end Tim found the shortest route - but not before the Australian junior Cooper Horley went back thru #3 to gain a final spot ahead of Tim.