Athletics: World champs another coup for Klap

By GORDON GILLAN

Arthur Klap returned home from the United States yesterday ready for the next stage of planning after winning the vote for Wellington to stage the world mountain running championships in 2005.

Wellington's Mt Victoria course beat England's bid by 19 votes to 6. New Zealand will stage the event for the first time after unsuccessfully bidding in 1995 and 1997.

Klap said his organising committee had learnt much from the previous bids and realised the importance of attracting a worldwide field.

"We are subsidising travel expenses for European athletes and now have to ensure that funding is in place."

The Wellington City Council, Sparc (Sport and Recreation New Zealand), and the NZ Community Trust are the three key backers behind the event, with the balance covered by Sports Impact and two individuals.

"Our focus now is to get the event financially secure with the next priorities to increase the number of participants from our neighbours in Asia-Pacific and to have more trials on the course," said Klap.

Mountain running is unusual in that the world championships are run over an uphill course one year and then over an up-and-down course the next.

The women's world champion, Wellington athlete Melissa Moon, prefers the up-and-down events (shown by her wins in Alaska this year and in Italy in 2001). She will be a strong favourite in her home town.

Fellow Wellingtonian and three-time world champion Jonathan Wyatt prefers the uphill event, it is hoped he will still participate.

Klap confirmed competitors are likely to have two official opportunities to train on the course: at the Wellington championships next year and the New Zealand championships in 2005.

Bringing the world championship to New Zealand is another milestone for Klap, who is also organising December's world triathlon championships in Queenstown.