Molloys Make their World Mark
Two local orienteering stars were involved in the most prestigious event of the international calendar, with competitive performances from both.
While the World Orienteering Championship remains an annual event, the format varies year on year between Sprint and Forest conditions, and the 2026 version in northern Italy was the third Sprint-only competition, as Grace and Peter Molloy formed a quarter of the GB team on this occasion.
The first action was the Individual Sprint, and both made it safely through qualifying, Peter in 9th place (15.03) and Grace one place back (13.39). The final followed in the afternoon, and Grace claimed a top 20 finish, as she was 19th (18.57) over a longer course than in qualifying, while Peter was 30th (18.32) in his first major final.
The following day saw the qualifying round for the Knockout Sprint, and Grace was one of three GB qualifiers, as she was home in 11.19 for 12th place, but Peter, who had come down with a cold overnight, was three places off a finals berth, in 12.03.
All three Brits fell at the quarter-final stage, although Grace, who was 4th in her heat (8.10) was in contention until the penultimate control when she attempted to force a route that was rejected by the rest of the field, and finished nine seconds outside progression.
The final race was the Mixed Sprint Relay, and Peter was forced to withdraw having not recovered from his cold, but Grace anchored the GB team to an eventual 16th place (70.16 composite, 16.15 for the leg).
The pair did end the week as winners though, as they retrenched for victory in unexpected circumstances in the Lee Pen Hill Race in Innerleithen, with Peter first home (25.25) and Grace 6th (29.03), but with a four minute margin over the next closest female athlete.
The international orienteering focus now switches to forest racing, and while Peter hasn’t declared himself available for the third World Cup round in two weeks time in Czechia, as he focuses on the European Championships at the end of the season, Grace has sufficient recent terrain form to be included in the GB team for the event.