Chris Forne 17th In Long distance Final

Christchurch's Chris Forne produced another world class performance at the World Orienteering Championships on Sunday, and another best-ever male result for New Zealand.

Cool conditions and a long, tough course suited Forne, a former World champion in Adventure Racing and Rogaining, who finished equal 17th in the Long distance race, just 10 minutes behind defending champion Daniel Hubman of Switzerland.

After making all three finals convincingly at this years Championships, Forne then raced himself into the National record books, with two best-ever performances for a New Zealand male - improving the mark from 20th in the Sprint and to 17th in the Long distance.

The previous best for a male was held by 1994 World Cup winner Alistair Landels, who placed 24th in the Middle distance in 1997.

A fast finish sprint after 17 kilometres and 106 minutes of racing through the steep Hungarian forests gave Forne equal 17th place alongside Hungarian Adam Kovacs - just one second ahead of Bulgarian ex-high jumper Kiril Nikolov who placed 6th earlier in the week in the Sprint.

"it was a real fun race" Forne commented. "I felt good running out there and made no big mistakes. I'm pretty happy with that!"

Forne is renowned for his enthusiastic and fun attitude to racing that has taken him to the top in several endurance sports, as well as his strength and endurance over multi-day events.

The grueling World Championships format, with three qualification races and finals over the Sprint, Middle and Long distances, as well as a relay, is the supreme test of navigational ability at all speeds - a test that Forne has passed with flying colours in 2009.

The consistency and closeness of Forne to the worlds very best is an encouraging sign that he may close the gap even further at future Championships, and even add a third World title to his name.

The world's most titled male orienteer, Frenchman Thierry Gueorgiou, could not add a (first) Long distance to his existing seven World gold medals, finishing almost two minutes behind defending champion Hubman of Switzerland.

The Swiss were also dominant in the womens Long distance with 14-times gold medallist Simone Niggli adding another gold to her shelf - her first as a mother after taking a maternity break in 2008 - ahead of Middle distance runner-up Marianne Andersen (Norway) .

The 2008 World Championships have now concluded and the New Zealand team of Forne, Ross Morrison, Greg Flynn and Bryn Davies departs with great results that include the two top 20 runs by Forne and a 19th placing in the Relay.

It is hoped that team coach Kenneth Buch can contribute in further World Championship campaigns after his sterling work in 2009.

Tania Larsen is the best performed New Zealand women at the Worlds with her 16th place in the Middle distance in Japan in 2005.

Larsen didn't attend the World Championships, focusing her efforts instead on the World Games earlier in the year where she took a best-ever Games 14th, alongside Ross Morrison who took a best-ever 10th for the men.

Results - Men

Results - Women