2000 Victorian Cross Country Ski Championships August 5, Mt Hotham, Victoria

HOTHAM

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Some of the Contenders
August 1 - Press Release
August 3 - Start Lists
August 5 - Australian Champions take first points in Continental Cup

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August 5 - Australian Champions take first points in Continental Cup

The 2000 Australian Continental Cup for cross country skiing opened today at Mt Hotham in North East Victoria. Ben Derrick won the men's 15km classic ahead of fellow Victorian Paul Murray, while Camille Melvey from the NSW Institute of Sport won the women's 5km classic ahead of ACT Academy of Sport junior skier Katherine Calder.

The 1999 Australian Champion Ben Derrick opened hard, reeling in Paul Murray on the first 5km lap of the interval start race. Murray dug deep through the middle of the race, matching Derrick stride for stride, but the 27 year old from Wangaratta went on to win in a time of 44 minutes and 24 seconds. Up and coming NSWIS junior Matt O'Rourke finished third.

"I'm just happy to open the series with a win," siad Derrick after the race. "Paul Murray has been skiing awesomely this year, so I knew it was going to be tough.

Camille Melvey, also the 1999 Australian Champion, took a commanding lead early and was never threatened. The 36 year old skier form Bondi won in a time of 15 minutes and 46 seconds, over a minute clear of the field. Australia's top junior skiers battled it out for the other podium places, with Katherine Calder holding off Rhiannon Palmer of Victoria by 15 seconds.

The next round of the Australian Continental Cup Series, the Snowy Mountains Classic, takes place at Perisher Valley on August 12.

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August 1 - Press Release

Australia's best cross country skiers travel this weekend to Mt Hotham for the first round of the 2000 Australian Continental Cup series. The Victorian 5/15km Championship will take place on Saturday August 5^th on the Wire Plain cross country trails.

The favourites for the 15km men's and 5km women's Victorian Championship are Ben Derrick from Wangaratta Ski Club and Camille Melvey from City Tatts Boonoona in NSW. However National Team Coach Finn Marsland reports that the 1999 Australian Champions are expected to have tougher competition this year.

"Paul Murray of Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club has pushed Ben Derrick already this season," said Marsland. "The Wire Plain tracks at Mt Hotham suit Paul's powerful classic style and it should be a good battle. Similarly, Camille Melvey should be challenged by Belinda Phillips of Lake Mountain Nordic Team, and perhaps also some of the up and coming junior skiers."

The Victorian titles are followed up on the Sunday with the Hotham to Dinner Plain Pub to Pub. This mass participation ski race should be a spectacular event for citizen skiers and elite racers alike.

TV feed will be available from the Media crew at Mt Hotham, interested media should contact Mark Stevens on 03 5759 3204.

For general information, contact Finn Marsland on 02 6214 7940.

XC is the official website of the Skiing Australia Cross Country Committee. It is produced with the assistance of the Australian Sports Commission, and the Kangaroo Hoppet. The editor can be contacted via hoppet@netc.net.au.