In July 2006 Impact were proud to wish Charlie Somers-Cocks good luck as she too part in the Mountain Bike Orienteering World Championships.  It was the third time that Charlie had been selected to compete in the World Championships as part of the Great Britain team of 6 men and 6 women.

The World Championships took place in Joensuu, Finland on 9th - 13th July 2006.  During the competition Charlie competed in two individual events and one team relay event. 

Mountain Bike Orienteering is similar to competitive foot orienteering.  Races are run as a time trial.  At four minute intervals competitors are given an accurate orienteering map with a fixed point course.  The winner is the fastest round the course in the correct order.  The team event is far more complicated!  All riders take part over the same course, which is split into different loops and sections.  At any point you could take a different route to the people you have previously been cycling beside!  Confidence in your own decisions is imperitive.

Mountain Bike Orienteering is quite a new event in GB but is well established in many parts of Europe and Australia.  Leading up to such a competition, Charlie spends two hours a day out on her bike training, and does a lot of foot orienteering in preparation for the World Championships.  Many of the athletes Charlie competes against are full time athletes, while Charlie juggles her training with a full time job at Impact.  If you have ever been on an Impact event you have had contact with Charlie, even if only indirectly.  She is our Staffing Manager and is part of the team responsible for matching the right trainer to your programme on the right date.
  

Charlie's past successes include:

• Foot Orienteering British Champion
• Representing England in Foot Orienteering Competitions
• Masters World Champion in 1997 in her group 
  

Charlie has also taken part in biking competitions such as the E'tape de Tour in France and the Fred Whitton race over all the Lake District passes.