Alison Cunningham atop the WMOC podium

Forth Valley Orienteers' star Alison Cunningham made history in Finland, as the first Scot since 2012 to be a World Masters champion, with gold over the W60 Sprint distance in Turku.

The World Masters, for athletes aged 35 and over, is the largest and most prestigious Veteran competition in the world, and the lack of national quotas, coupled with the event being in Scandinavia, the home of the sport, meant that any success was at a premium.

Although Alison has been one of the leading lights in her age class domestically, work commitments have previously prevented her from taking the step up on the international stage. However, having recently retired from her dental practice, she led a strong FVO contingent at the event, with many former winners from previous senior World Championships also on show.

There were early signs that this may be a good event for the FVO athletes, as Alison was sensationally the quickest (13.38) of the 250 competitors in her age class to earn the last start in the time-trial final. However, it was clear that several major contenders had eased off late in qualifying, to save something for the final, and victory was by no means assured.

Chasing a provisional lead time of 15.49, Alison got off to a great start, and was 2nd, 10 seconds back, at the second control. Then followed her only wobble of the round, as she dropped 10 seconds on a minor hesitation, but she got it back together again to rejoin the podium at control 5.

Pushing hard on every leg, she was up and about the front by the 2/3 mark, with a medal a definite prospect, then three straight quickest legs on the turn for home opened daylight to the pack, and she was able to stroll into the finish in 13.32 for an 18 second victory, roared home by a large and appreciative crowd.

Clubmate Rachel Kirkland was on her favoured terrain, and scored an excellent 7th place in W55, in 14.03 and Dave Godfree was 17th (15.34) in M50, in his first Sprint race in more than 20 years. And it was Godfree who was able to make the best mark of the Scots in the Long race, with a fantastic 9th place in a time of 61.07, with all 11 local competitors in action placing in the top half of their course field.