Marcus Meerforschmann won the Mechelen World Cup Qualifier in Belgium. The mood in the packed hall (approx. 10,000 spectators with sold-out seats in advanced) could be compared more with that of a European football club.  When Marc van Dijck completed his jump-off round with a respectable time of 46 sec. beating Jessica Kürten’s time of 46.11 the crowd went wild, causing the floor to literally shake.

Soren von Rönne moved the clock up two seconds finishing with a time of 44.34 sec. in a well controlled and rhythmic round.

Forschmann commented confidently ”after seeing the rounds of Sören von Rönne and van Dijck,I knew there was time to be saved” and set about doing just that.

An unexpected disappointment for Peter Wylde, after failing to qualify for the World Cup competition, he was forced to wait for the evening class.