Norway's Eskil Kinneberg celebrates his men's middle distance win ©IOF

Norway's Eskil Kinneberg and Russia's Natalia Gemperle won the men's and women's middle distance titles respectively as the World Orienteering Championships continued in Latvia.

Kinneberg was timed at 32min 59sec as he came home to win the men's race in Riga.

Two Swiss athletes clinched the minor medals.

Daniel Hubmann won silver in 33:05 as bronze went to Florian Howald in 33:13.

Only 43 seconds divided the top six in an extremely close affair.

Gemperle's winning time in the women's race was 32:02.

Natalia Gemperle won the women's gold medal today ©IOF
Natalia Gemperle won the women's gold medal today ©IOF

Finland won the silver medal as Marika Teini stopped the watches at 33:32 with bronze going to Isia Basset of France in 33:56.

All three medallists raced together for large periods but the decisive moment came on the last part of the course where Gemperle clicked through the gears to pull clear.

Sweden's multiple world champion Tove Alexandersson had a day to forget after mis-punching and not registering a finishing time.

The Championships continue on Thursday (August 9) after a rest day tomorrow.