[cobalt-users] Site get slow after adding .htaccess

[cobaltuser1@xxxxxxxxxx]

Please bare with poor spelling...... :)

I have a domain. (www.norforsk.no)
It is hosted on Apache 1.3.20 and some sort of Cobalt siteadmin software
I've made a .htaccess file that validates any accounts created within 
/siteadmin tool

(My purpose is to have some sort of intranet solution)

When i log into /intranett (wich contains .htaccess things get slow.
I mistake the .htaccess to be configured wrong.
Seems that it check for validation for every file inside this directory.
Can i avoid the long loading time?

Here is a copy of my .htaccess file:
#Access file
order allow,deny
allow from all
require valid-user site110
Authname "INTRANET"
Authtype Basic
AuthAuthoritative off

Oh. By the way..
speed on site outside the secured area is very high...

Best regards
Kjartan