João Pedro Valente and Ricardo
Pinto were the big winners of the Invacare PreO, a stage of Trail
Orienteering which was part of the competitive program of Portugal O'
Meeting 2015. Offering great technical challenges and showing a high
competitive quality, the Invacare PreO had the participation of 92
athletes, the highest number ever in Portugal in a TrailO
competition.
On his speech during the Invacare
PreO's Prize Giving Ceremony, Silvério Regalado, Mayor of Vagos, was
keen on demonstrating his pleasure to receive at Vagos a TrailO
event, in what he designated as “the inclusive day of Portugal O
'Meeting 2015 “. And so it was!
Competing side by side, 83 athletes in
the Open Class and 9 athletes in the Paralympic class, embraced with
energy the twenty challenges offered over 1200 meters of magnificent
forest, with the “bonus” of a timed station with three problems
preceding the formal course. Numbers that, in total, accounted for
the largest participation ever in TrailO events in Portugal,
rewarding the technical quality and organizational ability of Clube
de Orientação de Estarreja in this second stage of the Portugal
Trail Orienteering League Invacare 2015.
Hard fight for the victory
In the Open Class, the fight for
victory was colossal, with João Pedro Valente (CPOC) and Jorge
Baltazar (GDU Azoia) reaching the finish tied on points, after a
whole of correct answers. Thanks to João Pedro Valente's speed and
accuracy in the timed controls, he was able to beat his direct
opponent. The third position would belong to Mark Heikoop (Aligots)
with 19 points, the same as Jorge Gonçalves (CPOC), but also with a
better performance in the timed controls. Portugal would still put
three athletes in the five following positions, with the Italian Remo
Madella, winner of the Portugal O 'Meeting last year, being ranked in
the 10th place.
To João Pedro Valente, “there was a
moment when I felt that the victory was not sure, but the motivation
was there. Like almost all victories, it was a hard one. Indeed, if
not, they aren't good wins.” Speaking about his course and the
technical challenge he faced, Valente made a point stating that
“apart from one or two controls, it was a great pleasure, which is
not normal because we are always left with some questions here and
there. This time, I felt confident throughout the race and had the
perfect idea that was taking the right decisions and I enjoyed”.
The last words are addressed to the organization of the Invacare
PreO: “I have been able, personally, to congratulate the course
setter because I think this was one of the best courses that I have
participated in, where all the controls were challenging and demanded
hard thinking”, he said.
The return of Ricardo Pinto
In the Paralympic class, Ricardo Pinto
(DAHP) made his debut in the season with a win, finishing the course
with 12 correct answers, against 11 points of Carlos Riu Noguerol
(Individual), currently the Spanish champion in TrailO, in the
Paralympic class. The winner of the previous edition of Portugal O'
Meeting, Júlio Guerra (DAHP) ended his course in the third place
with 9 points.
In the end, the most international of
all Portuguese TrailO athletes, Ricardo Pinto, spoke about his
victory: “I am particularly pleased with my victory. It was the
first time I won the Portugal O'Meeting's TrailO stage but, above
all, because it was my first competition this season after overcoming
a number of difficulties and it was not easy to join with the maps
after such a long absence”. As for his particular performance, the
athlete admits: “I'm a bit disappointed with my performance because
there were controls that I shouldn't have failed. Anyway, the result
turned out to be better than the performance, but it is still a
motivation to continue to embrace this sport that I love”, he said.
Results
Open Class
1. João Pedro Valente (CPOC) 20 points
(16 seconds)
2. Jorge Baltazar (GDU Azoia) 20 points
(34 seconds)
3. Mark Heikoop (Aligots) 19 points (29
seconds)
4. Luís Goncalves (CPOC) 19 points (37
seconds)
5. Cláudio Tereso (ATV) 18 points (25
seconds)
6. Héctor Lorenzo (El Imperdible) 18
points (33 seconds)
7. Tiago Martins Aires (GafanhOri) 18
points (91 seconds)
8. Antonio Hernández (Alcon
Orientación) 18 points (101 seconds)
9. Inês Domingues (COC) 17 points (20
seconds)
10. Remo Madella (WIOMASI) 17 points
(22 seconds)
Paralympic class
1. Ricardo Pinto (DAHP) 12 points (177
seconds)
2. Carlos Riu Noguerol (Single ESP) 11
points (208 seconds)
3. Júlio Guerra (DAHP) 9 points (147
seconds)
4. José Laiginha Leal (DAHP) 8 points
(165 seconds)
5. Cristiana Caldeira (CMRRC - Rovisco
Pais) 8 points (243 seconds)
6. António Amorim (DAHP) 8 points (250
seconds)
7. Arsénio Reis (CMRRC - Rovisco Pais)
7 points (330 seconds)
8. Ana Paula Marques (DAHP) 5 points
(105 seconds)
9. Cláudio Poiares (DAHP) 5 points
(183 seconds)
Complete results and further
information at www.pom.pt/en/.
Joaquim Margarido
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