PORTUGAL O' MEETING 2012: HIGHLIGHTS!
2012/02/22
PORTUGAL O' MEETING 2012: THIERRY GUEORGIOU AND SIMONE NIGGLI WIN AND CONVINCE
2012/02/21
What a great atmosphere at the
end of Portugal O' Meeting 2012! Almost two thousand participants
celebrated around the Sanctuary of Sr. dos Caminhos, in Sátão,
applauding Thierry Gueorgiou and Simone Niggli, the winners of the
event.
Since 2000, when the Portuguese
Orienteering Federation decided to devote four days in this festive
season to the largest regular event in Portugal, that the period of
Carnival is synonymous of revelry for our sport. In the meanwhile,
the prestige of the event has been cemented on the quality and
variety of our terrains, in the goodness of a mild climate and in an
excellent capacity of our organizations. This raises the Portugal O'
Meeting, in the words of the current leader of the world ranking,
Thierry Gueorgiou, "at a level of a World Championship".
In a stage that saw Philippe Adamski
take the victory, Thierry Gueorgiou was precisely who led to the best
set of the four races, turning himself into the winner of the Men
Elite class. After winning the first and third stages, Gueorgiou
confirmed his enormous favoritism, reaching his second major triumph
in the competition after winning in 2007, in S. Pedro do Sul. Thierry
Gueorgiou's most direct opponent was Daniel Hubmann (Switzerland),
number 2 of the World, and the podium was completed with Scott Fraser
(Great Britain), thanks to a remarkable performance today.
In the Elite Women class, the winner
was the best runner of all time, Simone Niggli, from Switzerland.
Behind her, stood the vice-leader of the World ranking, Annika
Billstam (Sweden), and a surprising Rahel Friedrich, representing the
Swiss Orienteering Team. Simone Niggli opens and closes the Portugal
O' Meeting with two great victories, and this is the fourth time that
the athlete wins the one that is considered the greatest
international competition of the Winter season.
An investment with a guaranteed
return
Among the Portuguese, Tiago Romão
(ADFA) and Joana Costa (GD4C) won this last stage, but Joaquim Sousa
and Andreia Silva were those who achieved the highest score overall.
The two athletes of Orienteering Club of Centro demonstrated to be in
a superior shape, and their contribution was fundamental to the
victory by teams of this Portugal O' Meeting 2012.
But, in this event, not only the big
stars shine highly. Also the little "starlets", made of
people from eight to eighty-eight years old, bring colour and joy.
This was again clearly evident in the excitement that everyone
embraced the challenges made of maps and compasses. A contentment that
spread throughout a region so well known to welcome the participants,
what represents an investment with a guaranteed return.
The Portugal O' Meeting will be back
in next year's Carnival, for four days of the best Orienteering. The
responsibility for organizing the 18th edition will be up to ADFA and
will take place at Idanha-a-Nova, from 09 to 12 February.
Everything to follow at
http://www.pom.pt/en/.
Joaquim Margarido
PORTUGAL O' MEETING 2012: OPTIONS / IMPRESSIONS OF THE WRE
2012/02/21
“I’m very pleased with my race.
When I looked at the map, I understood it was a fantastic terrain and
I tried to do a good race. I tried to be always focused, reading the
map frequently and it was a clean race with only a few hesitations.
It is great running here in these
terrains, probably the best in Portugal. These are fast and technical
terrains, although the low visibility in the forest.
The Portugal O’Meeting has a level
of organization just as a World Championship and with all the World
best runners. It will be a pleasure to be back because terrains like
these are always enjoyable.”
Thierry Gueorgiou, France (1st
position, M21SE)
“I didn't expect to win the race.
I felt good, I did a nice start, had a good flow on the running and
the orienteering but a few controls before passing the Arena I caught
the runner that left before me and got overconfident and made a small
mistake. On the last part of the race, I knew that Simone Niggli did
a mistake and I tried to keep focused till the end and I did it.
My goal is to qualify to the Swedish
team on this year’s World Championship. I’m betting on the Middle
Distance, and winning it here gives me confidence for the future. I
leave Portugal very happy.”
Lina Strand, Sweden (1st
position, W21E)
The race was really nice, excellent
terrains and very challenging. My race wasn't really good, specially
in the beginning. I missed at the 2nd control one minute
almost, but then I had a good flow, just on the last loop I made
another small mistake, but the rest was really good. So I'm happy
with the second place but, of course, I wanted to try to beat
Gueorgiou.
In my preparation I'm doing
everything to be ready for the World Championships and, of course, my
goal is to win a gold medal in Switzerland.
Portugal is a really nice country
for Orienteering. This time has been just perfect. All time we had a
great weather and nice terrains, terrains so different from area to
area, so it's really nice to make training camps and competitions
here.”
Daniel Hubmann, Switzerland (2nd
position, M21SE)
“After the race I knew that I made
a quite big mistake, about two and a half minutes, so I knew that
someone could be better, but I'm satisfied with the other part of the
race. Really beautiful and demanding terrains, very technical, you
must be concentrated all the way. I really enjoyed it.
It was really worst for a world
ranking event. Good map, good routes, the course setter did a good
job.
This is a good opening of the
season, specially for me after the break last year. So I have to see
how I am in relation to the other competitors, and so I know that I
had a good winter training a good shape. My main goal are the World
Championships, I hope to be in the match for the medals and, of
course, it could be a special one in Switzerland, with a lot of
people... I'm really looking for it.”
Simone Niggli, Switzerland (2nd
position, W21E)
“It was, actually, a quite good
race. Today everything it was excellent, a great terrain, a great
map, a really Midlle Distance course, yeah, I liked it very much.
I don't think I can get the first
place at the Portugal O' Meeting. My main goal for the saison it's,
of course, the WOC in Switzerland, and I hope to win medals, so we'll
see if I can challenging Thierry [Gueorgiou] or Daniel [Hubmann].
I'll try to recover my Long Distance title but it's a hard game. So,
we'll see.”
Olav Lundanes, Norway (3rd
position, M21SE)
“I'm happy with the third
position. I can control de race of the others. For me it was totally
okay, some small mistakes, but it was really tricky.
It was tough, both physically and
technically. We don't have terrains like this in Sweden. It's very
rare for us, it's hard to get into it in the beginning. But I like
because you have to be concentrated all the time. You don't have time
to think about mistakes, you just continue.
I had good races and bad races. I
think it's positive for me right now and I haven't think a lot of how
I can do make it better and improve. It's a good season opening,
yes.”
Lena Eliasson, Sweden (3rd
position W21E)
All information about Portugal O'
Meeting 2012 at http://www.pom.pt/en/
or here, at your Portuguese Orienteering Blog.
Joaquim Margarido
PORTUGAL O' MEETING 2012: THIERRY GUEORGIOU E LINA STRAND WON THE MAJOR DAY
2012/02/20
In a sunny day, the Lord of Paths
(direct translation of Sr. dos Caminhos) blessed Portugal O’Meeting.
High quality terrains, lots of emotions and the best competitors in
the World made of this major POM day a big happening. Thierry
Gueorgiou and Lina Strand reached the top positions on their classes.
Just like the previous year, the third
day of PortugalO’ Meeting was the most important. Counting to the
World Ranking of Orienteering, the Middle Distance race received
almost two thousand runners of all ages among them the best runners
in the World. Adding to the good maps and courses, we got a colourful
sunny day and an excited Arena, applauding runners going trough the
spectator’s control or ending their courses.
The world ranking decided the start
list order, anticipating an emotional ending to this day’s race and
reality didn’t stay behind expectations. The fight for victory
lasted till almost the last second of the race with Tierry Gueorgiou
and Lina Strand clearly beating their rivals. With a time of 33:51,
Gueorgiou repeats the victories of the previous two years on the main
courses of Portugal O’ Meeting, increasing his leadership on the
World Ranking. Just behind, with more 1:26 and 1:49, stood the Suisse
Daniel Hubmann and the Norwegian Olav Lundanes. Lina Strand won the
Women Elite with a time of 37:55, beating the Suisse Simone Niggli
and her country mate Lena Eliasson by 0:27 and 0:30.
Results
M21SE
1º Thierry Gueorgiou (France O' Team)
33:51
2º Daniel Hubmann (Swiss O' Team)
35:17
3º Olav Lundanes (Halden SK) 35:40
4º Mathias Kyburz (Swiss O' Team)
35:59
5º Oleksandr Kratov (Orievents Team)
36:28
W21E
1º Lina Strand (Göteborg-Majorna)
37:55
2º Simone Niggli (Swiss O' Team) 38:22
3º Lena Eliasson (Domnarvets GoIF)
38:25
4º Saila Kinni (Tampereen Pyrintö)
42:08
5º Céline Dodin (France O' Team)
42:56
“Probably the best terrains in
Portugal”
“I’m very pleased with my race.
When I looked at the map, I understood it was a fantastic terrain and
I tried to do a good race. I tried to be always focused, reading the
map frequently and it was a clean race with only a few hesitations.
It was great running here in these terrains, probably the best in
Portugal”. It was with these words that Thierry Gueorgiou commented
his victory today. Passing the idea that this region has unique
qualities for Orienteering, Thierry Gueorgiou says that these are
fast and technical terrains although the low visibility in the
forest. He ends stating that “Portugal O’Meeting has a level of
organization just as a World Championship and with all the World best
runners. It will be a pleasure to be back because terrains like these
are always enjoyable.”
Lina Strand, the winner of the Women
Elite wasn’t expecting to win the race. About her race she told: “I
felt good. I did a nice start, had a good flow on the running and the
orienteering but a few controls before passing the Arena I caught the
runner that left before me and got overconfident and made a small
mistake. On the last part of the race, I knew that Simone Niggli did
a mistake and I tried to keep focused till the end and I did it. For
the Swedish runner, her goal is to qualify to the team that will
represent the strong Swedish team on this year’s World
Championship. I’m betting on the Middle Distance, and winning it
here gives me confidence for the future. I leave Portugal very
happy.”
Tomorrow, last day of the competition
on the “chasing start sistem”, Thierry Gueorgiou and Simone
Niggli will start first. Will they be the first to arrive?
All information about the Portugal O'
Meeting 2012 at http://www.pom.pt/en/
or at your Portuguese Orienteering Blog.
Joaquim Margarido
(Translated by Luis Santos)
PORTUGAL O' MEETING 2012: DAY 2 REVISITED
2012/02/20
PORTUGAL O' MEETING 2012: OPTIONS / IMPRESSIONS OF PHILIPPE ADAMSKI AND LINA STRAND
2012/02/19
Once again, Portuguese
Orienteering Blog talked with another two athletes,
searching about their Middle Distance races of Portugal O' Meeting's
second day. Here you can find the opinions of Philippe Adamski and
Lina Strand, as well as their maps and route choices.
“It's really something very
different from what we usually find. It's very interesting to
understand this huge variety of terrains in Portugal and in this
particular case, terrains where it's hard to run and in the middle of
the forest, which makes them particularly enjoyable.
The courses are also very
interesting, very well made, ideal for a Middle Distance race and
with lots of route choices. I think that's where I lost some time. It
is not easy to run in these terrains and make simultaneously a good
map reading. On the other hand, is the first time I run maps drawn by
Tiago Aires and he did a good job.He is a new cartographer and we
need to get used to his style of cartography.
As for the next days, I think we
will have even better terrains, with some open areas and I am really
impatient to run in Sátão. In the race scoring for the world
ranking, I will try to apply what I worked this winter and then we'll
see the result.
I think the Portugal O 'Meeting is a
competition where everyone must be present. The format of the races,
the maps and the organization are of a high level. But also the
quality of the present athletes, that is why this race is so sought
after. It is an unavoidable "rendez-vous" at this time of
the season. And then there's this weather, this sun."
Philippe Adamski, France
“It was a nice and tricky course.
And it was really tough to run and to find the right controls. Often
I found the points really good but I lost some time on my way to the
points. First, I didn't see the tunnel under the highway and then I
get stuck in some really big cliffs, I passed in the wrong way.
Otherwise, I'm quite satisfied. I
was really tired since yesterday, so I didn't run full speed today
but
I hope to do it tomorrow.
Even yesterday and today, the
cartographer and the course setter they did a good job. They were two
good races, you must be focused all the way.
My main goal for this competition is
the race of world ranking event. We have to go home on Tuesday, so I
have been focused more on the WRE, but we're been training now for
one week and we start to be tired in our bodies. I like Middle
Distance and I hope is going to be really tricky. That will be good
to me.”
Lina Strand, Sweden
All information about Portugal O'
Meeting 2012 at http://www.pom.pt/en/
Joaquim Margarido
PORTUGAL O' MEETING 2012: BAPTISTE ROLLIER AND KRISTIN LÖVGREN SAID GOODBYE TO VISEU WITH VICTORIES IN THEIR LUGGAGE
2012/02/19
With maps and compasses in hand, the
party and the revelry of Orienteering took care of the forests of
Viseu. On Carnival Sunday, Baptiste Rollier and Kristin Lövgren were
Kings.
The greatest Foot Orienteering race of
Portugal returned to the forests of Sra. do Crasto, for a particularly emotional Medium
Distance race. The details of the terrain
combined with an exigent course, were a real puzzle for close to two
thousand participants.
In the Men Elite, Baptiste Rollier
(Switzerland) was the strongest, making the 5.2 km of his course in
30:48. Behind him were his teammates Daniel Hubmann (32:20) and
Martin Hubmann with 32:46. Big favorite to the victory of this POM,
the French Thierry Gueorgiou today was not beyond the 6th position,
while Joaquim Sousa (COC) was the best Portuguese in a very
creditable 16th place.
The Swedish Kristin Lövgren was a
surprising winner of the Women Elite rank, completing her course of
4.0 km at the time of 34:45. Lena Eliasson (Sweden) and Sara Lucher
(Switzerland) finished in the immediate positions, respectively with
35:50 and 37:02. Like yesterday, Andreia Silva (COC) was again the
best portuguese athlete.
Results
M21SuperElite
1 Baptiste Rollier (Swiss Orienteering
Team) 30:48
2nd Daniel Hubmann (Swiss Orienteering
Team) 32:20
3 Martin Hubmann (Swiss Orienteering
Team) 32:46
4 Oleksander Kratov (Orievents Team)
33:03
5th Severin Howald (Swiss Orienteering
Team) 33:23
W21E
1 Kristin Lövgren (OK Kolmårde) 34:45
2 Lena Eliasson (Domnarvets GoIF) 35:50
3 Sara Lucher (Swiss Orienteering Team)
37:02
4 Annika Billstam (OK Linné) 38:16
5 Vroni Konig-Salmi (Swiss Orienteering
Team) 38:51
Trail-O met first winners
In the afternoon, Orienteering moved to
the center of the city of Viseu where was ran the opening stage of
the Portugal Trail-O Cup. Diana Coelho (Baião High School) made
history by winning the competition in the Paralympic class. Behind
her were Ricardo Pinto and Ana Paula Marques, both from Prelada's Hospital (Oporto). There was still room for a demonstration of Adapted
Orienteering Activity that was attended by 40 participants.
The Portugal O' Meeting says goodbye to
Viseu and heads to Satão, where tomorrow will take place the most
awaited stage of the event. Counting for the World Ranking, the
Middle Distance race will put face to face, once again, the best
Orienteers in the world.
Follow everything at
http://www.pom.pt/en/
or here, at your Portuguese Orienteering Blog.
Joaquim Margarido
PORTUGAL O' MEETING 2012: FIRST DAY'S IMPRESSIONS
2012/02/18
At the end of Portugal O' Meeting
2012's first stage, Portuguese Orienteering Bolg talked with some of
the athletes, asking their opinions. There you are a few impressions
of a Long Distance challenging and demanding and what can we expect
for the next days.
It was a very hard race, I think. We
trained in a terrain near the beach yesterday, so today it wasn't
easy. The maps were really good, but my performance was not that
good. For the rest of the days, I hope to do a good race on Monday.
Venla Niemi, Finland
I felt good, I felt better than in the
first race of the cup in Arronches. Making a better race tecnically
and physically was already very positive. Although this terrain is
very different and obligates to do a slower race, I felt good. I
liked the map very much. The forrest is closed, but it's very nice
running over there. The cartographer made it to simplify the map a
lot, but at the same time he had an uniform criteria and it was easy
for me reading the map. I hope the next days are even better.
Alexandre Alvarez, Portugal
I enjoyed today's race a lot, but I
thought it would have more green areas. Perhaps the part of the map
where the was the burnt forrest was not that pleasant, but I liked it
very much. I think I ran at a good speed, so it is not surprising
that I am an elite runner. For me it was really good to know I can
run seventy minutes at a good speed. I won't run on monday because
I'm going home earlier. I have already been here for one here on
training camp, so it was already good enough to be here and run these
days, until tomorrow.
Erik Andersson, Sweden
The race went really well. I made two
small mistakes, but I'm very happy. I think tat the map was very well
drawn, since it represents the reality of the terrains. The POM's
organization is always awesome. I think that in Spain we have a lot
to learn with you. About the next days, I hope to enjoy the races
just like it happened today, leave happy about my technique and the
orienteering I do.
Annabel Valledor, Spain
I had some problems last week, I was a
little bit seek and I also had an injury and today was a bit special,
just to be concentrated in orienteering. It runned quite okay, only
one big big mistake and maybe two small ones and I' m satisfied. The
map is very different in several places than we have here around the
beach, but the butterfly area was really nice to run. Now I have to
leave and the Portugal O' Meeting is over for me.
Matthias Merz, Switzerland
It was really nice. An interesting
terrain and a nice forest, that was what I expected. I'm not in a
good shape, a couple of months ago I was injured and I start to
training again ten days ago so, I didn't expect a really good result
today, and I took it just like a train. For the rest of Portugal O'
Meeting, I'll try to get as best result as possible on the world
ranking event. And than we'll see. Just a good training camp, no
snow, a fantastic sun...
Oleksandr Kratov, Ukraine
All the Portugal O' Meeting 2012 at http://www.pom.pt/en/ or here, at your Portuguese Orienteering Blog.
Joaquim Margarido
PORTUGAL O' MEETING 2012: THE COURSES OF THE WINNERS
2012/02/18
Thierry Georgiou and Simone Niggli were the winners of the first
stage of Portugal O' Meeting 2012. We can see now the options on their maps and also some comments about the races.
“I made a big mistake on point three,
I lost some minutes and that broke my rhythm a little bit. I needed
three points to recover my confidence, but then things went well. I'm
not sure about it, but I took some options to avoid the green zones.
I don't know if they were the best options, but physically I felt
good, it was the first stage and I wait now for the next days.
I found it a very well drawn course,
very varied, with very different places, some of them very easy,
other ones more detailed. That required a very active Orienteering
which I liked a lot.
The next two races are Medium Distance,
and there there is no effort management, it's going to be full speed.
It will be very intense and I like that. Tomorrow's race won't bring
many surprises, since we already know the terrain, but I keep my
biggest expectations for monday. I think it will be a very
interesting race.”
Thierry Gueorgiou
“It wasn't a perfect race. I made two
big mistakes, I think I lost about five minutes. I think I'm someone
who can make a really better time. But it's nice to be on the track
again, I really like the terrains for Portugal O' Meeting every year.
I feel very good, my physical shape is
good. It's my first international competition of the year, after the
twins were born, so I will see what the results will be like. I have
a good feeling but, of course, there is a long way to World
Championships.
I hope I can do the next races a little
bit better, I hope the terrains will be even nicer than these last
two days, I am looking forward to doing the other races.”
Simone Niggli
Follow the Portugal O' Meeting at
http://www.pom.pt/en/ or here, on
your Portuguese Orienteering Blog.
Joaquim Margarido
PORTUGAL O' MEETING 2012: THIERRY GUEORGIOU AND SIMONE NIGGLI START WINNING
2012/02/18
Sun, color and
plenty of excitement and fun. Portugal’O’Meeting
2012 started under the best expectations. In the map of Sra. Do
Crasto, north of Viseu, Thierry Gueorgiou and Simone Niggli were the
strongest among all runners.
It started this
morning the 17th edition of Portugal’O’Meeting, the most
important regular Orienteering competition carried out in Portugal.
Around 1800 runners from 30 countries – two thirds of them from
other countries – booked their place in Sra. do Crasto, for a Long
Distance event full of challenging options.
Among Men Elite Class, Thierry
Gueorgiou confirmed to be the stronger candidate to victory, winning
the competition. The French runner did the 27 controls of his course
(12,1 kms) in the time of 1:08:06, leaving behind Suisse runner
Fabian Hertner and Swedish Mathias Millinger.
For Thierry
Gueorgiou, this was not the perfect race: “I did a big mistake on
the 3rd control were I lost a few minutes, lost my rhythm, and then I
had to try to recover it.” The french runner, leader of the World
Ranking liked the maps and the diversity of options in the courses,
and he is already thinking on the races of tomorrow and Monday: “It
will be two races of Middle Distance, two fast courses were there is
no management of energy. It will be full speed and then will see”.
Strong return of Simone Niggli
Simone Niggli showed at Sra. do Crasto
the reason why she is the best orienteer of all time. In her fourth
consecutive presence at Portugal’O’Meeting (in the last 3
editions, she won 8 of the 12 stages), Simone Niggli didn't give a
chance to her adversaries, wining in 1:04:04 a 9 kms race (19 control
points). Behind her, at a distance of short 15 seconds, was Annika
Billstam (Sweden), number 2 of the world ranking, and the swiss Rahel
Friedrich.
In the end, Simone Niggli share her
oppinions: “It wasn't a perfect race, I made a lot of big mistakes
losing five minutes overall. But it's a return to the competition
after a long absence and it was very good to start again like this at
the Portugal O’ Meeting.” Confessing she felt physically well,
the athlete waits now for “even more beautiful terrains and less
mistakes in the next days”.
Portugal O’ Meeting returns tomorrow
at the map of Sra. do Crasto to the Middle Distance race. The
afternoon will be specially dedicated to Sport for Disability, with
Trail-O races (reduced mobility) and Adapted Orienteering activity
(mental disability), taking place at the centre of the city of Viseu.
More information and complete results
at http://www.pom.pt/en/.
Joaquim Margarido
PORTUGAL O' MEETING 2012: ANNIKA BILLSTAM AND THIERRY GUEORGIOU ARE HERE TO WIN!
2012/02/18
Thierry Gueorgiou and Annika
Billstam arrived together at the Event Center in Viseu. With their
usual kindness and disponibility, they agreed to speak to Portuguese
Orienteering Blog. An interview made by maps and terrains of top
quality, an excellent organization and a great desire to confirm
their favoritism and win the Portugal O 'Meeting 2012.
It's an honor to have someone
like you, the number two of the world, between us, and I would like
to know if it's your first time here in Portugal.
Annika Billstam (A.B.)
– Actually, it's my first time competing in Portugal. My first time
training orienteering in Portugal was just two weeks ago, I stayed
here for one week and I really like it here, it has been a beautiful
weather and also the maps are very nice.
During this event, these four
days, are you here to improve your level at this time of the season,
or you are here to compete and to win?
A.B. – I'm here to
do four good races. I will do my best and use my competing speed.
It's important for me to see how my results are at this moment, and
of course I will also use a lot of time for training and some other
days where there are the competitions. The competitions are really
important for me.
Looking at the level of your
adversaries, do you expect a tough fight for the first place?
A.B. – Yes, I think
there's a really strong group of athletes. But it's really nice, it's
not very often that you get to meet some of the biggest names of
Orienteering. I think there will be very strong opponents because,
for me, this is a new kind of Orienteering, it's a little bit
different. I will take contact with the maps now, and maybe some of
the people are happier with this type of terrains, but we will see on
the next race!
Thierry Gueorgiou: “The quality
is the highest”
In a very direct way I ask you:
are you here to win?
Thierry Gueorgiou (T.G.) –
I think I'm in good shape and, although I have been sick these days,
I will do my best in all the four races and we'll see then.
Five years ago you were the big
winner of Portugal O' Meeting. What memories do you keep from those
moments?
T.G. – Good
memories. Besides, last week we were training in S. Pedro do Sul and
it was a good reunion with those maps. The maps are really great, I
have already had the opportunity to see the maps of the Model Event
and they're also very good and I have a big will that tomorrow will
come quickly.
We will have here eight of the
top ten orienteers of the world. It will be a strong fight.
T.G. – It's
something very pleasant. Even if it's not a World Cup or a World
Championship, Portugal O' Meeting is already a reference in the
beginning of the season and it's a great pleasure to to find again so
many and such good athletes. The moment of preparation of each one of
us is not exactly the same and the results won't say a lot, but it's
always good at this time of the year to have a more competitive race,
side-to-side with such big names of world Orienteering, to check the
level of each one.
In the context of such an
important event as Portugal O' Meeting, what gives you the most
pleasure?
T.G. – What I like
the most is, each time I come to Portugal O' Meeting, I know that the
organization is perfect. There is also the issue with the terrains
that, because they're always different, we know we will never have
bad surprises. The quality is the highest and it's certainly because
of that that there are so many athletes coming to Portugal to compete
at this event. Maps, races and organizations of best quality is what
every elite orienteer looks for and they know they can find it here.
All information at
http://www.pom.pt/en/
[You can see the Model Event's maps
and a video at the respective pages]
Joaquim Margarido
[Translated by Ana Macedo]
PORTUGAL O' MEETING 2012: THE PARTY IS HERE!
2012/02/17
The 17th edition of Portugal O’Meeting
is about to begin. From tomorrow on, the municipalities of Viseu and
Sátão will host the biggest regular competition of Foot
Orienteering in Portugal. Really close to the big Orienteering party,
now is the time to check the last news from the event.
Since Orienteering took roots in
Portugal, several agents and institutions fought by events of quality
and visibility. One of the ways advocated in order to attract the
athletes from all over the world and promote the sport would be the
organization of an event recognized by IOF and scheduled by a time
when those athletes, most of them for the Nordic countries, came to
our country, taking profit of the fantastic terrains and the benefits
of a gentle weather. It was with this goal in mind that, in 1996, the
Amigos de Atletismo de Mafra organized the first Portugal O’
Meeting, at the Tapada Real.
Since then, many things have changed.
The year of 2000 stay on the history of the event as the turning
point to the four-day figurine, in the Carnival’s period. Portugal
O’ Meeting arrive this year to the centre of Portugal, to Viseu and
Sátão, by the hands of Estarreja Orienteering Club and Viseu
Orienteering Club - NATURA and with the support of Portuguese
Orienteering Federation and the municipalities of Viseu and Sátão.
A rich and diversified program
With the promise of terrains, maps and
courses of big quality, ready to satisfy the highest levels of
international exigency, it's worth to attempt to the rich and
diversified program. On the first day of competition, since 11 a.m.,
the Sra. do Crasto map (Viseu) receives the Long Distance race. With
the falling of the night, at 7 p.m., would start at the city centre
of Viseu the Night Sprint race (extra-competition). Sunday is not
“fat” only because it’s Carnival, but also because we’ll see,
floating at the four winds, the flag of “Orienteering for All”.
By 10 a.m., the athletes will enjoy again the Sra. do Crasto map for
the Middle Distance race. In the afternoon, by 2.30 p.m., they will
run in Fontelo's Park (Viseu) the first stage of Portuguese National
League of Trail-O. Half an hour later, the City Park – Aquilino
Ribeiro receives a demonstration of Adapted Orienteering Activity, a
sport for mental disability.
The attentions in the second half of
POM 2012 are focused almost exclusively in Sátão municipality and
in the Sr. dos Caminhos map, where the last two races will take
place. On Monday, we’ll have the most expected race of the program,
a Middle Distance that scores for the World Ranking and that will
start at 10.30 a.m. The last day we'll see the first athletes
starting at 9 a.m., to run a Long Distance. Sra. do Crasto and Sr.
dos Caminhos maps have in common the fact that they were made by
Tiago Aires and represent hilly terrains with a lot of rock details,
in a Pine forest area, with some areas of easy runability and others
where undergrowth makes it slower. The Cidade de Viseu map, where the
Night Sprint, Trail-O and Adapted-O will take place, is signed by
Raquel Costa.
The artists
A true star parade, the Portugal O’
Meeting 2012 brings to Portugal, once again, the best orienteers of
the world. Portugal is the most represented country, with an amount
of 584 athletes, while all the others are foreigners. Finland (189
athletes), Sweden (158), Switzerland (134) and Norway (131) strongly
demand the central region of our country, as like France (92
athletes), Spain (91), United Kingdom (54), Denmark (52) or Russia
(50). Between the Men Elite, the Frenchman Thierry Gueorgiou attracts
all attentions. Leader of the world ranking, gold medal at Long
Distance, Middle Distance and Relay in the last World Orienteering
Championships, Thierry Gueorgiou will want to repeat the performance
of 2007, at S. Pedro do Sul, in which he was the winner of the 12th
edition of the Portugal O’ Meeting, coincidently an event organized
by Estarreja Orienteering Club. At that time, Gueorgiou was the
winner of all the four races, reaching in the world ranking event
race the highest score in history of WRE events, with 1516 points.
It’s important to say, yet, that in the amount of 44 athletes of
top100 that will compete in Portugal, eight of them are between the
first ten, and that includes the Nº 2, Daniel Hubmann, from
Switzerland, and Nº 10, the Ukrainian Oleksandr Kratov, the winner
of 2011’s edition of the Portugal O’ Meeting.
Talking about the women, Annika
Billstam (Sweden) and Simone Niggli (Switzerland) share the main
attentions. The first one, because she is the vice-leader of the
world ranking and the World Champion of Long Distance. The second one
because she is the only athlete that won Portugal O’ Meeting in
three occasions (2002, 2010 and 2011), having in her curriculum 17
world titles, 7 european titles, 7 victories in the World Cup and
many other triumphs, which makes her the best orienteer ever. But big
names are something that you don’t miss between the 132 registered
in the Women Elite, 41 of them belonging to the world top100. It’s
with all this Elite athletes that 37 portuguese runners will beat-up
themselves, with the eyes on names like Raquel Costa, Mariana
Moreira, Joana Costa, Manuel Horta or Joaquim Sousa, the last one the
World Vice-Champion Masters (M40) of Sprint.
Some advice
POM 2012 is not limited to competitive
edge, and "to heat the engines", the participants will have
at their disposal today, between 9.30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., the Model
Events at Sra. do Crasto and Sr. dos Caminhos maps, the same maps
that will test the competitors in the next four days. The 11 control
points available in each of the maps are of free choice and will
offer the possibility to the athletes to familiarize themselves with
the terrain and the types of cartography. By late afternoon, on
Sunday, will take place the prize giving ceremony of the Trail-O and
Night Sprint races, while the awards ceremony of the WRE event will
take place early in the afternoon of Monday, at 2.30 p.m., at the
Arena of Sr. dos Caminhos. Also on Monday, by 16:30, the Viseu City
Hall Auditorium open to all interested to a lecture given by renowned
coaches of the French and Swiss teams, Kenneth Buch and Matthias
Niggli respectively, and, because everything has an end, POM 2012
will close on Tuesday, at 2.00 p.m., with the Prize Giving Ceremony
to be held once again at the Arena of Sr. dos Caminhos.
There are some advice that are worth
being mentioned, brought here by Antonio Amador, the Event Director.
The weather forecast seems to guarantee that we will have sunny days,
so that all tasks are facilitated. But it is important that the
athletes are aware and comply with certain instructions of the
organization so that everything is even easier. A big number of
athletes will only arrive on the day of the first stage, by which the
organization calls, whom you are able, to passing through the Event
Center (installed in the Viseu’s Pavilhão Multiusos) during today,
"relieving" the Secretariat on the day of the first
race. It is recalled that all athletes must use the POM 2012 bib.
Each Team Leader can get it in the Event Centre. Only athletes with
POM's official bib correctly placed on the equipment are allowed to
start the race. One of the most difficult is the parking in the first
two days, so it is essential that everyone can go to the place as
soon as possible and follow the instructions of the elements that are
coordinating this area. The space is limited and the cars are more
than 1.5 km away from the Arena, so you need to have the time it
takes to travel that distance. Note that all normal infrastructure of
an event of this magnitude can be found in the Arenas of all races.
The organization appeals to all athletes, even if not registered, to
do everything possible to attend the Sunday afternoon activities,
with the race of Trail-O in the Fontelo's Park and especially with
the demonstration of Adapted Orienteering Activity, in the City Park – Aquilino Ribeiro, which holds the Awards Ceremony of the
Night Sprint and Trail-O races, at 5.30 p.m. Everything is ready for
a great 2012 POM!
All information at
http://www.pom.pt/en/
Joaquim Margarido
NUNO LEITE AND THE PORTUGAL O' MEETING 2012: "I EXPECT A MEMORABLE EVENT"
2012/02/16
President of Estarreja
Orienteering Club and, as such, a fundamental part of the
organizational structure of Portugal O 'Meeting 2012, Nuno Leite did
for Portuguese Orienteering Blog the preview of this important
event. An interview where he speaks about democracy within the club,
how important is the event at various levels and were he wishes Sun.
A bright Sun!
You assumed the presidency of the
Estarreja Orienteering Club in a relatively advanced stage for the
preparation of Portugal O'Meeting. Has it increased the
responsibilities that this position entails?
Nuno Leite (N.L.) - It
is true, but there are not many differences, only the person who
signs the
decisions of the management has changed. Those who know
the structure of
Ori-Estarreja know that everything is decided by
consensus and
democratically in parallel with what is best for the
Club and for the development in Orienteering in Portugal.
What does it mean for the
Ori-Estarreja the
organization of this 17th edition of The Portugal
O'Meeting?
N.L. - When we
organize an event of this level we always make the same
question,
even if it is unconsciously - "What can we do so
that Orienteering in Portugal evolves?” This is where all ideas are
born for a better event.
Looking at the previous editions of POM
organized by Ori-Estarreja
we realize that we always take
Orienteering to new grounds and there is
always a qualitative leap,
in what concerns the return to the regional economy, and also a
quantitative one, both technically and concerning the number of
athletes. Therefore it means that this is an opportunity to do more
and better for Orienteering in Portugal,
especially in spreading it
to places where it is less developed.
What are the material and human
resources involved in this edition of the event?
N.L. - Well, we have
over 100 elements organizing the event, including the elements of the
two clubs (Ori-Estarreja and VOCs) and also all
the support
structures (Firefighters, Military, Scouting, Media...). Both clubs
all together have more than 80 elements and are divided into six
different teams,
having different tasks running interconnected. For
an event of this magnitude with almost 2000 athletes everything
happens as if it were a so-called “normal” event but numbers
multiplied by 4 or 5, which increases the expenses to about 30
thousand euros, especially
if we invest heavily in the quality of
the event. Note that the financial support
given by the state
authorities for these expenses and
for an event that gives back
more than 1.5 Million euros to the local economy is not even 10% of
the direct expenses!
Ori-Estarreja shares the
organizing responsibilities
with the Viseu Orienteering Club -
Natura. What
do you gain with this partnership?
N.L. - When an
orienteering club presents a proposal for organizing
an event to a
city council that has never heard of this sport there is always
a
discovery phase concerning orienteering by the local authority and
also by the club on
its way of functioning. For this event, in
2012, we have joined a POM
club with a high technical expertise
associated with a club that hasbeen working with these city councils
for several years. It is a significant part of
an event of such
dimension that gets facilitated.
In the aftermath of the recent
Absolute National Championship, held in the
municipalities of S.
Pedro do Sul and Vouzela, the responsible for mapping
POM 2012,
Tiago Aires, stated that "Viseu has conditions to
quickly
become the capital of Orienteering in Portugal.” What is your
opinion on this matter?
N.L. - I would not say
the capital, but because of its location, both the quantity and
quality of its grounds and also the opening of these two
municipalities, it is a major hub for sure!
The Communication sector of the
Portugal O 'Meeting 2012 took on a new
breath after the contract
with Orievents. Can this be, in your opinion, a good solution for the
future of this sport at the level of
Communication and Image?
N.L. - Without a
doubt! These organizations rely on a voluntary basis
and a more
than proved fact is that the main elements of the organizations
are
always engaged in the more technical part and never have availability
for this task that
should already had had its due attention.
Fortunately there was a maecenas, Sotinco, that allowed this
structure, led by
Fernando Costa, to be feasible and so the results
are there for everyone to see.
If we want better events, there are
structures that need to assume, at least, a semi-professional
character.
What do you expect from this POM
2012?
N.L. - I expect a
memorable event that allows Orienteering to be seen in a different
way by the structures that are able to help us, such as Portuguese
Orienteering.
What is your biggest wish?
N.L. - Sun! A wish
must always be about something that is not in
the hands of the
organization! It seems that this wish is likely to be fulfilled and
so everything else will be easier for the organization.
In addition
I also hope that the fantastic medical support structure that is
being assembled by the firefighters of Viseu and Sátão will not be
used.
Joaquim Margarido
[Translated by Luisa Estrela]
PORTUGAL O' MEETING 2012: IOF EVENT ADVISER LUIS SANTOS'S PREVIEW
2012/02/01
For the second year
in a row, Luis Santos is the IOF Event Adviser of the most important regular
event of Foot Orienteering in Portugal. To Portuguese Orienteering
Blog he talked about is work besides the organizing team of POM 2012
and ensured that the event has potential to be the best Portugal O’
Meeting ever.
You have been related to three
out of the latest five Portugal’O’Meeting editions. I would like
you to tell me about those experiences and to establish comparisons
between them.
Luís Santos (L.S.) -
Despite the huge loads of work connected to these events, they are
very special for us and we all know that they are our best “door”
to spread the news about the high quality of Portuguese major events
among the International Community of Orienteering, so for me it’s a
pleasure to be a part of the organizing teams of 2007 (São Pedro do
Sul), 2009 (Mora) and 2011 (Alto Alentejo) editions of POM. Although
we are talking always of POM, they have all been very different but
fully lived experiences. In Orienteering, each event is a singular
and unique project and that is a fact for participants and for
organizers. I’ll try to resume in a few words my experiences in
each of them.
2007, in São Pedro do Sul, brought
me amazing terrains and a map that has became one of my favorites
(Campo de Anta), but also the bad weather on some days and my mistake
of not monitoring the sprint night events. In the results board, what
comes to my mind is the overwhelming victory of Thierry Gueorgiou.
In 2009 the load of work was
incomparable because I was Event Director with my friend António
Rodrigues and it was my club organizing. I remember the drama of
tense relantionships of land owners with the 3rd and 4th days at
risk, three days before the event and the 2nd day on the morning of
the event, our choice of offering different types of terrain. The
most striking memory was the OriShow on the football field of
Cabeção. We started that event on the brink of disaster, I was so
close to cancel it, but then things started very poorly and ended
with hundreds of spectators enjoying the exciting finals. It was not
important for runners but it remained in my memory.
In 2011, again advising, and first
opportunity to work with my friend Fernando Costa. The technical work
was far more demanding than it had been in 2007, but I had excellent
moments with GD4C organizing team and on the results board, Thierry
again with brilliant results on the male Elite with Simone Niggli
winning on women Elite. The worst moment was maybe the Closing
Ceremony, which is maybe one of the toughest moments for POM
organizers after so many days of work and so close to the end, it’s
hard to maintain high working levels and focus on the tasks for a
smooth and enjoyable Closing Ceremony.
What is the role and importance
for Portuguese Orienteering and for our country of an event with such
a dimension and projection as Portugal’O’Meeting?
L.S. - In Portugal
this event should have seen by media on a different way, because it’s
one of the events among all sports that brings to Portugal more
foreign competitors. But we lack the means of other sports to reach
Portuguese major media. But that visibility exists among other
Orienteering countries and I believe we have been working well on the
latest years to make of Portugal a major World destination on Winter
Foot Orienteering. I have many friends in Spain and I love to
participate in Spanish events but it seems to me that in the
beginning of this century there was a clear challenge among Portugal
and Spain; Portugal seems to take the lead, and now is unimaginable
to have Spanish directors to schedule a World Ranking Event to the
same days of POM has it happened a few years ago. POM is now holding
to numbers of participants thought impossible about 10 years ago,
almost always above 1500 since 2007 edition, and that is also
reflected on the WRE of the weekend afterwards, on the winter
training camps. This level of high organizing standards must be
valued but also preserved, creating conditions to avoid a weak POM
that could risk in a year the work of several years building a solid
image of good events.
What responsibilities and
challenges come along with being Adviser of an event like this?
L.S. - I see my duties
as someone who is available to help organizers. And only if we feel
that Organizers (or someone among its multiple elements) are not
working for runners but have other priorities instead of runners
(like giving more importance to financial targets or regional
politician goals), those are the moments that we start representing
and defending runners. I try to be a part of the organizing team and
make clear with my work that I can help and not be a controller and
an outside element seen as an obstacle. I try not to load on expenses
of the Federation and that has been visible in my work in Viseu has I
have been able to visit in the terrain all controls in three days
working from sun rise till sun nightfall (I haven’t seen all
controls of the sprint event but I have seen more than 350 controls
in those three days), making the main target of my work on all
technical issues of the event on such demanding terrains that force
all players on these works to have an high degree of focus and
concentration while being on the competition terrain (curiously
belonging to a team that worked with me in 2007). The most and better
work done on the preparation phase on a event like this, the more
secure and calm we’ll be on the event days.
How is the preparation work of
your job as Adviser of POM 2012?
L.S. - I got this
train already on movement because I was invited to replace my fellow
adviser Rui Antunes, although still in time to follow all the course
setting procedures. Ori-Estarreja has been doing an exceptional
technical work just like they did in 2007. The tasks are taking their
course and things seem to be going quite well and only the website
could be more dynamic to catch the attention of those who are still
in doubt of coming to Viseu. Technical work is now on it’s closing
stage and now is the time to process and answer many entries and
requests and to close other preparation procedures like start times,
spectators information procedures, human resources charts and time
tables.
Is it being difficult to connect
and get reports from the organizing clubs or relationships with
Ori-Estarreja and Clube de Orientação de Viseu has been going
smoothly?
L.S. - In POM 2011 there was an
unusual role of the organizing team to make three municipalities
speak as one and GD4C made it possible to put that kind of risk to
the event on it’s advantages because they were really working
together and not against each other. In POM 2012 we have two
different municipalities and two different organizing clubs but that
is working quite well because there’s the local club (Clube de
Orientação de Viseu) who use it’s advantages to communicate with
local entities and the largest and more experienced club that uses
their know-how and experience to the more technical details of a big
Orienteering event. My job has been almost totally done with
Ori-Estarreja because on the organizing model planned they have
responsibility over the four main events, with COV more attached to
local entities and the sprint of Viseu. Maybe communication and
spreading information could be more effective, and maybe a large
municipality as Viseu could have a major role in that kind of tasks,
but it is important to highlight the outstanding work on terrain
prospection and my friends in Ori-Estarreja will understand that I
point out the outstanding role of a poorly known club like COV that
has been undertaking an important work on the promotion of
Orienteering in a district that is probably the Portuguese district
with more potential to discover new terrains to our sport.
What Portugal O’Meeting are we
going to find this year?
L.S. - If anyone is in
doubt if the event will be at the level of it’s previous editions,
I have no doubt in stating that it has the potential to overcame
them. Naturally, not everything will go according to what is planned.
I use to say that if the sun shines, the organizers can shine too,
but if the rain appears, organizers will only be seen has effective,
because the idea of the event on participants will never be so
positive. If the weather helps (and we are not talking about high
mountains, like 2007 terrains), there are good probabilities of an
outstanding event in a event that is reaching Top10 world most seen
events (taking advantage of being the first big event of the season
and being used as a first measurer to evaluate top runners condition
for the rest of the season), beautiful areas, mainly in Sátão, and
in my opinion, an event that will be increasing it’s quality level
from day to day, reaching the 4th that is clearly my favourite
competition day. This POM will take Orienteering community to know a
city that has been out of our sport but that has a lot to offer, and
the sprint and trail orienteering events will be a pleasurable way to
do it. Out of curiosity these events will be made on a small part of
Urban Viseu map that is probably one of the biggest urban maps of
Portugal.
Only three weeks away from
Portugal’O’Meeting beginning, is there something in particular
that worries you or you continue to sleep beautifully?
L.S. - What should be done at this
stage is done. There is still a lot to do, but there’s no need to
be worried by advancement. There’s organizing experience by all
involved and there’s good working abilities to do it. I confess
that on a multi day event, I’m worried with the organizing team
regeneration day after day. When the first day will start, there will
be players on this project already with high loads of tiredness on
their shoulders. It is not easy to reach 4th day still with a smile
on the face and the ability to concentrate in doing things well done.
The other concern is not in our hands but it creates some anxiety. I
speak of the weather, although I know that a bad weather affects
mainly those who go for a nice sightseeing walk in the forest and the
organizers. For those who are there to compete, it’s not important
if it rains or if it’s sunny, they are only concerned with the map
and their options.
I would ask you, on a personal
note and as an Event Adviser of the most important event of
Portuguese Orienteering, to express a vote for this year’s edition.
L.S. - What I want for this POM is
that if you're Portuguese and don’t know if you want to go, don’t
hesitate. If you like to orienteer, you’ll like this event. If you
came from other countries and you’ll have your flights already
booked, I’m sure you’ll want to come back again after this
experience in Viseu. Those who prospected terrains, those who did the
maps and those who set your courses, did a good job to receive you
all well. Personally, I just hope to be on a level that is suited to
what Portuguese Orienteering needs and to enjoy one of the tasks that
give to me most pleasure in Orienteering: Being an Event Adviser.
Everything about POM 2012 at
http://www.pom.pt/pt/
VISEU AND SÁTÃO ARE READY TO THE BIG ORIENTEERING PARTY
2012/01/30
Upon expiry of the first registration deadline, Portugal O 'Meeting 2012 enters the countdown at a cruising speed. The values in presence guarantee an event of great quality. The expectation now is whether the magic barrier of two thousand participants will be finally overcome.
The first registration deadline for Portugal O' Meeting 2012 finished yesterday at midnight and there are the numbers, indicating that this 17th edition of the event might come to be the most participated ever. There are 1608 registered athletes until now, of which 1084 foreigners, representing 317 clubs. Portugal registers, naturally, the biggest number of entries (524), but countries like Finland, Sweden, Switzerland or Norway also present a strong squad, with over one hundred participants each.
The Men Elite is the one that records up to now the bulk of entries (224), a number still something out of the 279 registrated in the 15th edition of POM, held at Figueira da Foz in 2010. The number of entries in Women Elite is precisely half of the Men Elite, a new absolute maximum reached in this category.
Thierry Gueorgiou, the biggest name
Looking at the values involved, the highlight is the leader of the men's world ranking, Thierry Gueorgiou. Although we are in a very early stage of preparation for the season that has just began, Gueorgiou already shows an excellent run of form and is the main candidate to the victory in this POM. Ahead he will face names such as Daniel Hubmann, Baptiste Rollier or Mathias Muller, all from Switzerland, the Norwegian Olav Lundanes or the winner of the POM 2011, the Ukrainian Oleksandr Kratov. Although they have not made up their registration until now, the organization ensures the presence of Philippe Adamski and François Gonon (that gave France, along with Thierry Gueorgiou, the title of World Champion in the Relay, last year), bringing to eight the number of athletes in this edition of POM that integrate the world top-10.
In the Women Elite, the struggle for victory in the POM promises to be more open. The big star of the event comes from Sweden, is the nº 2 of the world ranking and is Annika Billstam. But she will face the Swedish Lena Eliasson, the Danish Maja Alm, the Czech Eva Jurenikova or Rahel Friedrich, Judith Wyder and Ines Brodmann, all of them from Switzerland, in an unpredictable outcome. Note also the presence of Danish Ida Bobach, Vice-World Champion of Middle Distance, and Simone Niggli (Switzerland), the best orienteers of all time and winner of POM for three times, returning here to competition after a long pause.
Program for all tastes
Portugal O 'Meeting 2012 is a joint organization of Clube de Orientação de Estarreja and Clube de Orientação de Viseu-Natura and it will be held from the 18th until the 21st of February, in the municipalities of Viseu and Sátão. The four days of competition are spread over Long Distance (first and fourth days) and Middle Distance (second and third days), with the particularity of the race of the third day being a World Ranking Event. On the night of the opening day, the center of Viseu will animate with an always spectacular Urban Sprint, while the afternoon of the second day will be dedicated to the Sport for Disability, with the opening stage of the Trail-O National League 2012 - discipline particularly suited to people with reduced mobility - to be held in Parque do Fontelo, and a demonstration of Adapted Orienteering Activity, for people with intellectual disabilities, to be held in the Parque Aquilino Ribeiro. It is still scheduled for the third day of the POM 2012 a lecture open to all, dealing with the physical and mental training and carried out by the national coaches of Switzerland and France, Matthias Niggli and Kenneth Buch, respectively.
But the importance of Portugal O 'Meeting 2012 is not limited to competition. All in all, "an event of this nature will inject in the economy of the country a value greater than 1.5 million euros," according to Antonio Amador, the Event Director. The hotel capacity in the region registers close to 100% rates and the entire local economy, from restaurants to small businesses, feel a strong boost thanks to this event.
Find all about the Portugal O 'Meeting 2012 at http://www.pom.pt/en/
