Course of the Year 2016: Submit your suggestions!

For the seventh year in a row, Jan Kocbach promotes in his World of O – www.worldofo.com - a poll looking for the “Course of the Year”. In a moment where the suggestions are being submitted, this is the right time for you to act!

The World Championships Long Distance in Scotland was elected the Course of the Year in 2015 and the World Championships Middle Distance in Italy won in 2014. Before that we had two years with Portuguese winners: a spectacular sprint between boulders and old buildings in 2013 and some great technical orienteering at Portugal O-Meeting in 2012. In 2011 the WOC Middle Distance in France took the first place and the year before a very special Jukola Relay was the big winner. Now, the question turns to be the same: What was the best orienteering course of 2016?”

The search for the course of the year will be fun as always! The rules are simple: Leave your comment at http://news.worldofo.com/2016/11/15/course-of-the-year-2016-submit-your-suggestions/, suggesting a course from a competition or training in 2016 and stating the reason why you think this course deserves to be “The course of the Year 2016”. The best among all the suggestions will be chosen – and there will be a voting process among the readers of World of O in order to name the Course of the Year 2016. “And please, please, please state the reason for your suggestion – that’s where the fun & the passion for orienteering comes in!”, says Jan.

Answering to Jan Kocbach's challenge, the suggestions are arriving every minute. From Switzerland to the Czech Republic, from Lithuania to Portugal, there's more than 60 suggestions until now. The WOC Long Distance in Sweden, the WUOC Middle Distance in Hungary, the O-idol 2016 in Norway or the POM Long Distance Day e in Portugal are just some of the courses chosen by the participants so far. At worldofo.com there's also some great interviews from top runners where they talk about their favourite courses and maps from the last year.

Just one more thing: Prizes from the Sponsors always makes it more fun! There will be a prize for the first one suggesting the course which ends up becoming “The course of the Year 2016”, and prizes drawn among the ones suggesting and voting. All prizes are transferable to other person, so you don’t have to travel yourself.

Joaquim Margarido

Leoš Bogar: "I wanted to set a really tough course"

Father of two great champions – František Bogar and Kryštof Bogar - Leoš Bogar was responsible for setting the M21 Long Distance course of the World MTB Orienteering Championship 2015. But what's so special he does? In the recent World of O's "Course of the Year 2015", Leoš' course setting was “only” the 5th ranked. A reason of fulfilment to its author and a triumph for MTB Orienteering. And it's precisely Leoš Bogar that we have today with us, on the Portuguese Orienteering Blog's tribune.

I would start by congratulating you and appreciate your availability for answering my questions. See your WMTBOC 2015 Long Distance course setting [HERE] being among the nominees to the “Course of the Year 2015” and then know the result and realize that you reached the 5th position what comment deserves? How valuable is this result, from a personal point of view?

Leoš Bogar (L. B.) - It is satisfying. Like a nice bonus at the end of this year. But, most of all, pleases me that both the race and the whole Championships were such a success.

Have you an idea how many time did you spend on planning and setting the course?

L. B. - I started to focus on this task exactly the year before the date of the race. First, it was the date when I was appointed to be a course setter of the long. And mainly, I started to be visiting the terrain of the competition to ensure that the paths are suitable in respective time of the year, having in mind mainly vegetation. So, one could say that I actually enjoyed the whole year with the course setting. The level of stress was obviously increasing as the dates of the competition were getting closer, but at the end I felt satisfaction. More or less, it all ended well.

By designing the WMTBOC 2015 Long Distance course, in which way did you want to challenge the competitors? Do you think you get succeed?

L. B. - Given terrain that I was supposed to use for Long was technically more demanding than it’s usual for MTBO terrains. I wanted to set a really tough course – but what could we expect from one of the most prestigious categories at the most important event of the season? If I recall well, I didn’t have any negative feedback from competitors after the competition. Only positive comments.

Until the D Day, have you felt some kind of embarrassment?

L. B. - I didn’t feel nervous before the D day, not more than any other time. Operations, coordination with advisors, logistics, media, all of that was sorted continuously and I didn’t notice any more significant trouble. Organizers are more concerned about the things they can’t affect: we will not face extreme weather conditions; there will not appear any unexpected complication in the forest, all competitors will make it to the final unharmed… But these things are everywhere the same.

Among the many legs of the course, can you point your favorite? Why?

L. B. - The courses are obviously spiced up with long legs offering many different route choices. It was also the main concept of my suggestion. The core of the setting was to pick the most demanding long legs which were enabled by the terrain. Topped by interesting outlining. Men’s long actually started with the most demanding leg right after the start. I was curious how competitors will manage. My personal estimate came in the very end true, confirmed by GPS tracking.

Do you consider that this is the best course you've ever set? Why?

L. B. - I can’t really judge if this course setting of the Long at World Champs was my best ever, however it was for sure one of the most important events I was participating at. Main aim of each course setter is usually to set a course which competitors will enjoy in the first place.

When we talk about the differences between a really good Foot Orienteering course and a really good MTB Orienteering course, what are we talking about? In which of the two disciplines the terrain plays a more important role?

L. B. - I can’t really and competently comment on this – I never did foot orienteering in the past and so I don’t really understand its nuances. My sports history includes cycling only. So, obviously, I proclaim that terrain diversity is more important for MTBO.

The recent changes to the Competition Rules, with the possibility to ride off tracks, for example, represents a new challenge to the competitors. In which way, this challenge also extends to the course setter?

L. B. - The course setter is considering all conditions that he is facing – natural and terrain conditions of the competition area and then respective rules, which may vary depending on location of the competition. It’s a combination of different issues which should result into an interesting competition. Riding off-road is sometimes good in some locations, sometimes it’s exactly the opposite. I don’t overrate legislation, I think that individual creativity is more important.

There are very few MTB Orienteering courses nominated to the “Course of the Year” (I could count only five in the last six years). How do you see this fact?

L. B. - It’s obviously affected by the situation and importance that MTBO is having in the overall structure of all orienteering disciplines. I think and hope that this trend is growing. Let’s hope that this year’s WMTBOC helped a bit to this improvement.

You are mainly a course setter or do you see yourself more like a competitor, a coach, a cartographer or something else?

L. B. - I can’t say positively. I’m all in one: competitor, organizer, coach, and cartographer. I’m not a pro, I like the sport and that’s the most important, I believe.

Looking to all courses that you attended so far and where you competed, which one impressed you the most, the one you would like to have been the course setter? Why?

L. B. - I was the most enthusiastic about the competition I was attending this year in Portugal, WMMTBO 2015. There were a lot different environment, nature, conditions. I don’t know if I would be able to handle such area as a course setter. It’s a theoretical question. Anyway, those sports experience from Portugal will warm me up the whole winter time, which I actually don’t like at all.

Are you already working in your next big challenge?

L. B. - My club OK Jiskra Novy Bor and I are organizing last round of the Czech Cup in MTBO including the Team Champs, next year. So I’m again riding in the forests with a map and think about interesting courses.

Would you like to share your biggest wish for the next season, now that 2015 is close to the end?

L. B. - I wish to all health and optimistic mind.

[I sincerely wish to thank you Jana Kosťová for all her kindness and professionalism with the translation work]

Joaquim Margarido

  

"Course of the Year 2015": You can vote now!

From today, and during the next seven days, you are invited to choose the “Course of the Year 2015”. The World of O initiative offers you 70 courses, from different competition levels, several countries and even different Orienteering disciplines. Now it's up to you!

It's not an easy task. Indoor races in Stockholm or outdoor at Tasmanian jungle? A charming Sprint in Denmark or a tough Ultralong in Norway? An OOCup “ultimate” or a Vyborgskaya “troika” (which is another ultimate)? A Night-O Fight in Wroclaw or a 10Mila Long Night? A MTBO Long in Pilsen or a Ski-O Long in Hamar? World of O is offering, for the sixth year in a row, an amazing set of course, opening in front of our eyes and remembering some of the best moments of the season. But also those who remain behind the scenes, the map makers and the course setters.

The World Championships Middle Distance in Italy won last year's contest, and the two years before we had Portuguese winners: a spectacular Sprint between boulders and old buildings in Monsanto, during the Portugal O' Meeting 2013 and some great technical orienteering in the Portugal O' Meeting's 3rd stage in 2012, in Satão. In 2011 the WOC Middle Distance in France took the first place and the year before a very special Jukola Relay was the big winner. From today to next Monday, 7th December, you have the power to choose the “course of the Year 2015”.

Voting is done by setting up your “Top 5 List” based on the nominated maps. Based on all the submitted “Top 5 Lists”, the best course in 2015 is found using a simple formula: For each 1st spot in a “Top 5 List”, a course gets 100 points, 70 points for each 2nd spot, 50 points for each 3rd spot, 30 points for each 4th spot and 10 points for each 5th spot. The “Course of the Year 2015” will be found based on summing all the votes. You are only allowed to vote once (if several people share one internet connection, only one can vote, as the IP address is used to identify the voter along with the email-address of the voter). Among all people voting and submitting suggestions, great prizes from the contest's sponsors will be drawn.

The collection of maps nominated in the poll “Course of the Year 2015” can be found HERE. Now, it's just follow the instructions and vote at http://omaps.worldofo.com/course2015.php. Good choices and... good luck!

Joaquim Margarido

Course of the Year 2015: World of O is asking for your suggestions!

Like every November since 2010, Jan Kocbach and his incomparable World of O promotes a popular contest, trying to know the readers' opinion about the best “Course of the Year”. Still in a stage were the suggestions are being submitted, it's time for you to act!

“What was the best orienteering course of 2015?”, such is Jan Kocbach's question for this year's poll. The World Championships Middle Distance in Italy won in 2014, and the two years before we had Portuguese winners: a spectacular Sprint between boulders and old buildings in Monsanto, during the Portugal O' Meeting 2013 and some great technical orienteering in the Portugal O' Meeting's 3rd stage in 2012, in Satão. In 2011 the WOC Middle Distance in France took the first place and the year before a very special Jukola Relay was the big winner.

Now it's time to decide who will take the prestigious top spot this year, first by submitting suggestions and then by voting. As part of the “Course of the Year 2015”, the World of O will offer along the next days some great interviews from top runners, talking about their favorite courses and maps in 2015. Lucas Basset, the new French star, already had the chance to share his opinions and his choice goes to Glen Affric. Why? “Because of the terrain, which was wilder than almost every other forest I've been running in”, he says. Explaining that he made his choice “because of the terrain”, in spite of being also “convinced that the course was good, coherent to a Long Distance spirit”, Lucas Basset has no doubts that Glen Affric “was a perfect ending of a wonderful WOC week” [read HERE Lucas Basset's whole Interview].

Answering to Jan Kocbach's challenge, the suggestions are arriving every minute. From Finland to France, from Poland to Spain, there's almost 50 suggestions until now (none of them from Portugal, I'm afraid). To submit your suggestions, it's as simple as that: The course must have been run in competition or training in 2015 (there's an exception for courses in December 2014, as they were not covered in last year’s contest); the suggestions are submitted as a comment to World of O's post – http://news.worldofo.com/2015/11/24/course-of-the-year-2015-submit-your-suggestions/ - including link to the map with course in a quality which is good enough for the readers to understand the course and the challenges involved; the participants must give a reason why they think the course deserves to be named “The course of the Year 2015″; and the course may be any discipline – e.g. a long distance, a middle distance, a sprint distance. It may also be a technical training course – like e.g. a corridor orienteering exercise. After this first step, there will be a voting process among the readers of “World of O” in order to elect “The course of the year 2015″.

Just one more thing: Prizes from the Sponsors always makes it more fun! There will be a prize for the first one suggesting the course which ends up becoming “The course of the Year 2015″, and prizes drawn among the ones suggesting and voting. All prizes are transferable to other persons (you don’t have to travel yourself). Everything to follow in your World of O.

Joaquim Margarido

Mariana Moreira: "I think that anyone was expecting to find such kind of terrain"

She was the “queen” of Orienteering in Portugal in 2014, reaching four national titles and also the National League. In the meanwhile, she had the first international participations in the Elite class and she signed the course of the third day of the Portugal O' Meeting, one of the most acclaimed of the year among the world orienteering community. Mariana Moreira talks about the season that now ends.

It's almost common sense to think that anyone who set a course at the Portugal O' Meeting take the “risk” of being the winner of “The Course of the Year”. Did you think of it?

Mariana Moreira (M. M.) - It's true that, in the last two years, POM was the big winner of the “Course of the Year”, but it wasn't at all with this main goal that I agreed to be the course setter of one of the days of POM. This year we have seen many high-quality courses in a wide range events around the world and I knew that it was very unlikely to win the same event for the 3rd year in a row. Still – and I think I can speak in name of my club -, to know that Thierry Gueorgiou considered the 3rd day of POM the best course of the year or that Annika Billstam elected the terrains of the POM as the best she ran in 2014, was for us a great pride.

Setting that course in particular, what goals did you have in mind?

M. M. - As in all courses I’ve setted (and there weren't so many as that), the main goal was undoubtedly trying to create the greatest challenge for athletes. In this particular course, the idea was to try to create like a “shock” in the very beginning, in a course with a lot of controls and changes of direction in the initial area which was, in fact, very, very demanding. I think that anyone was expecting to find such kind of terrain, when in the day before, and right next door, they had run in a much more open and mostly “yellow” Arcozelo.

About the terrain, this wasn't a discover of mine. We had already decided well in advance who would be the setters of the four forest stages but we only decided who would draw the course of each day when the maps were almost ready. I was then in charge to set the courses at this piece of West Arcozelo map. It was necessary to have a great understanding between the course setters of the last three stages, since the end of the three days was the same and we should, obviously, avoid to repeat controls or challenges. Then, I’ve worked together with Raquel Costa and Tiago Aires (also map makers) and we reached the best possible solutions. Several versions were created for the different courses, especially because when I started to set it, the total area of this 3rd day map was much more limited and it was necessary to change and adjust the courses to the new small areas of map that were emerging.

Do you feel sorry for missing it as a competitor?

M. M. - Honestly, I'm sure that I enjoyed the map more than anyone else (with the exception of the map makers). I spent many hours there choosing the places to the controls, testing the legs and courses, making the needed adjustments, putting the controls out in the forest or even recording the promotional video. It's obviously a different approach, and in another context I would have enjoyed the challenge of “running seriously” on this map, but in this case I think I had a different chance.

The results of the third day were within your expectations?

M. M. - Looking to the winner times, I can say that the results were the expected as when we define the distances we do it based on the estimated time of the winners. Talking about a couple of performances, in the Men Super Elite class there were no major surprises, but in the Women Elite class I never expected to see (and in real time by GPS) Simone Niggli or Annika Billstam losing so much time so early on the course.

The WOC's Middle Distance turned out to be a fair winner?

M. M. - I think so, but I think that all the courses who ended up on top could win. It obvious that a good course of a World Championships, in a public poll, would have a good chance of winning. As an athlete I had the pleasure of run this Middle Distance and I could prove how special and challenging it was.

Looking to the season, you almost made an unprecedented “full”, just missing the national title of Sprint. How did you see your performance throughout the season? And in international terms?

M. M. - In terms of national competitions, it was certainly one of my best seasons, if not the best in the results itself, having only mispunched a control in the 2^nd stage of the National Championships of Sprint (interestingly, this was the only individual title I had won in the Elite class before, in 2012). But unfortunately my good season is also due to the fact that the concurrence is shorter every year. Internationally, it was my debut in big competitions at Elite level but it wasn't as I would like. In the European Championships I made two good qualifying but then I failed too much in the sprint in Palmela, the race I had bet the most. Also in the World Championships my main focus was the Sprint and I came back to fail in qualifying in Burano, having made a 1'30 error in a control next to the end, which didn't allow me to be qualified for the final, in fact my big goal.

Bruno Nazario left the National Team, replaced by Hélder Ferreira. What is your assessment?

M. M. - It was exactly ten years ago that I started my “international career” at EYOC 2005 and I did it precisely with Bruno Nazario as team leader. I have to consider that he was one of the responsible for me to stay here until today. Naturally, the abandon of this project shouldn't have been an easy decision and I sincerely feel sorry that this had to happen but I understand the decision, even more if you dedicate ten years of your life to a project and your work is not “recognized”. Unfortunately it wasn't the first time that such kind of case occurred, and the priorities end up changing. We had earlier this month the first training camp to prepare the season of 2015 and at the moment I can only wish good luck to Hélder.

How do you see the present moment of the Portuguese Orienteering?

M. M. - If a few years ago I thought the sport was growing, it is now easy to see precisely the opposite (just look to the number of participants in the latest events). We are not being able to captivate young athletes and many of those who, three or four seasons ago, were “regular participants”, are losing the capability, and even, in some cases, the motivation to go to most of the events. One of the reasons may even be the general crisis that Portugal faces but this cannot justify everything. For example, we see more and more entries in the trails and road races, which means that people continue to invest and keep the desire to practice outdoor physical activity.

The strategy of the Federation wasn't in recent times, in fact, well drawn, or at least was not being properly applied. Fortunately, we could recently observe a greater concern on this issue and I really hope that actions and decisions can be taken in order that this trend and this fall of participants can change.

What would you do to reverse the negative trend?

M. M. - It's not easy to present tangible ideas and hence it is necessary the contribution of all stakeholders to reach the best solutions. My master's thesis will fall somewhat on this subject and I hope to contribute to improve the current state of the sport.

What are your goals for the upcoming season?

M. M. - I haven't specifically defined yet my goals in terms of results but I certainly will keep my focus on WOC sprint. In Portugal, I hope to have again a regular season, I hope to see an increasing level (more athletes to participate and training), and more in a short-term, I hope to have good performances in the first races of the season (POM and WRE's).

Now that we come to the end of the year, would you like to make a wish for 2015?

M. M. – In 2015 I wish to see Orienteering growing up again in Portugal, that those who have goals and work for it can reach them, and above everything, that everyone could be happy with a map in the hand.

Joaquim Margarido

"Course of the Year 2014": Thierry Gueorgiou and Yannick Michiels choose Portugal

After having seen, in the last two years, Portuguese victories in the popular "Course of the Year", contest promoted by the World of O, Portugal is again in focus in the present edition. Although the poll has not even begun, the truth is that Portugal has two extremely well positioned courses to discuss the first places, counting on two great supporters: Thierry Gueorgiou and Yannick Michiels.

For the fifth consecutive year, the World of O, the most important "window" open to Orienteering worldwide, is searching for the “Course of the Year”. In the second half of November, invariably, the visitors are invited to share their suggestions based on their favourite courses along the ending season and that will be scrutinized later, in order to establish the final results. The popular Relay Jukola was the winner in 2010, followed in 2011, by the Middle Distance Final of the World Orienteering Championships, at La Feclaz (France). In 2012 and 2013 the winner had a common denominator called Portugal O' Meeting. First it was Bruno Nazario, with his course setting of Middle Distance WRE on the map of Senhor dos Caminhos (Sátão), to achieve such an important distinction. Last year, it was Tiago Romão and his course of Sprint WRE in the "most Portuguese village in Portugal", Monsanto, to get the prize. How will it be this year?

While we wait for the courses that will be subject to scrutiny, Jan Kocbach is bringing to us, daily, the opinion of some of the biggest orienteers. This is here that Portugal has a prominent position, first by Thierry Gueorgiou's words and, more recently, through the opinion of Yannick Michiels. According Thierry Gueorgiou, World Champion in Long Distance and winner of four editions of the Portugal O' Meeting, the course of Middle Distance WRE at Arcozelo da Serra, set by Mariana Moreira, is his favourite. Gueorgiou cannot forget the challenge from first to last control and how he felt "attacked" by the terrain in the early part of the course. But speaking specifically of terrains, Thierry is back again to Portugal and to Quinta da Estrada, at Aguiar da Beira, that he considers the best of 2014. As for Yannick Michiels, his preferences goes to the village of Castelo de Vide and the corse setted by Hugo borda d'Água to the Sprint WRE course on the first day of the NAOM - North Alentejano O' Meeting 2014, due to the amount of route choices placed in a small space, making it very difficult to anticipate the controls.

A few days (hours?) to the poll starts, the time is of great anxiety already. To follow the contest please see http://worldofo.com/.

Joaquim Margarido

"Course of the Year 2013": Tiago Romão wins with the Sprint course in Monsanto

After Bruno Nazario having seen his Long Distance course of the Portugal O' Meeting to be awarded with the title of best “Course of the Year” in 2012, it's now the time for Tiago Romão, one year later, to also achieve a prominent place. This time, his Sprint course setting of the Portugal O' Meeting 2013 won the popular contest promoted by World of O, reinforcing the image of quality of the Portuguese organizations.

I believe I'm right saying that, what moves a course planner is, in compliance with orienteering's spirit and rules, to meet the interests and joy of the athletes. Above all, is to realize that his/her work had expression in the satisfaction of each one of those who had the chance to try and compete. In this sense, what special meaning does the victory at the “Course of the Year 2013” have for you?

Tiago Romão (T. R.) - Even considering that results, in this sort of contests, are always relative, they are still very important to orienteering by the recognition and publicity to Portugal, showing the high quality and the great interest of our courses. On a personal level, it means the recognition of the hard work and commitment that I put in everything I do in orienteering, a recognition that ultimately comes from the outside.

Can you remember the early times when you faced the challenge of being the course setter of the Portugal O' Meeting's second stage, precisely that of Monsanto, the first trips to the terrain, to contact with cartography, the first drafts...? What certitudes and doubts were present in your mind from the beginning?

T. R. - From the first moment , the biggest challenge was making possible an orienteering stage with the dimension of the Portugal O' Meeting in an almost inaccessible village. The whole plan began by trying to make the course as accessible as possible for everyone. So, only the Elite class could go to the castle, for example, contrary to my initial purpose. Thus, I just created a mental idea of how to set the course taking full advantage of natural conditions. After all, the work involves, firstly, choosing and planning the most interesting options without being concerned about the precise placement of the control, in a second phase finding the best placement for each controls and then leaving for the end the adjustment and testing of the courses. Anyway, my idea was always to make not only a competitive and technical course but also to explore its “touristic potential”, so that the athletes could enjoy the wonderful village of Monsanto.

How do you evaluate the work done?

T. R. - In general I think that the main objective was achieved , particularly given the tight timings in terms of the Portugal O 'Meeting program. The few hours available of sunlight were a huge constraint, since it would be dangerous to take a night course on that place. I must admit that, if I set another course today , I'd do everything the same way as the number of athletes do not leave much freedom of action to change substantially whatever.

Do you prefer to set Sprint courses or do you have other predilections?

T. R. - I really like Sprint and hence to trace these races is always a pleasure. On the other hand I also like setting Middle distance courses a lot. Anyway, I feel always a great pleasure that people enjoy what I do and how to contribute positively to the quality of our events.

When you look back and take an overview of the many races you did throughout the world, can you enumerate the three courses that you enjoyed the most until now?

T. R. - Yes, the JWOC Sprint 2009, the Tiomila 2009 and the Long Distance course of the 2nd Arraiolos International Meeting, in 2011.

It is common sense to say that, with a team like Barcelona, for example, any Football coach is able to win the Champions League. In a place like Monsanto, would any course setter have a great chance to be equally successful or, indeed, would the things not work exactly like that, as the level of demand in this type of terrain is uncommon?

T. R. - The truth is that it is impossible to make omelets without eggs. In the case of Monsanto there were many logistical constraints and everything had to be taken into account immediately. It was very important to have a knowledge of the terrain and to avoid places that could be dangerous, either with rain or fog, as well as parts of difficult progression, specially in this area between the Castle and the urban quarter. After the urban area, given the quality and natural scenery, the course should have the maximum number of options that put the athletes into real challenges. I also tried to put some controls in places of natural beauty like the inside of a passage between two huge boulders, the castle's geodesic landmark or next to Lucano's tower, with its astonishing view.

Within the past three years, Portugal has had a significative number of courses distinguished among the 10 best in the world in this contest promoted by World of O. Can we say that we have a Portuguese school of map makers and course setters globally recognized or is it just a circumstantial matter, linked to the strong presence of foreign athletes in our winter international competitions?

T. R. - I think that our organizations are sometimes opposite, some very good and some very bad, regardless of the time of year. However, I think there are clubs organizing well whatever event and these clubs should be rewarded because they really care about the athletes and not just to meet schedule. On the other hand I do not consider that there is a Portuguese school of map makers or course setters, but a handful of individuals who are really interested in the sport and that acquired an important know how. Thus, organizations are the image of the quality of these people's work, which makes the organizational quality substantially lower when they are not involved.

One question that everyone would like to have answered - and you, probably, are no exception - has to do with the next European Championships, in Palmela. Personally, what do you expect from each of the courses in relation to the terrains, maps and courses?

T. R. - I expect very fast races in the forest and no big technical detail. As for the Sprint, I expect a very interesting course since the terrains are of great quality. Looking at technical issues, we know that some people with more knowledge and experience wish to compete or join the staff of the Portuguese national team, but still there are more people with knowledge that will certainly do a good job and a Senior Event Adviser that will ensure the IOF compliance with the highest standards.

Do you consider there is a “before” and an “after” Monsanto with this result?

T. R. - I do not consider that there may be such milestone because it was just a course that I liked a lot to draw and the result did not influence any perception that I have on it. At this moment I will always help in setting courses organized by my club, although my availability is somewhat reduced at the moment because of my academic activity.

Do you see your future in orienteering somehow connected to the mapping and course planning, or is it more in the technical and training area that you see yourself when leaving the Elite competition?

T. R. - First of all, I still see myself in competition for a long time, once my evolution process as an elite athlete still has a long way to go. But in the future I am more willing to, perhaps, create a club in a place where orienteering doesn't exist. I think the only way in which our sport can grow in Portugal depends on the existence of a larger number of clubs, and so I intend to give back to orienteering what it has given to me all these years.

[See here all courses and photos of POM's Sprint in Monsanto]

Joaquim Margarido