Isia Basset: "When you are invaded by Orinteering you can't ever stop"

It started as a “family matter” and it is now “a very serious matter”. Orienteering entered in Isia Basset's life at the age of eight and revolutionized it completely. Today, she is one of the rising stars of French and World orienteering and her ambitions have a perfect parallelism to her enormous talent. Come know her a little better.

How did you meet Orienteering?

Isia Basset (I. B.) - I started doing Orienteering very young, at the age of 8, at the time my parents and my older brother began to take interest in the sport. I liked it, I participated in many national races, but it was only at the age of junior when I started training more seriously with my older brother Lucas [Basset], in search of a place in the National Team of France.

And why Orienteering? Why not Athletics or Swimming?

I. B. - Well, firstly it was because Orienteering was a family matter, was something particular, that joined us, leading us to the forest to do something that we really liked. I learned to run later, but I stayed focused in the orienteering. I've never done Athletics. And why not? I do not know. I know that Orienteering is a sport that pleases me greatly. When you are invaded by Orinteering you can't ever stop.

What responsibility has your brother in the process?

I. B. - He has a very big responsibility. Mainly because it was he who dragged us to the races every weekend. After that, also my two younger brothers started doing Orienteering. Anyway, we are four siblings and we all are in Orienteering on a very serious way.

Despite being too young, I'm sure that you have had a special moment in Orienteering. Would you like to share it with us?

I. B. - The first special moment was my first Junior World Championships in 2011. I managed to exceed my own expectations and I realized that, with training, I could get really interesting results. Currently, my reference is the World Junior Championships in 2013, in Czech Republic, where I got the 4th place in the Long Distance and the 5th place in the Middle Distance. Those were two good results and I hope to repeat them in the coming years.

This is not the first time that we have seen you at the Portugal O 'Meeting. Why the Portugal O' Meeting?

I. B. - This is my third participation, having been here in 2010 [Figueira da Foz] and 2013 [Idanha-a-Nova]. The Portugal O' Meeting is a very interesting competition, which always attracts a large number of participants. In France, for example, we don't have an event like this, with such strong competition, particularly speaking of Women Elite. And even though I live in a region of France where the snow isn't usually a problem, it is always a pleasure to run in these conditions. Portugal is perfect!

How do you rate this organization of the Portugal O' Meeting 2015?

I. B. - I really enjoyed. I didn't see any mistake in the organization and the competitions were very interesting, even if the terrain was technically very accessible. But it is a very beautiful forest, very clean, where you can run easily. For me it's specially important because I feel that there is a lot of work to do in terms of my physical shape. The shape is still not the best and competitions of this level allow us to understand what to do.

Are you happy with your results?

I. B. - Yes, very happy. I begin to explore my potential to the maximum and achieving results that make me very happy.

What are the major goals for this season?

I. B. - Last year, I was at the World Championships in Italy, and I would love to be able to repeat the experience, being in this year's World Championships, in Scotland. I can't say, at the moment. In what or which distances I will participate, as I must, necessarily, have good results in the selection races that will be in the World Cup. So, really important for me, there will be two events this season and I have, for one of each, a precise goal.

Motivated?

I. B. - Very motivated. Comparing to last year, I could see a huge improvement over this last week. I will still stay a few more days in Portugal, we will make some more technical training, but it was a good start to the season and that opens excellent perspectives.

Thierry Gueorgiou is one of the outstanding figures of Portugal O' Meeting and he was absent, this year, by injury. Would you like to leave him a word?

I. B. - Thierry is the French Team's mentor. He made our level rise enormously and we all are very grateful for that. Right now, I just hope that he can quickly restore from his injury and that he may be at the highest level in the World Championships.

And a word to all orienteers worldwide.

I. B. - A good season for everyone and continue to love this sport.

Joaquim Margarido

Martin Hubmann: "My dream is to win an individual medal once"

To the seventh place in the most important stage of the Portugal O' Meeting - the Long Distance WRE, on the third day –, he added the seventh place overall. On his return to Portugal, Martin Hubmann talks about his experience and shares his big dream.

How do you evaluate the POM 2015?

Martin Hubmann (M. H.) - I enjoyed it a lot. As always, we could see really nice, well organized competitions, good terrains and nice maps. I’ve already been here twice, in the coastal terrains and with similar competition maps, so I knew what to expect. I like mostly the maps in the mountains, with all those rocks and the challenge of more route choices instead of running straight, but it was nice as a basic Training Camp.

Are you happy with your results?

M. H. - My goal wasn’t to win the Portugal O’ Meeting. I tried to focus on two races – well, I didn’t win that (laughs) -, but it is okay. I don’t do too much orienteering in the winter, so it's not about the shape now. I’m getting back on the maps and I think it worked really well. The season will start in May with some important competitions, so there’s still a lot of time for training. We’ll soon have another Training Camp in Spain, it's a matter of trying to fix things.

What's the big goal for the season?

M. H. - The World Championships in Scotland will be my main focus. It’s always a challenge, I have to be ready to get a place in the Swiss Team, so I need to be well prepared for the World Cup in June, in Norway and Sweden, because the test races will be there.

Is it in your plans to take the victory in the WOC's Sprint Mixed Relay?

M. H. - As a defending champion, it would be nice to be on the podium again, but, of course, my dream is to win an individual medal once. I don’t know if it will be already this year, but that’s my goal.

Excuse me for asking you this but… Do you feel in the shadow of your brother?

M. H. - When you ask it like that, yes (laughs). But it’s also an advantage to have a brother like Daniel, because I learn so much from him. He was also coaching me when I was a Junior, we still have a lot in common, we discuss a lot and I think we both take profit on it. Many people ask me the same question but I don’t care. I’m proud of having such a brother.

Do you dream of being also the nº1?

M. H. - In the family (laughs)?

World's nº 1, I mean. After all, what does your brother have that you don't?

M. H. - I think there’s still a physical gap to him, I’m not that fast yet. But that’s all about time and training. Of course, he’s more secure on the map than I am. It’s a matter of experience, mostly.

In the beginning of a new season, I would like to ask you for a wish to all orienteers.

M. H. - To those guys who do Orienteering, that are training and having fun, try to improve your shape and don’t get injured, because this is the most important. Otherwise, it sucks. It’s nice to be healthy, to go into the forest and to do orienteering.

Joaquim Margarido

Bruno Nazário: "I want to congratulate the whole team"

The Portugal O 'Meeting 2015 is over. As the Arena goes empty, the Orientovar meets Bruno Nazario, the Event Director, asking for the balance of the most participated POM ever.

I think I see, in any Director of an event of this magnitude, an inner conflict that is recurrent. On the one hand, the natural relieved breath after intense and exhausting days; on the other, a certain nostalgia for the lived moments and some sadness to see all these people leaving. Is it really so, Bruno?

Bruno Nazario (B. N.) - In fact, I think the main feeling at the moment is of accomplished duty, to understand that a large team spent a year working, giving a wonderful contribution to a Portugal O’ Meeting at this level. I'm sure that all the people who passed through here were tickled with the technical level, with the availability, with these arenas... There was a Finnish athlete who has come to the POM for many years and has made a point of congratulating us saying that we really took a step further, that now he feels the great events’ atmosphere. I think we really achieved that goal but, as I say, this is not work of mine, only, it is the work of a large team of which I am only part and to which I am grateful, because without them this Portugal O’ Meeting would not really be what it was. But there is also a feeling of some regret that, being absorbed with the most varied tasks, we are not able to enjoy properly the party, we cannot spend more time with all those who visited us.

Taking a bit on these last words, what did you miss that you regret the most?

B. N. - Well, by my position during these days, in the role of 'speaker', I ended up being in all the most important moments. Hence my words are directed more to other people, and in particular to António Aguiar, the responsible for all the logistics and that, during the course in Mira, he was already in Vagos, rising the Arena structure for the following days. A very special word to him, to all the people who were at the bar, the people who were in the kitchen, in the starts, in the parking, who didn’t have the chance or the privilege that I had to be able to be in Arena and follow the highest moments. I want to congratulate the whole team, who knew how to be supportive, fulfilling their work in the best way.

What was the most exciting moment of POM 2015?

B. N. - I think the most exciting is to see the joy and pleasure shining in the face of all the athletes, happy with this organization and all the work that Ori-Estarreja prepared to them over the last year.I thought that you would talk about the resounding victory of Minna Kauppi in the WRE stage ... (laughs) But how did you saw this POM from a viewpoint of the "pure and hard" competition?

B. N. - This was perhaps the year where, in the female sector, we saw the most homogeneous group ever in the history of Portugal O’ Meeting. We had really good athletes, Mari Fasting, Minna Kauppi - Minna Kauppi who has more than ten world titles, after Simone Niggli she is the big 'superstar' - Riina Kuuselo, Saila Kinni, Sofia Haajanen... With this valuable range of athletes, the victory of Minna Kauppi is really spectacular, showing that she's back. In the men obviously we are very sorry that Thierry Gueorgiou has not been with us, but his absence allowed to slightly open the range of candidates to the final victory, showing at the same time some stars for the future, such as Aaro Asikainen or Gernot Kerschbaumer. It was also a pity that Gustav Bergman got sick, as the same with Annika Billstam, Philippe Adamski, Amélie Chataing and others, yet the competitive level was very high.

The Portugal O 'Meeting moves next year to the Beira Interior, to Penamacor, by the hands of the Clube de Orientação do centro, taking an even heavier responsibility after what we have seen in Mira and Vagos.

B. N. - When organizing an event of this nature, the Ori-Estarreja demands that the following organizations could have a good handover. Our wish is that athletes who leave from here are already with their eyes on Penamacor, recognizing in the POM a high level event and wanting to return next year. I am sure that COC will do a fantastic job. The terrains chosen for POM 2016 are very good and we have gathered all the ingredients to continue with these high numbers of participants.

You're about to lose the one that was your entertainment along a long year. How will you be in 2015, personally?

B. N. – Personally, 2015 will be more devoted to my family, with a special word to Cristina, who was able to support me all this time.

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2015: João Pedro Valente and Ricardo Pinto won PreO stage

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

POM 2015: Map, solutions and results of the Invacare PreO

Saudações orientistas.

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2015: Moments

© Joaquim Margarido

Aaro Asikainen: "Thierry is still the king!"

"Of course, tomorrow is a new day." These were Aaro Asikainen's words, when asked wether he was ready to improve the second place at the end of the third stage and take the victory overall in the POM 2015. And it was, in fact, a new day. The Finnish signed his name for the first time in the Portugal O' Meeting's Hall of Fame and shares his impressions about a very special moment.

It was a hard fight until the end. To catch Baptiste Rollier wouldn't be enough, it should be necessary to beware of those who came from back. And in the depths of the forest, it is easy to raise the question: Has anyone passed me? But no, at least in the case of Aaro Asikainen, on POM's last day, the victory day at Portugal O 'Meeting 2015. A victory that was, above all, a surprise: “I made some small mistakes in the beginning and, after that, I was a little bit afraid, thinking that I was probably too much behind Baptiste. And I was surprised when my team mates started pushing me, saying that I was in the first position. A really nice surprise”, Asikainen said.

Talking about his race, Asikainen admits that things weren't easy: “I would say that it was the most difficult stage of the POM for me, with really tricky orienteering but, most of all, because after three races, my mind was quite tired as well as my body, so that's why I consider it the most difficult stage.” The balance couldn't have been more positive and the natural word as a result of the victory is “motivation”. According to Asikainen's words, “the motivation is really high. It's a wonderful opening of the season and will be really nice to go back to home and also do some country ski again. And I'm very happy with the organization, it was once again a really nice Meeting.”

In a moment of celebration, Asikainen didn't forget about Thierry Gueorgiou, the winner of the three previous editions of POM and the big absent this year, because of an injury: “Actually, Thierry sent me an e-mail yesterday, wishing me good luck. As I said before, it was quite a surprise to win and it's always good to win. I'm very proud to succeed after Thierry, this is really a big thing to me because I've been struggling quite much with some injuries and I think that, finally, I've found my own way to work, to compete, to train, everything. I think this is a prize for a really hard work. However, it's not still my time to be the king, Thierry is still the king!”

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2015: Moments

© Joaquim Margarido

POM 2015: M21SE, M21E and W21E maps

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2015: Aaro Asikainen and Minna Kauppi the winners of 20th edition

Breaking a long sequence of victories of Thierry Gueorgiou and Simone Niggli, the Finnish Aaro Asikainen and Minna Kauppi were the big winners of the Portugal O' Meeting 2015, the most participated ever. In the beautiful forests of Mira and Vagos, over four days, more than 2000 athletes made of the competition a huge party, leaving here with an eye already on next year's edition, in the challenging terrains of Penamacor.

For the sixth time in twenty editions, the highest place of the Portugal O' Meeting's podium in Elite classes was shared by two athletes of the same nationality. But this was the first time this happened with two Finnish athletes. In fact, the Finns have never been particularly frequent presence in the POM podiums and Laura Hokka was, until yesterday, the only Finnish athlete to win a POM (in 2008, in the Algarve). And we said until yesterday, because today everything was different and, at once, Aaro Asikainen and Minna Kauppi turned the course of history.

Third Long Distance stage of the Portugal O' Meeting 2015, the course of the last day took place again in the Vagos dunes, this time in a more western part of the map - and quite greener too - testing the qualities and the energy of 1626 participants. With the technical challenge complementing perfectly the physical ability to a long distance, it was even more intensely that the participants faced with energy and ambition this final stage of Portugal O 'Meeting 2015, seeing fully awarded their efforts, regardless of each other's position. A POM 2015 at the highest level, it is imperative to say, and that had in the Clube de Orientação de Estarreja an anchor at the level of POM's quality, opening the best perspectives already for the next edition, to be staged in Penamacor, in the Castelo Branco District, between the 6th and 9th February 2016.

Tiago Martins Aires wins stage in MenElite

In the Men Super Elite class, Baptiste Rollier (Swiss O-Team) was the first to start, having the responsibility of preserving the advantage of 2:34 that separated him from Aaro Asikainen. The advantage would prove to be thin, especially after an error even in the initial part of the course that costs him three minutes, allowing that the Finnish took the leadership. From there, Rollier wasn't able to fix his orienteering and Asikainen was gaining advantage over the Swiss, meter after meter. Further back, however, another particular duel took place, like the previous one, giving some advantage to the French Frédéric Tranchand over the Russian Valentin Novikov. Very motivated and with a strong and consistent navigation, Tranchand still would catch Rollier, establishing the best time in this fourth and final stage of POM 2015. But Asikainen had the race very well controlled and when Tranchand appeared in the distance, on the finish's funnel, the name shouted by the speaker was to Asikainen as the worthy successor of his team-mate and notably absent in this POM 2015, the "King" Thierry Gueorgiou. In the end, victory of Asikainen with a total time in all four stages of 4:38:45 and a lead of 13 seconds on Tranchand and 50 seconds on Rollier.

In the Women Elite class things didn't go exactly the same way and Minna Kauppi assured the full of victories in all three Long Distance stages of this POM. In the end, the Finnish assured the victory with a total time of 4:08:23, leaving Catherine Taylor (OK Linné) at 5:22 and Galina Vinogradova (Russia) at 14:24 of difference. In the Men Elite class, Alasdair McLeod (Clydeside Orien) made of this course a deserved smooth trip, “living income” of his more than fifteen minutes to the second placed. But the day's news is the victory of the Portuguese Tiago Martins Aires (GafanhOri) in this stage, which allowed him to move up one place in the table, staying on the sixth final position. Michal Olejnik (SNO) held the second place, while Richard Robinson (OK Ravinen) climbed one place, finishing in third position in exchange with Jonas Egger (Swiss O-Team).

Final results

Men Super Elite class

1. Aaro Asikainen (Kalevan Rasti) 4:38:45

2. Frédéric Tranchand (Paimion-Rasti) 4:38:58 (+ 00:13)

3. Baptiste Rollier (The Swiss-Team) 4:39:35 (+ 00:50)

4. Valentin Novikov (Russia) 4:43:05 (+ 04:20)

5. Gernot Kerschbaumer (OK Pan Kristianstad) 4:43:40 (+ 04:55)

6. Lucas Basset (Poles France U) 4:43:49 (+ 05:04)

7. Martin Hubmann (The Swiss-Team) 4:44:29 (+ 05:44)

8. Kiril Nikolov (Kalevan Rasti) 4:48:36 (+ 09:51)

9. Bartosz Pawlak (SNO) 4:48:43 (+ 09:58)

10. Ralph Street (SNO) 4:52:20 (+ 13:35)

Women Elite class

1. Minna Kauppi (Individual FIN) 4:08:23

2. Catherine Taylor (OK Linné) 4:13:45 (+ 05:22)

3. Galina Vinogradova (Russia) 4:22:47 (+ 14:24)

4. Yulia Novikova (Russia) 4:23:24 (+ 15:01)

5. Saila Kinni (Tampereen Pyrintö) 4:24:32 (+ 16:09)

6. Eva Jurenikova (Halden SK) 4:25:34 (+ 17:11)

7. Sofia Haajanen ( Individual FIN) 4:32:40 (+ 24:17)

8. Venla Niemi ( Individual FIN) 4:35:13 (+ 26:50)

9. Emily Kemp (NOSE) 4:38:29 (+ 30:06)

10. Anastasia Denisova (Savedalens AIK) 4:38:42 (+ 30:19)

Men Elite class

1. Alasdair McLeod (Clydeside Orien) 4:53:23

2. Michal Olejnik (SNO) 5:06:03 (+ 12:40)

3. Richard Robinson (OK Ravinen) 5:13:45 (+ 20:22)

4. Jonas Egger (Swiss O-Team) 5:18:26 (+ 25:03)

5. Nils Spetz (Ulricehamns OK) 5:19:34 (+ 26:11)

6. Tiago Martins Aires (GafanhOri) 5:19:37 (+ 26:14)

7. Phillip Müller (Post SV Dresden) 5:25:09 (+ 31:46)

8. Severin Denzler (The Swiss-Team) 5:27:19 (+ 33:56)

9. Jukka-Pekka Sepönen (Single FIN) 5:28:56 (+ 35:33)

10. Lauri Okarinen (Single FIN) 5:29:52 (+ 36:29)

See the full results and further information at www.pom.pt/en/.

Joaquim Margarido

Minna Kauppi: "I feel hungry for orienteering"

Minna Kauppi is returning to the best shape. The “miserable season” is part of the past and the great athlete recovers, day by day, the joy of Orienteering. After an overwhelming victory in the Portugal O' Meeting's WRE stage, she is motivated to win the POM overall.

What a race! Minna Kauppi was perfect during the whole course, contradicting the organizers' forecast in almost five minutes. And that was, precisely, the "motto" for starting a pleasant conversation, with Minna saying that this wasn't in her plans: “Actually, when I came here, I wasn't sure if I was able to run all stages, because I haven't been running long distances at all.” We have to say that Minna's last long distance course was in Vuokatti, where she injured herself, and since than, she haven't even done one single big, long and hard training like this. “So, I ran the POM's first stage and then I realised that I was actually quite okay and that I was doing it very well, and, most of all, enjoying the forest again”, Minna says. And she won the first stage, as we all remember.

Yesterday, she took the Middle Distance a little bit easier, “just to spare some strenght”, but for POM's 3rd stage the goal was to win: “I need points to the world ranking because I didn't get that many points last year. But my race was really good, I liked it, my orienteering was good, even if I started getting tired in the end, and of course, my shape is not the same as it will be in the Summer. But, still, I'm really happy.” Talking about the course, Minna thinks that it was “quite challenging, you had to be careful and concentrate on the map all the time, and you also had to look further for the right choices.”

Physically, Minna considers that her shape “it's not excellent, but it's getting better, step by step, because these have been my first orienteering trainings and competitions at the same time. But I believe it will get better, and there's still time to improve my physical shape”, she admits. And to win is always motivating: “Yes, and of course, when you've had such a miserable season, it's always nice to come back, and I feel hungry for orienteering, not fed up with it. I get fed up quite easily, so this is a big step. When you keep getting sticked by orienteering, or your legs and injuries, you feel more motivated to succeed than if the sun is shining all the time.” The last words goes to POM's last day. Is it the goal to win? “I was thinking that if I'm not on the top three, I won't maybe run full speed, but now I have to. It will be a challenge for sure, but I think that everyone is quite tired already and you just have to concentrate on the map and do your best.”

Joaquim Margarido

Gernot Kerschbaumer: "My dream is to win a WOC medal"

Gernot Kerschbaumer has been an usual participant in the Portugal O' Meeting's last editions. This year, he was the winner of the queen stage, something that he didn't expect.

“No, definitely not. Of course I wanted to do my best and try to be as good as possible, but from the start list, I was number 10, so to say, and to win should be a matter of going well and you need to have a good day, so today everything went well.” It was that way that Gernot Kerschbaumer explained the “secret of success”. But just “a good day” is not enough for such a great performance: “Yeah, and of course, in this type of terrain, you have to push as hard as possible from the beginning, but still today it was a little bit trickier than the last days, which I think that was good for me. I always take enough time to understand the map and where the control have to be but, yes, but today everything was very goood”, Gernot says.

In an almost clean race - “just a few small mistakes, maybe, here and there, but nothing too serious” -, the motivation is high, particularly because there's a long way, yet, until the big competitions in the Summer. Gernot admits that “after such a race, and because you have so many great athletes on the start, you feel very motivated and you look forward for the next competitions. Like you said, the season hasn't even started yet, but it definitely motivates you.”

And when the Summer comes... comes the World Championships: “Yes, of course, when you are able to, you always want to improve. At the moment, my best rank ever in the World Championships is the 8th position, so I want to improve and fight for it.” Is it possible to get a medal? “There's still a long way to get to the medals, and also, there's still a long way to the World Championships, but it's a new season and my dream is to win a WOC medal in my career, so we'll see.”

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2015: Moments

© Joaquim Margarido

POM 2015: M21SE and W21E maps

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2015: Gernot Kerschbaumer and Minna Kauppi won WRE stage

Gernot Kerschbaumer and Minna Kauppi were the big winners of the Portugal O' Meeting 2015's WRE stage. Unquestionable triumphs in both cases, in a Long Distance course that was, above all, a big party for about two thousand participants.

In a perfect morning for Orienteering, the magic and green painted forest of Vagos Dunes received the queen stage of the Portugal O 'Meeting 2015 for Long Distance course scoring for the IOF's World Ranking. 1859 athletes answered the call, facing a huge test of technical demand and asking, in addition, for physical performances at the highest level.

With a consistent performance, combining a high pace with a clean race, the Austrian Gernot Kerschbaumer (OK Pan Kristianstad) was at his best, accomplishing the 17.9 km and 32 controls of his course in 1:26 11 being the big winner in the Men Super Elite class. The Swedish Albin Ridefelt (OK Linné) and the Finnish Aaro Asikainen (Kalevan Rasti) fought intensively for the immediate positions with Ridefelt to reach the second place with a time of 1:27:18, against 1:27:20 of Asikainen. Baptiste Rollier (Swiss O-Team) threatened the podium places, but a bad performance next to the very end turned out to leave him in the fifth place, with the Russian Valentin Novikov ending up in the fourth place.

Minna Kauppi demolishing

Repeating the victory of the first day of POM 2015, the Finnish Minna Kauppi (Individual FIN) was absolutely demolishing today, winning by far the Women Elite class. The Finnish athlete took 1:11:43 to make the 12.7 km and 26 controls of her course, leaving at distant 3:37 her compatriot Saila Kinni (Tampereen Pyrintö). Galina Vinogradova (Russia) was the third placed, with 1:16:10, ahead of Catherine Taylor (OK Linné) and Yulia Novikova (Russia).

Alasdair McLeod (Clydeside Orien) was again the great winner in the Men Elite class, this time by a closer margin than the two previous days. The British spent 1:30:28 against 1:30:37 of the Finnish Aleksi Niemi (Tampereen Pyrintö), with the Russian Evgeny Popov (Russia Ural) being ranked third, at distant 4:39 from McLeod. As for the best Portuguese athletes in the major classes, the story of the opening stage repeated, with Manuel Horta to take precedence in the Men Super Elite class, staying in the 52nd position with more 17:50 than the winner. In the Women Elite class, Raquel Costa finished in the 60th place, 25:19 behind Kauppi and Tiago Martins Aires was the 13th placed, at 16:06 from McLeod. The three portuguese athletes are from GafanhOri.

Results

Men Super Elite

1. Gernot Kerschbaumer (OK Pan Pan Kristianstad) 1:26:11

2. Albin Ridefelt (OK Linné) 1:27:18 (+ 01:07)

3. Aaro Asikainen (Kalevan Rasti) 1:27:20 (+ 01:09)

4. Valentin Novikov (Russia) 1:28:19 (+ 02:08)

5. Baptiste Rollier (The Swiss-Team) 1:28:23 (+ 02:12)

6. Kiril Nikolov (Kalevan Rasti) 1:29:01 (+ 02:50)

7. Martin Hubmann (The Swiss-Team) 1:29:26 (+ 03:15)

8. Robert Merl (Austrian O-Team) 1:29:28 (+ 03:17)

9. Scott Fraser (interlopers) 1:29:49 (+ 03:38)

10. Severi Kymäläinen (Tampereen Pyrintö) 1:30:11 (+ 04:00)

Women Elite

1. Minna Kauppi (Individual FIN) 1:11:43

2. Saila Kinni (Tampereen Pyrintö) 1:15:20 (+ 03:37)

3. Galina Vinogradova (Russia) 1:16:10 (+ 04:27)

4. Catherine Taylor (OK Linné) 1:17:07 (+ 05:24)

5. Yulia Novikova (Russia) 1:17:10 (+ 05:27)

6. Ida Marie Næss Bjørgul (Halden SK) 1:17:29 (+ 05:46)

7. Eva Jurenikova (Halden SK) 1:17:42 (+ 05:59)

8. Riina Kuuselo (OK Linné) 1:18:22 (+ 06:39)

9. Venla Niemi (Individual FIN) 1:19:41 (+ 07:58)

10. Sofia Haajanen (Individual FIN) 1:20:02 (+ 08:19)

Men Elite

1. Alasdair McLeod (Clydeside Orien) 1:30:28

2. Aleksi Niemi (Tampereen Pyrintö) 1:30:57 (+ 00:29)

3. Evgeny Popov (Russia Ural) 1:35:07 (+ 04:39)

4. Ludwig Ljungqvist (IKHP) 1:35:38 (+ 05:10)

5. Michael Olejnik (SNO) 1:37:12 (+ 06:44)

6. Jonas Egger (Swiss O-Team) 1:37:15 (+ 06:47)

7. Tobias Henriksson (OK Trian) 1:38:10 (+ 07:42)

8. Johan Strand (GMOK) 1:40:15 (+ 09:47)

9. Philipp Müller (Post SV Dresden) 1:41:03 (+ 10:35)

10. Richard Robinson (OK Ravinen) 1:41:25 (+ 10:57)

The final day of the Portugal O 'Meeting 2015 will be held tomorrow, again in Vagos Dunes, and it will consist in a Long Distance stage, but this time in the "chasing start" system. The accumulated time of the first three days of the event will allow to draw up a start list that takes into account the actual time difference between the athletes, so the first to arrive in the Men Super Elite, Women Elite and Men Elite classes will be, really , the big winner of the POM 2015. Baptiste Rollier will be the first to start in the Men Super Elite class, having to manage a leadership of 2:34 and 3:51 under Aaro Asikainen and Valentin Novikov, respectively. In the Women Elite, the advantage of Minna Kauppi is a bit more comfortable, standing at 3:05 and 7:46 on Catherine Taylor and Galina Vinogradova. Finally, in Men Elite, Alasdair McLeod will leave with a lead of 15:25 on Michal Olejnik and 17:48 on Jonas Egger.

For further information, please consult the POM's webpage, at www.pom.pt/en/.

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2015: Lucas Basset and Catherine Taylor won Middle Distance

The Portugal O 'Meeting 2015 continued today with the second stage of competition. Lucas Basset and Catherine Taylor were the big winners, while Tiago Romão and Patricia Casalinho finishing today as the best Portuguese athletes.

The Portugal O 'Meeting 2015 fulfilled the second stage of its competition program, in what was the farewell to the municipality of Mira. The Middle Distance stage - the only one of this distance during the Portugal O' Meeting – widened along the magnificent terrains of Dunes, calling to the competition 1995 athletes. In the Men Super Elite class, the French Lucas Basset (Pôles France U) was the fastest with a time of 36:11, beating his closest competitors, the Russian Valentin Novikov (Russia) and the Swiss Baptiste Rollier (Swiss O-Team ) by margins of 16 and 22 seconds, respectively. The winner of yesterday's stage and one of the major candidates top the final victory, the Swedish Gustave Bergman, decided to take the day off, thus renouncing to the victory in the POM 2015. Frédéric Tranchand is the current leader, but the differences to Baptiste Rollier, Martin Hubmann, Aaro Asikainen, Lucas Basset and Valentin Novikov are minor.

In the Women Elite class, the winner of the day was the British Catherine Taylor (OK Linné), who made a time of 33:08 and clearly hit the Finnish Saila Kinni (TP), seeded second with 34:51 and the Swedish Kamilla Olaussen (Fredrikstad SK), who spent 35:05, finishing in the third place. With these results, Taylor will start tomorrow for the Long Distance WRE course in the leadership of POM 2015, although the proximity of the Finnish Minna Kauppi and the Russian Galina Vinogradova not allow Taylor to be tranquil. In the Elite Men class there wasn't surprises and the British Alasdair McLeod continues to showing his value, winning today with a time of 37:05, 1:06 least than the Swedish Ludwig Ljungqvist (IKHP), second placed. Michal Olejnik (SNO) repeated yesterday's third place with a time of 39:15.

Among the Portuguese, Tiago Romão (GafanhOri) was today the fastest in the Men Super Elite class, finishing in 32nd place with 40:37. In the Men Elite class, also from GafanhOri, Tiago Martins Aires (photo above) was again the best Portuguese, finishing in the 22nd place with 6:42 more than Alasdair McLeod. Finally, the in the Women Elite, our best athlete was today Patricia Casalinho (COC), ranked 62nd with a time of 43:18.

Results

Men Super Elite class

1. Lucas Basset (Pôles France U) 36:11

2. Valentin Novikov (Russia) 36:27 (+ 00:16)

3. Baptiste Rollier (Swiss O-Team) 36:33 (+ 0:22)

4. Kiril Nikolov (Kalevan Rasti) 36:47 (+ 00:36)

5. Edgars Bertuks (TuMe) 36:48 (+ 00:37)

6. Aaro Asikainen (Kalevan Rasti) 36:58 (+ 00:47)

7. Frédéric Tranchand (Paimion-Rasti) 37:05 (+ 00:54)

8. Martin Hubmann (Swiss O-Team) 37:14 (+ 1:03)

9. Carl Godager Kaas (BSK) 37:25 (+ 01:14)

10. Murray Strain (Interlopers) 37:39 (+ 01:28)

Women Elite class

1. Catherine Taylor (OK Linné) 33:08

2. Saila Kinni (TP) 34:51 (+ 01:43)

3. Kamilla Olaussen (Fredrikstad SK) 35:08 (+ 02:00)

4. Galina Vinogradova (Russia) 35:12 (+ 02:04)

5. Anastasia Denisova (Sävedalens AIK) 35:43 (+ 02:35)

6. Mari Fasting (Halden SK) 35:49 (+ 02:41)

7. Minna Kauppi (Individual FIN) 36:07 (+ 02:59)

8. Charlotte Watson (Edinburgh University) 36:24 (+ 03:16)

9. Hollie Orr (Lakeland OC) 36:32 (+ 03:24)

10. Isia Basset (Pôles France U) 37:05 (+ 03:57)

Men Elite class

1. Alasdair McLeod (Clydeside Orien) 37:05

2. Ludwig Ljungqvist (IKHP) 38:11 (+ 01:06)

3. Michael Olejnik (SNO) 39:15 (+ 02:10)

4. Aleksi Niemi (TP) 39:33 (+ 02:28)

5. Richard Robinson (OK Ravinen) 39:49 (+ 02:44)

6. Tobias Henriksson (OK Trian) 39:54 (+ 02:49)

7. Erik Berzell (Järla Orientering) 40:09 (+ 03:04)

8. Luukas Valtonen (HS) 40:22 (+ 03:17)

9. Lauri Nenonen (Kalevan Rasti) 40:46 (+ 03:41)

10. Rinat Gabitov (Espoon Suunta) 40:52 (+ 03:47)

To know more about POM 2015, please consult the event's webpage at em www.pom.pt/en/.

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2015: Moments

© Joaquim Margarido

POM 2015: Comments

It was a demanding course, both physically and mentally. It was necessary to stay really concentrated during the whole race, because the elements seemed very similar everywhere. Because of that, I did a couple of mistakes around the 13th control and for the 22nd control. I've been training the whole week but I didn't have anything to compare to today's course, so physically I can't say that I ran full speed the whole race but it was nice. For the rest of the Portugal O' Meeting, I didn't point any goals. It's just the beginning of the season, it's just training and regain some competition routines.

Frédéric Tranchand (Paimion-Rasti)

I've been training for a week in Viseu, and it's a little different here, running straight all the time. I took it a bit easier today but I'll try to push myself tomorrow and in the WRE, on monday, which is my biggest goal for POM. But it was a nice run today, with some mistakes to the first control but after that, things went well.

Saila Kinni (Individual FIN)

This first stage was just as I expected, really fast. I know this terrains quite a lot and I was prepared to this, but I also knew that making some mistakes could be crucial. And so it was and that's why I'm not happy with my race but I enjoyed the forest. For the rest of the Portugal O' Meeting, I intend to push myself until the end and we'll see. I'll fight everyday!

Kiril Nikolov (Kalevan Rasti)

For me it was a nice beginning, a clean race, without mistakes, but lower speed. I put some competition speed in the third part of the race only. This year is special because I started training a little bit later than usually, so my shape is not perfect at the moment. The next three days I intend to run at full speed and I'll try to stay without mistakes.

Valentin Novikov (Russia)

The first part of the course was really interesting. It would be necessary to do a good map reading, there were a lot of elements to analyze in a very precise way. After that, however, the race was just running straight forward and it was a little boring. But this is also a challenge, to go straight and to do that until the end. My goals for POM have to do with the map. Today, for example, it was the approach to the controls and I did it very well, losing only five or ten seconds overall. It was okay, I have to be happy, but I really hope something more technical for tomorrow.

Léa Vercellotti (Maximus)

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2015: M21SE, W21E and M21E maps

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2015: Gustav Bergman and Minna Kauppi start winning

Gustav Bergman and Minna Kauppi won by comfortable margins the first stage of the Portugal O' Meeting 2015. In a well-fought Long Distance that involved nearly two thousand participants, the "grasshoppers" Manuel Horta, Tiago Martins Aires and Raquel Costa were our best representatives in the main competition classes.

The first stage of the Portugal O' Meeting 2015 was held today. Organized by the Clube de Orientação de Estarreja, the Municipality of Mira, the Municipality of Vagos, the Portuguese Orienteering Federation and the International Orienteering Federation, the event drew to the Dunes of Mira, for a hard Long Distance, a total of 1913 athletes from 26 different countries.

In the Men Super Elite class, the Swedish Gustav Bergman (OK Ravinen) was the big winner, completing his course of 17.2 km and 26 controls in 1:18:20, precisely one and a half minutes before the second ranked athlete, the French Frédéric Tranchand (Paimion-Rasti). Baptiste Rollier (Swiss O-Team) finished third, 3:23 after the winner. In the Women Elite class, the winner was the Finnish Minna Kauppi that took 1:09:52 to complete her 12.1 km run and 19 controls. The notourious sensation of last season, the British Catherine Taylor (OK Linné) finished in second place, 40 seconds after Kauppi, while the third place went to the Finnish Sofia Haajanen with a time of 1:12:12. As for the Men Elite class, we highlight the overwhelming victory of the British Alasdair McLeod (Clydeside Orien) with a time of 1:23:52, leaving the second-placed Swiss Jonas Egger (Swiss O-Team), with more than 6 minutes of difference .

Manuel Horta (GafanhOri) was the best Portuguese athlete to run in Men Super Elite class, finishing in 22nd place with a time of 1:31:01. In Elite Men class, Tiago Aires, also from GafanhOri, was the best portuguese representative, finishing in 5th place, although with more 8 minutes and 16 seconds than the winner. Finally, in Women Elite Class, the best Portuguese athlete was Raquel Costa, once again from GafanhOri, who ended on the 45th place with a time of 1:27:38. In all other classes, highlighting Pedro Duarte's wins (ADFA) in H21A and Luis Sérgio (ATV) in H45.

Results

Men Super Elite

1. Gustav Bergman (OK Ravinen) 1:18:20

2. Frédéric Tranchand (Paimion-Rasti) 1:19:50 (+ 01:30)

3. Baptiste Rollier (Swiss O-Team) 1:21:43 (+ 03:23)

4. Albin Ridefelt (OK Linné) 1:22:38 (+ 04:18)

5. Martin Hubmann (Swiss O-Team) 1:24:17 (+ 05:57)

6. Aaro Asikainen (Kalevan Rasti) 1:24:55 (+ 06:35)

7. Ralph Street (SNO) 1:25:20 (+ 07:00)

8. Lucas Basset (Pôles France U) 1:25:30 (+ 07:10)

9. Valentin Novikov (Russia) 1:25:44 (+ 07:24)

10. Gernot Kerschbaumer (OK Pan Pan Kristianstad) 1:26:21 (+ 08:01)

Women Elite

1. Minna Kauppi (Individual FIN) 1:09:52

2. Catherine Taylor (OK Linné) 1:10:32 (+ 00:40)

3. Sofia Haajanen (Individual FIN) 1:12:12 (+ 02:20)

4. Eva Jurenikova (Halden SK) 1:12:16 (+ 02:24)

5. Liga Arniece (Espoon Suunta) 1:13:27 (+ 03:35)

6. Venla Niemi (Individual FIN) 1:13:51 (+ 03:59)

7. Galina Vinogradova (Russia) 1:14:06 (+ 04:14)

8. Maria Magnusson (Sävedalens AIK) 1:14:09 (+ 04:17)

9. Léa Vercellotti (Maximus) 1:14:50 (+ 04:58)

10. Yulia Novikova (Russia) 1:14:51 (+ 04:59)

Men Elite

1. Alasdair McLeod (Clydeside Orien) 1:23:52

2. Jonas Egger (Swiss O-Team) 1:29:53 (+ 06:01)

3. Michael Olejnik (SNO) 1:30:23 (+ 06:31)

4. Richard Robinson (OK Ravinen) 1:30:26 (+ 06:34)

5. Tiago Martins Aires (GafanhOri) 1:32:08 (+ 08:16)

6. Sebastian Gygax (Sävedalens AIK) 1:33:39 (+ 09:47)

7. Georgiy Mavchun (Espoon Suunta) 1:33:59 (+10:07)

7. Nils Spetz (Ulricehamns OK) 1:33:59 (+ 10:07)

9. Severin Denzler (Swiss O-Team) 1:34:30 (+ 10:38)

10. Jukka-Pekka Seppänen (Individual FIN) 1:36:16 (+ 12:24)

Further information at www.pom.pt/en/.

Joaquim Margarido