POM 2016: Long Distance WRE maps

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2016: Ricardo Pinto and João Pedro Valente took the victories in PreO

As they did in 2015, João Pedro Valente and Ricardo Pinto won the POM's Invacare PreO. In a perfect terrain for TrailO, both were particularly accurate and fast, beating a really strong concurrence.

Tradition is tradition and the Sunday afternoon of Portugal O' Meeting was, once more, dedicated to TrailO. The map of Abelheira, northwest of Penamacor, received the presence of 89 competitors, including 13 “international”, present in Croatia in the last World Championships. In a top level terrain - “maybe the best ever in TrailO competitions in Portugal”, some said - the fight for the victories was really hard.

In the Paralympic class, the Portuguese Ricardo Pinto DAHP) took the first position with 18 correct answers, against 16 correct answers from his team mate, Cláudio Poiares. The Spanish Carlos Riu Noguerol was third, with less 6 points than the winner. Ricardo Pinto left some opinions in the end: “To me, POM's PreO means a lot. It was here that I did my first TrailO race, in 2012, and it was great to win today. I got a good start at the map and I could read well the terrain. The course was really well set in a excellent terrain to this kind of competition.”

In the Open class, another Portuguese victory. João Pedro Valente did a clean race, winning with 22 points. Close to him, six competitors did 21 points, with the Dutch Mark Heikoop and the British Peter Huzan being faster at the timed station and getting the second and third positions, respectively. To Valente, it was “a really challenging and demanding course, in a wonderful terrain. Also three or four tricky controls, very well designed and difficult to solve. I'm particularly happy with this victory, allowing me to get a place to the European Championships, which was my main goal. I'm also trying to be more present in the Portuguese Cup competitions along the season and this is the perfect way to start.”

Results

Paralympic Class

1. Ricardo Pinto (DAHP) 18 points (77 seconds)

2. Cláudio Poiares (DAHP) 16 points (179 seconds)

3. Carlos Riu Noguerol (Spain) 12 points (55 seconds)

4. Júlio Guerra (DAHP) 9 points (94 seconds)

5. Ana Paula Marques (DAHP) 9 points (148 seconds)

Open Class

1. João Pedro Valente (CPOC) 22 points (35 seconds)

2. Mark Heikoop (Aligots) 21 points (24 seconds)

3. Peter Huzan (Jesus OK) 21 points (27 seconds)

4. Raquel Costa (GafanhOri) 21 points (46 seconds)

5. Jorge Valente (CPOC) 21 points (83 seconds)

Complete results and further information on the event's webpage, at www.pom.pt/en.

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2016: Invacare PreO maps

Please note that Controls nº 4 and nº 21 were voided. For further information, please visit the event's webpage at www.pom.pt/en.

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2016: Moments (4)

© Joaquim Margarido

POM 2016: Comments

The race was more tricky than yesterday.I did some mistakes - a stupid one - and I think I’ll be a bit behind today. It’s my first time in Portugal, I’ve heard too much about it and I’m really satisfied. Good organization, good terrains and a really good competition so far. There’s two tough Long Distances left and I’ll try to do my best. We’ll see in the end but I’m aiming for the best result overall.

Jonas Leandersson, SNO

I got some good feeling but also I got caught in some green, in the beginning and in the end. It was difficult but I really enjoyed it, even if I got a big stone in my shoe. It was hard to concentrate, but it's a really fun terrain, a really cool Middle Distance. The terrain was very detailed but you got really rewarded if you look up a long way and you see something big, so you can make it easy. I'm happy. Now we have two tough Long Distances and anything can happen. I feel in really good shape and it's just my brains catching my legs. But this is coming, slowly.

Catherine Taylor, OK Linné

When I saw the map, I said to myself: It’s going to be a great fun. It was a really good race and I felt stronger today. I’ve made one minute mistakes, but it’s hard to go perfect in this type of terrain, very detailed and really quick. It’s tricky all the way, so I’m satisfied. It would be good to get a nice place at POM overall but there’s a couple of other guys that will be really hard to beat. I’ll do my best, trying to get some good races in nice terrains and nice weather. That’s my goal.

Albin Ridefelt, OK Linné

It was very nice, more technical than yesterday. I was struggling in the beginning to find some controls and also the terrain was a bit slippery on the rocks. I was hesitating until the last moment which one I should to take and I think I made the wrong choice. I wasn't very offensive, I felt like a tourist some times. But, any way, I was enjoying a lot. My shape is not very good at the moment, I came for holiday. I'm trying to run as fast as I can but, mostly, I'm here to enjoy the races.

Eva Jurenikova, Halden SK

I didn't run full speed. It was more like trying to recover for tomorrow's Long Distance. The course was partly demanding technically and a liked it a lot. Comparing to yesterday, today I didn't make mistakes, instead of two or three small mistakes yesterday, in the end, because I was really tired. Also this terrain was more enjoyable, more technical. Before the Portugal O' Meeting I didn't think at all about winning or something, but now it seems to be possible. Of course, I'll try. Tomorrow we'll have a very decisive race, a really hard one. It's lot of climbing and a long race but I think I'm well prepared. I know I can do great in this terrains and I'm looking forward it.

Marika Teini, SK Pohjantähti

I felt well physically but, unfortunately, I haven't trained with map too much, so my head isn't able to follow the legs for now. I need to jump into the rhythm and I'm expecting that everything can fit in some weeks. I think I did well in some parts, but I need to extend it all over the race. Today's map is much more interesting than yesterday, but I think this was well played by the organizers, increasing the level day after day. I liked the terrain, the course was well setted and this kind of “control picking”, with lots of controls, demanded a great concentration in the approach to the control and the exit to the next one.

Tiago Gingão Leal, GD4C

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2016: Day 2 Middle Distance maps

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2016: Moments (3)

© Joaquim Margarido

POM 2016: Gueorgiou and Billstam won the second stage

POM 2016's first half is over. Today, another Middle Distance and the same winner in Men Super Elite class: Thierry Gueorgiou. In the Women Elite class, Annika Billstam took a comfortable victory and jumped to the lead of the Portugal O' Meeting overall.

Two of four stages are accomplished and the Portugal O' Meeting is ready to pull into the decisive Long Distance races. Today, Thierry Gueorgiou (Kalevan Rasti) performed again in good level, winning with the time of 32:31. His team mate, Hannu Airila, took the second place with 34:50, while Lucas Basset (JOG) was third, with more 2:24 than Gueorgiou. With these victory, Thierry Gueorgiou consolidates the lead of the Portugal O' Meeting overall, with a gap of 3:52 over Baptiste Rollier, the second placed.

In the Women Elite class, Annika Billstam (OK Linné) took a large victory in 36:59, left the second placed, Amilia Björklund (SAIK), at the distance of 3:00. After her triumph yesterday, Marika Teini was third today, with more 3:14 than Billstam. The Swedish is now in the lead with a margin of 40 seconds over Marika Teini.

Results

Men Super Elite

1. Thierry Gueorgiou (Kalevan Rasti) 32:31 (+ 00:00)

2. Hannu Airila (Kalevan Rasti) 34:50 (+ 02:19)

3. Lucas Basset (JOG) 34:55 (+ 02:24)

4. Baptiste Rollier (Kalevan Rasti) 35:17 (02:46)

5. Albin Ridefelt (OK Linné) 35:20 (+ 02:49)

Women Elite

1. Annika Billstam (OK Linné) 36:59 (00:00)

2. Amilia Björklund (SAIK) 39:59 (+ 03:00)

3. Marika Teini (SK Pohjantähti) 40:13 (+ 03:14)

4. Svetlana Mironova (KooVee) 40:16 (+ 03:17)

5. Isia Basset (JOG) 40:31 (+ 03:32)

Full results and further information on the event's webpage, at www.pom.pt/en.

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2016: Moments (2)

© Joaquim Margarido

POM 2016: Urban Night Sprint maps

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2016: Leal and Brochmann, king and queen of the Night

The night fall quite quickly, bringing with it the storm. But who cares? The Urban Night Sprint was a great fun and everybody enjoyed it. Two great races for Tiago Gingão Leal and Lone Karin Brochmann, king and queen of the night.

The narrow and steepy streets up to Penamacor's medieval quarter suddenly filled of “lighted” people running in every directions. More than 700 hundred athletes participated this Saturday in the Urban Night Sprint, despite the rain that start falling the early evening, swept away by a strong wind. Although the everything but optimal conditions, the participants made a point of taking the party enthusiastically, concluding the first day of POM in the best way.

Portuguese Sprint Champion, Tiago Gingão Leal (GD4C) proved once more his good shape, winning emphatically the Men Super Elite class, against a large set of strong opponents. Gingão Leal spent 20:12, less 16 seconds than the Swedish Gustav Bergman (OK Ravinen) and 34 seconds than the Spanish Antonio Martinez, second and third respectively. The Women Elite class saw the Norwegian Lone Karin Brochmann (Bækkelagets SK) took the victory in 23:08, against 23:25 of the Russian Svetlana Mironova (KooVee), second placed. The third position went to the Russian Anastasia Rudnaya, with more 22 seconds than Brochmann. In this class, Raquel Costa (GafanhOri) was the best Portuguese in the 14th position, with the time of 26:39.

Results

Men Super Elite

1. Tiago Gingão Leal (GD4C) 20:12 (+ 00:00)

2. Gustav Bergman (OK Ravinen) 20:28 (+ 00:16)

3. Antonio Martinez (Colivenc) 20:46 (+ 00:34)

4. Andreu Blanes (Colivenc) 21:58 (+ 01:46)

5. Fabian Hertner (Kalevan Rasti) 22:23 (+ 02:11)

Women Elite

1. Lone Karin Brochmann (Bækkelagets SK) 23:08 (00:00)

2. Svetlana Mironova (KooVee) 23:25 (00:17)

3. Anastasia Rudnaya (MSP) 23:30 (+ 00:22)

4. Anina Bruner (Bussola OK) 23:35 (+ 00:27)

5. Kine Gulliksen (Bækkelagets SK) 23:47 (00:39)

Full results and further information on the event's webpage, at www.pom.pt/en.

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2016: Moments (1)

© Joaquim Margarido

POM 2016: Comments

It was a good and fast race. There was a few controls when I took the wrong direction and missed some time. So, it wasn't very good, but I can't complain. I did few orienteering trainings during the winter and, okay, it was my first competition of the season too. The race wasn't very demanding technically, but still I could have a good map, a good course and it was good for starting the season. I'm here just training. I had quite problems with injuries in November and December and my shape isn't the very best. So it's just training and get some fun.

Fabian Hertner, Kalevan Rasti

I didn't feel already well, but I had good flow in the beginning, let's say in the first seven controls. After that, I started to do some mistakes, which I think are linked to the tiredness. I'm kind of disappointed with my second last control, because of a big mistake, looking to the other runners' trails and I lost about one minute and half. But it was okay. It was a quite fast race and I was expecting a less runnable terrain, but this is maybe because my shape isn't the best at the moment. My goal is to do some fast trainings and races. I've been in Portugal for four or five times and it's perfect to be here in this time of the year. The goal isn't to win the Portugal O' Meeting, no (laughs). There are many good athletes and I'm not at their level. A top 10 or top 15 would be already nice.

Monika Topinkova, Kalevan Rasti

I felt a good flow in some parts of my race, but also did a major mistake and two other of half minute each, but I think it was mostly because I pushed a little bit too hard. This is my first “serious” competition of the season and it was nice to hold the map again. I'm really happy for being here and enjoying the nice terrains. The goal isn't to win the Portugal O' Meeting, just training and spend some time with the map. My shape isn't good enough but, of course, I'll try to do my best.

Annika Billstam, OK Linné

It was good. I really enjoyed it, no big mistakes, I'm satisfied. The terrain was a bit faster than I thought at the beginning, but it was great the mix of high speed running and tricky orienteering. My goal for the Portugal O' Meeting is to get the higher as possible. Thierry Gueorgiou is, of course, the favourite, but I hope to challenge him, definitely.

Gustav Bergman, OK Ravinen

It was rather good. I should look a little bit more to my compass. I didn't made really mistakes to the controls, but on the legs I missed a little bit. We are here for a little Training Camp – we actually brought our roller skies -, but my goal isn't to win the Portugal O' Meeting. Actually, I'm entering in the Elite Women class in just three races. But it's so nice to be here, the competitions are really well organized and the maps are great so far. I really enjoyed my race today and hopefully I'll enjoy the rest of my stay here.

Helena Jansson, OK Ravinen

It was a really nice start. I did just a small mistake, losing about 30 seconds, but the rest of the race was great. The terrain was really fast in some parts and I don't still have the right pace, but it comes day by day. My goal is keep on going to do a good preparation, but I'll do the POM's four races in a focused way and we'll see what happenst. We have to wait six months to the WOC and the results here don't mean too much, but I prefer to be here than last year, injured, in front of my PC.

Thierry Gueorgiou, Kalevin Rasti

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2016: Day 1 Middle Distance maps

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2016: Thierry Gueorgiou and Marika Teini, the first winners

Great atmosphere at the start of Portual O' Meeting's 21st edition, in Penamacor. Almost one thousand and half athletes tried their skills in highly technical terrains and demanding courses. Thierry Gueorgiou and Marika Teini took the victories in Men Super Elite and Women Elite.

After some warm and sunny days, the Saturday woke up somewhat “bothered”. Even though, the enthusiasm of those who ran the Middle Distance, this morning, at Memória Map, stayed on the highest level. It was the “kick off” of the Portugal O' Meeting 2016, a start in the best way for 1.400 athletes, trying to improve their shape in the very early season and looking for a fun and clean race.

Second placed in the IOF World Ranking and a “historical” of POM with four victories overall in the last nine editions, the French Thierry Gueorgiou (Kalevan Rasti) took the first place with the time of 34:45. A tight victory over the Swedish Gustav Bergman (OK Ravinen), 27 seconds behind the lead. The Swiss Baptiste Rollier (Kalevan Rasti) was third, with more 1:06 than the winner. Tiago Martins Aires (GafanhOri) was the best Portuguese in the 26th position. As for the Women Elite, the Marika Teini (SK Pohjantähti) was a surprinsigly winner, exactly one week after her victory in the Lisbon International Orienteering Meeting' WRE Sprint. The Finnish spent 35:17, against 35:19 and 36:25 from the Swedish Helena Janssson (OK Ravinen) and Lina Strand (GMOK), respectively. The best Portuguese was also from GafanhOri team, Raquel Costa, in the 21st position.

About his victory today, Thierry Gueorgiou left some impressions: “It was a really nice start. I did just a small mistake, losing about 30 seconds, but the rest of the race was great. The terrain was really fast in some parts and I don't still have the right pace, but it comes day by day. My goal is keep on going to do a good preparation, but I'll do the POM's four races in a focused way and we'll see what happenst. We have to wait six months to the WOC and the results here don't mean too much, but I prefer to be here than last year, injured, in front of my PC.”

The Portuguese Orienteering Blog also took some ideas from Helena Jansson and her second place: “It was rather good. I should look a little bit more to my compass. I didn't made really mistakes to the controls, but on the legs I missed a little bit. We are here for a little Training Camp – we actually brought our roller skies -, but my goal isn't to win the Portugal O' Meeting. Actually, I'm entering in the Elite Women class in just three races. But it's so nice to be here, the competitions are really well organized and the maps are great so far. I really enjoyed my race today and hopefully I'll enjoy the rest of my stay here.”

Results

Men Elite

1. Thierry Gueorgiou (Kalevan Rasti) 34:45 (+ 00:00)

2. Gustav Bergman (OK Ravinen) 35:12 (+ 00:27)

3. Baptiste Rollier (Kalevan Rasti) 35:51 (+ 01:06)

4. Albin Ridefelt (OK Linné) 36:05 (+ 01:20)

5. Jonas Leandersson (SNO) 36:26 (+ 01:41)

Women Elite

1. Marika Teini (SK Pohjantähti) 35:17 (+ 00:00)

2. Helena Jansson (OK Ravinen) 35:19 (+ 00:02)

3. Lina Strand (GMOK) 36:25 (+ 01:08)

4. Catherine Taylor (OK Linné) 37:06 (+ 01:49)

5. Amélie Chataing (Kalevan Rasti) 37:18 (+ 02:01)

For further information and complete results, please visit the event's webpage at www.pom.pt/en.

Joaquim Margarido

Portugal O' Meeting 2016: Step by step

A new edition of the Portugal O' Meeting is approaching and our country is well prepared to open doors to the World FootO Elite. Along five days, the city of Penamacor will host the most important Portuguese Orienteering event, offering to 1.500 athletes a warm welcome, great maps and terrains and lots of fun.

For the third time in its history, COC – Clube de Orientação do Centro organizes the Portugal “O” Meeting. After Marinha Grande in 2000 and Quiaios/Figueira da Foz in 2010, Penamacor is the place chosen to POM 2016. In a scenery of great beauty, perfect for tourism and orienteering, all the conditions are gathered for another great Portugal O' Meeting.

The party has already began with the Model Events, yesterday and today, in three different maps. But tomorrow onwards everything will be different ... and for real! Two Middle Distance stages will fulfil the first part of Portugal O' Meeting, while the last two days will offer two Long Distance stages, the first one counting for the IOF World Ranking. In the meanwhile, there will still be room for a Urban Night Sprint, on Saturday, in Penamacor's centre and, on Sunday afternoon, the usual PreO stage. The POM's stages will have live transmission and it will be possible watch it at http://original.livestream.com/vieito?t=534743.

POM 2016 detailed program

5th February 2016 (day 0 – Friday)

8h30 – Secretariat opens – Penamacor Event Centre
9h00 – Model Event opens
Model Event 1 – Mapa “Mata da Câmara”
Model Event 2 – Mapa “Ramalhão”
Model Event 3 – Mapa “Benquerença” (Urban)
09h00 to 12h00 – Warm-up Race starts at “Anascer” (Open Race)
12h30 to 14h00 – Barbecue – (ticket for the barbecue is the map of the open race)
22h00 – Secretariat closes – Penamacor Event Centre

6th February 2016 (day 1 – Saturday)

08h30 – Secretariat opens – Arena
10h00 – Middle distance – Map “Memória – Penamacor”
10h15 to 11h30 – Starts for open and formation classes
17h00 – Secretariat opens – Penamacor Event Centre
18h30 – Urban Night Race – Penamacor
18h45 – Secretariat closes – Penamacor Event Centre
18h45 to 19h30 – Start for open and formation classes

7th February 2016 (day 2 – Sunday)

08h00 – Secretariat opens – Arena
09h30 – Middle distance – Map “Serrinha – Rachã”
09h45 to 11h00 – Starts for open and formation classes
11h30 – Secretariat opens for Invacare PreO support
12h30 – Invacare PreO – Map “Abelheira”
17h00 – Secretariat opens – Penamacor Event Centre
18h30 – Invacare PreO – Prize giving ceremony at Benquerença
19h00 – Secretariat closes – Penamacor Event Centre

8th February (day 3 – Monday)

08h00 – Secretariat opens – Arena
09h00 – Long distance WRE – Map “Serrinha”
09h15 to 10h30 – Starts for open and formation classes
15h00 – Long distance WRE and Urban Night Race – Prize giving ceremony
15h30 – Historical Guided Tour – Penamacor Village
19h00 – Official Banquet – Penamacor – Palace Hotel Termas de S. Tiago 

9th February (day 4 – Tuesday)

08h00 – Secretariat opens – Arena
09h00 – First start – Long distance – Map “Serrinha – Dongalinho”
09h30 – First start of chasing start for Elite classes at arena
10h30 – Mass start for Elite classes
11h00 – First start of chasing start for Super Elite classes at arena
12h00 – Mass start for Super Elite classes
09h15 to 10h30 – Starts for open and formation classes
14h00 – POM2016 – Prize giving ceremony
16h00 – Sleeping floor Closes

Note: All timings are in local time (GMT timezone).

Participants

The entries closed with the number participants slightly exceeding the number of 1.500. Among the big names on this POM 2016, there are seven athletes from the top 10 - three female and four male - with Thierry Gueorgiou and Catherine Taylor heading the lists. Gueorgiou is recognized as the best orienteer of all time, boasting 13 gold medals in the World Championships and being the current triple World Champion in Long Distance. He is also a "historical" of POM, a competition which he won for four times. The major opposition will come from the Swiss Fabian Hertner and the Swedish Olle Boström and GustaveBergman, all positioned among the ten best in the World. From the range of participants in the Men Elite also worth mentioning the Swedish Jonas Leandersson, current Sprint World Champion, the French Lucas Basset, World Vice-Champion in Middle Distance and one of the great revelations of last season and even the Finnish Aaro Asikainen, the winner of the last edition of Portugal O' Meeting.

As for the Elite Women, Catherine Taylor is, as stated above, the most well ranked, currently occupying the 3rd position in the IOF World Ranking. Taylor owes this place to her huge regularity since his best result at World Championships is the 5th place in the WOC 2015's Middle Distance. The British will face the Russian Svetlana Mironova, World Champion in Long Distance in 2014 and the Swedish Annika Billstam, World Champion in Middle Distance twice (2014 and 2015) and World Champion in Long Distance (2011) and Helena Jansson, the world bi-champion (Sprint in 2009 and Middle Distance in 2011 ) and winner of the Portugal O 'Meeting in ... 2005!

Terrain and useful information

Stage 1 - Middle Distance

Map: Memória (2015)

Mapmaker: Rui Antunes

Course setter: Rui Antunes

Map scale: 1:10 000 & 1:7 500

Contour interval: 5m

IOF Adviser: Rui Morais

Stage 2 - Middle Distance

Map: Serrinha (2015)

Mapmaker: Rui Antunes

Course setter: Carlos Monteiro

Map scale: 1:10 000 & 1:7 500

Contour interval: 5m

IOF Adviser: Rui Morais

Stage 3 - WRE Long Distance

Map: Serrinha (2015)

Mapmaker: Rui Antunes

Course setter: Rui Antunes

Map scale: 1:15 000, 1:10 000 & 1:7 500

Contour interval: 5m

IOF Adviser: Rui Morais

The organization strongly advises the use of spike shoes for this type of terrain!

Stage 4 - Long Distance

Map: Serrinha (2015)

Mapmaker: Rui Antunes & José Batista

Course setter: Rui Antunes

Map scale: 1:15 000, 1:10 000 & 1:7 500

Contour interval: 5m

IOF Adviser: Rui Morais

The organization strongly advises the use of spike shoes for this type of terrain!

Extra-competition Day 1 - Urban Night Race

Map: Penamacor (2014)

Mapmaker: Carlos do Vale

Course setter: Patrícia Casalinho

Map scale: 1:4 000

Contour interval: 5m

Extra-competition Day 2 - Invacare PreO

Map: Abelheira (2015)

Mapmaker: Rui Antunes

Course setter: Inês Domingues & Edgar Domingues

Map scale: 1:5 000

Contour interval: 5m

Event Adviser: Nuno Pires

The number of entries in Invacare PreO Open Class has risen beyond the best organizing team plans and that is due to the high interest of the athletes, in number of 94 entered for the stage. For that reason, there is a commitment of POM 2016 team in order to allow everyone to participate and not frustrate expectations by limiting entries.

In the Open class, names like Remo Madella, Italy, Koji Chino, Japan, Bartolomiej Mazan, Poland, Zoltan Mihaczi, Hungary, Christian Gieseler, Germany or Toño Hernandez, Spain, will face the Portuguese squad, with Luis Gonçalves, João Pedro Valente, Jorge Baltazar, Cláudio Tereso and Joaquim Margarido, amongst others. In the Paralympic class, it will be interesting to assist to the second part of the duel between the Portuguese Ricardo Pinto and the Spanish Carlos Riu Noguerol.

Other information

World Ranking Event

• The Long distance on February 8th (day 3) will be an World Ranking Event;
• During that race, GPS watches won’t be allowed in Elite classes.

Elite classes

• The Male Elite class will be splitted in two. The best of World Raking at 2016 February 25th will run M21SuperElite and the remaining in M21Elite;
• In day 3 both classes will count to World Ranking, like IOF suggests.

Chasing start

• On the last stage, all the Elite classes (M21SE, M21E and W21E) will have a Chasing Start at the Arena;
• Athletes who are more than one hour after the first or didn’t run one of the forest stages will have a mass start one hour after the first start;
• The first athlete in the finish will be the winner of the respective class.

Results

• The final result of POM2016 will be defined by the sum of points from all four forest stages, except in Elite classes, whose event winner will be the first runner at the finish on the last stage (Chasing Start);
• The Urban Night Race and Pre-O events won’t count to POM2016 general classification.

For further information, please visit the Event's website, at http://pom.pt/2016/en/.

Joaquim Margarido