Portuguese MTBO Championships of Middle Distance 2017: Davide Machado and Ana Filipa Silva got the Elite titles

After a two-year break, Davide Machado and Ana Filipa Silva achieved the Portuguese MTBO titles of Middle Distance. The event took place in Cantanhede and was attended by one hundred competitors.

Cantanhede, one of the stages of the recent MTB Orienteering World Championships, hosted another important event of this exciting discipline. We are talking about the 11th edition of the Portuguese MTBO Championships of Middle Distance, organized by ADM Ori-Mondego and the Parish Council of Ança and attended by one hundred competitors from 23 clubs.

The competition in the Men Elite class was entirely dominated by Davide Machado (.COM) who finished the 16.6 km of his course in 47:25. Almost four minutes after the winner, Daniel Marques (COC) was the second placed, while the third position was achieved by the former Middle Distance Champion in 2015 and 2016, João Ferreira (CA Bairrada), with the time of 52:52. In the Women Elite class, Ana Filipa Silva's (CPOC) victory was even wider, having finished her race, with the distance of 13.6 km, in 52:16, against 58:28 of the former National Champion in 2015 and 2016, Susana Pontes (COC). Noémia Magalhães (Amigos da Montanha) achieved the bronze medal with the time of 1:11:38.

Daniel Marques and Ana Filipa Silva won Ançã MTBO 2017

The Portuguese MTBO Champions of Middle Distance in the young classes were Bernardo Rosa (COC), João Mendonça (BTT Loulé/BPI/ELEVIS), Tomás Mora (ADM Ori-Mondego) and Marisa Costa (BTT Loulé/BPI/ELEVIS), in M15, M17, M20 and W20, respectively. As for the masters, Kátia Almeida (ATV) and Marco Póvoa (ADFA) got the titles in W40 and M40, Luisa Mateus (COC) and Eduardo Sebastião (ADFA) did the same in the W50 and M50 classes and Jorge Artur (ADFA) achieved the title in the M60 class. NADA got the clubs' title in Men Elite class, BTT Loulé/BPI/ELEVIS was the winner in M17, COC won in M35 and ADFA in M45.

But the MTB Orienteering party didn't summed up to the Middle Distance Championships, and the participants had the chance to try a new Middle Distance stage on the second day. Ana Filipa Silva did another great race, winning by more than five-minute advantage, while the winner in the Men Elite class was Daniel Marques (COC), with an advantage of nearly three minutes over Duarte Lourenço (BTT Loulé / BPI / ELEVIS). In the two stages, Ana Filipa Silva and Daniel Marques were the great winners of the Ançã MTBO 2017, while BTT Loulé/BPI/ELEVIS got the first position in the collective standings.

Results

Portuguese MTBO Championships of Middle Distance

Men Elite

1. Davide Machado (.COM) 47:25 (+ 00:00)

2. Daniel Marques (COC) 51:18 (+ 03:53)

3. João Ferreira (CA Bairrada) 52:52 (+ 02:27)

4. Duarte Lourenço (BTT Loulé/BPI/ELEVIS) 54:05 (+ 06:40)

5. Luís Barreiro (NADA) 54:08 (+ 06:43)

Women Elite

1. Ana Filipa Silva (CPOC) 52:16 (+ 00:00)

2. Susana Pontes (COC) 58:28 (+ 06:12)

3. Noémia Magalhães (Amigos da Montanha) 1:11:38 (+ 19:22)

4. Maria Sá (ADFA) 1:18:35 (+ 26:19)

mp Carla Saraiva (Ori-Estarreja)

Ançã MTBO Overall standings

Men Elite

1. Daniel Marques (COC) 1:41:01 (+ 00:00)

2. Duarte Lourenço (BTT Loulé/BPI/ELEVIS) 1:46:16 (+ 05:15)

3. Luís Barreiro (NADA) 1:46:37 (+ 05:36)

4. Marco Palhinha (CP Abrunheira) 1:50:20 (+ 09:19)

5. Fernando Henrique (NADA) 1:50:55 (+ 09:54)

Women Elite

1. Ana Filipa Silva (CPOC) 1:59:20 (+ 00:00)

2. Susana Pontes (COC) 2:10:39 (+ 11:19)

3. Noémia Magalhães (Amigos da Montanha) 2:35:41 (+ 36:21)

4. Maria Sá (ADFA) 2:44:11 (+ 44:51)

mp Carla Saraiva (Ori-Estarreja)

Complete results and further information at https://admorimondego.wixsite.com/oribtt-anca.

[Photo: ORI BTT ADM / facebook.com/ORI-BTT-ADM]

Joaquim Margarido

Portugal City Race 2017: Maikel Rodriguez and Raquel Ferreira won in Vila do Conde

Maikel Rodriguez and Raquel Ferreira were the winners of Vila do Conde City Race 2017, in the main classes of competition. Scoring for the Portugal City Race 2017, the event also included a super sprint and an Adapted Orienteering stage, calling to the banks of Ave River 250 competitors.

The city of Vila do Conde received yesterday the third stage of the Circuit Portugal City Race 2017. Having the support of Vila do Conde Municipality, the Orienteering School Sport's Group from the Association of Schools D. Afonso Sanches and the Grupo Desportivo dos Quatro Caminhos organized the Vila do Conde City Race 2017, which attracted nearly 250 athletes. The fun started early in the morning with a Middle/Long Distance urban stage, continuing in the afternoon with a short and fast Super Sprint, with a large number of controls and requiring constant changes of direction. An Adapted Orienteering stage, scoring for the respective Portuguese League, was also part of the program, reinforcing the event's inclusive character, one of the brand images of Portugal City Race.

The Spanish Maikel Rodrigues, representing Budiñoraid, won easily this stage, finishing the 7.02 km of his course with the time of 38:48. Gil Sousa Pinto (OriMarão) spent more 8:22 than the winner and finished in the second place. With this result, Rodriguez built up his leading position of the Circuit Portugal City Race 2017, achieving his third victory in as many stages. The fight for the victory in the Women Senior class was much more balanced, but Raquel Ferreira (Individual) ended up being stronger than Daniela Alves (AD Cabroelo), winning by the difference of 1:29, after finishing the 5.7 km of her course with the time of 48:04. Raquel Ferreira also strengthened her leadership of this year's edition of the Portugal City Race 2017, after winning the first stage in Esposende and being second placed in Braga, in the second stage.

The event also included the Vila do Conde Super-Sprint, with Maikel Rodriguez climbing once again on the top of the podium, this time alongside with María Pilar Hernández, and a stage of Adapted Orienteering scoring for the Portuguese League, in which Vitor Pereira and Raquel Cerqueira were the winners.

Results

Vila do Conde City Race 2017

Men Senior
1. Maikel Rodriguez (Budiñoraid) 38:48 (+ 00:00)
2. Gil Sousa Pinto (OriMarão) 47:10 (+ 08:22)
3. Luís Ferreira (AD Cabroelo) 47:12 (+ 08:24)
4. Leandro Lima A. Montanha 47:25 (+ 08:37)
5. Ricardo Figueroa (Aromon) 49:17 (+ 10:29)

Women Senior
1. Raquel Ferreira (Individual) 48:04 (+ 00:00)
2. Daniela Alves (AD Cabroelo) 49:33 (+ 01:29)
3. Pilar Hernandez (Escondite) 51:24 (+ 03:20)
4. Zélia Viana (.COM) 52:54 (+ 04:50)
5. Carlota Veiga (Aromon) 1:01:15 (+ 13:11)

Complete results and further information HERE.

[Photo: Fernando Costa]

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2017: Moments (6)

© Joaquim Margarido

POM 2017: Moments (5)

© Joaquim Margarido

POM 2017: Moments (4)

© Joaquim Margarido

POM 2017: Moments (3)

© Joaquim Margarido

POM 2017: Moments (2)

© Joaquim Margarido

POM 2017: Moments (1)

© Joaquim Margarido

MTBO: Garcia and Gonzalez were the best in Spain, Machado and Pontes won in Portugal

The Spanish and Portuguese MTB Orienteering 2017 leagues kicked off simultaneously last weekend. In Pontevedra, northwestern Spain, victories of Ángel García García and Maria Del Mar Delgado Gonzalez. On the Portuguese side of the border, Davide Machado and Susana Pontes were the fastest in Sintra's beautiful surroundings.

Ángel Garcia García (Brigantia) and Maria Del Mar Delgado Gonzalez (IES Sabón) were the winners of the Marco Antonio Blanco Trophy - PonteOriBike 2017, opening round of the Spanish MTBO season. Organised by AROMON club, the event called to the villages of Chans de Cela and Castrove, Pontevedra, over 150 participants for two demanding stages – Middle Distance and Long Distance – in detailed and steep terrains, with a good net of tracks. Winner of the Spanish MTB Orienteering League 2016, Ángel García García won both stages, getting a fifteen-minute lead over David Toll Clos (CEOBTT), second placed. Things were different in the women's race, and Luisa Felpeto González (Fluvial Lugo) managed to win the first stage but Maria Del Mar Delgado Gonzalez's fifteen-minute victory in the decisive stage earned her the first position in the overall standings.

In Portugal, nearly 150 MTB orienteers headed Janas, Sintra, for a two-day journey full of adrenaline and fun in a really detailed map with a good net of tracks and lots of route choices. Offering two stages – Long Distance and Middle Distance -, the 8th CPOC MTBO Trophy, was organized by CPOC, having in Davide Machado (.COM) and Susana Pontes (COC) the great winners. Machado's performance on the first day was truly impressive, translated in a seventeen-minute advantage over Luis Barreiro (NADA), second placed. Machado also won the second stage, this time with Daniel Marques (COC) being the second placed. Like Machado, Susana Pontes didn't feel any trouble to win both stages, reaching a 38-minute (!) victory in the first day to which she added a thirteen-minute win in the last day, in both cases over Noémia Magalhães (Amigos da Montanha), second placed.

Marco Antonio Blanco Trophy - PonteOriBike 2017
Pontevedra, Spain

Overall standings

Men Elite

1. Ángel García García (Brigantia) 2:40:48
2. David Toll Clos (CEOBTT) 2:55:51
3. Pablo Samper Sanz (GOCAN) 3:03:08
3. Juan José Sancosmed Vázquez (COCO) 3:03:08
5. Alberto Taboada Pintor (Adventure Addict) 3:05:40

Women Elite

1. Maria Del Mar Delgado Gonzalez (IES Sabón) 2:56:05
2. Susana Arroyo Schnell (Sotobosque) 3:11:20
3. Teresa Barreira Salgado (Montaña Ferrol) 3:16:30
4. Luisa Felpeto González (Fluvial Lugo) 3:25:39
5. Natalia Isaba Aramendía (Norte-Sur) 3:34:29

8th CPOC MTBO Trophy
Sintra, Portugal

Overall standings

Men Elite

1. Davide Machado (.COM) 2000.00 points
2. Daniel Marques (COC) 1796.94 points
3. Luis Barreiro (NADA) 1792.45 points
4. Duarte Lourenço (BTT Loulé/BPI) 1661.29 points
5. Paul Roothans (CN Alvito) 1640.42 points

Women Elite

1. Susana Pontes (COC) 2000.00 points
2. Noémia Magalhães (Amigos da Montanha) 1643.44 points
3. Diana Moreira (CAB) 1535.13 points
4. Maria Sá (ADFA) 602.23 points

Complete results and further information at https://aromon.es/eventos/ori/ponteoribike/ponteoribike-2017/ and http://8oribtt.cpoc.pt/.

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2017: Day 4 Long Distance maps

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2017: Day 3 Middle Distance WRE maps

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2017: Day 2 Long Distance maps

Joaquim Margarido

Thierry Gueorgiou: "Portugal is a love story"

As in previous years, Thierry Gueorgiou started the season in the best way. Always an important achievement, his victory in this Portugal O' Meeting has a special meaning, since it's the last one that Gueorgiou achieves in the Elite. This and other issues highlighted in a long interview with the best orienteer ever.

Another presence in the Portugal O 'Meeting and, once again, a victory, the sixth in this event. What are your first impressions?

Thierry Gueorgiou (T. G.) - As you know, Portugal O' Meeting truly represents the beginning of the season and is a very important rendez vous in my preparation. This year, the meaning of my participation in The Portugal O' Meeting is amplified by the fact that this is my last season in the World Elite and it makes everything very special.

What is the importance of this season, being your last one at the highest level?

T. G. - There are two very important factors. On the one hand, I feel “obliged” to make the most of this experience and keep these memories, so I must savour every moment from the competition, the trainings. This has been my life for 20 years and I will miss it dearly. On the other hand, I have high expectations because I want to finish in the best possible way, especially in the World Orienteering Championships, in Estonia. It's a mix of pleasure and pressure, because I really want to succeed.

How do you assess these 4 days of competition in Portugal?

T. G. - In these days, there were both good and not so good performances. The Long Distance on the second day went very well and today's race was great, as well, but the two Middle Distance stages went badly; however, the assessment is good and I'm happy, it's always an amazing thrill to win Portugal O' Meeting. In spite of it not being the most important competition of the year, it's always a stepping stone, so I will need to improve on some aspects of my performance, especially in the Middle Distance, and I'm already focusing on next weekend, on the ABOM 2017, to practise a little more.

Could you tell me a bit about your preparation towards the World Championships?

T. G. - There are four months to go until the Championships and the pressure is going to rise. There are two very important intermediate stages, the first of which is Tiomila, where I want to perform well with my Kalevan Rasti team, and then there's the World Cup in Finland, which will be kind of like a rehearsal, for the Estonian Champs, even if the terrains aren't the same. But these are the two competitions where I will focus more, get confidence; and between these there will be several training camps in Estonia.

Does Estonia mean something special to you?

T. G. - I've been competing in Estonia since 1998, where I ran a World Cup at nineteen. Then, I took part in the European Championships, in 2006, so it's a country I know very well and a country I really like and that is very interesting. But what I hold dearly is the fact that this is my last World Championship.

Are you betting on a distance, particularly?

T. G. - The Middle Distance motivates me the most. It's been a long time since I won it, the last time being in 2011, so I'd like to perform well there. And then there is the Relay, with Lucas [Basset] and Frederic [Tranchand]. I consider we have one of the best teams and, if we all run at the same high level, we will be able to reach something extraordinary, and that is a huge motivation. It will be the last stage in the World Championships and a good way to end in style. As for the Long Distance, I haven't made up my mind yet. It's been where I've achieved my best results in the last years. Even so, I'm focused on the Middle Distance, but there are still four months to go, so we'll see then.

What type of work is ahead of you?

T. G. - At the moment, I'm beyond pleased with my physical shape. I've made some minor changes to my preparation and I think I'm at a good place in terms of speed. Now I will need to work on my confidence in Orienteering, to find my pace in the forest, to be effective, to slow down whenever I need to read the map better, to keep focused until the end of the race.

Are you going to keep coming to Portugal O' Meeting and winning, even retired, as Simone did this year?

T. G. - Simone is incredible. What she did was truly outstanding and I congratulate her for it. She is able to conjugate her family life with the trainings necessary to stay performant. To me, it will also be difficult, because the standards are pretty high. Besides, what will motivate me the most in the future will be coaching. Next year, I will coach athletes and the priority won't be my results, but theirs. Of course I will try to maintain this high level to keep up with my trainees out in the forest, so I will keep on training.

And are you considering to bring the Swedish team to Portugal?

T. G. - I believe that Portugal is the best place to train during the Winter. There is a great variety of terrains, the cartography is excellent and, so, trainings in Portugal are a must. To me, Portugal is a love story. I love this country to death, the people, Orienteering, of course... I love Sweden, France, but Portugal comes right after them.

To finish, I would ask you to leave some words to the Organization team of this Portugal O' Meeting.

T. G. - POM is the meeting point of quality. If there is a mandatory competition during the year, it's the Portugal O' Meeting. Annika [Billstam] has told me about the next POM in Evora. She also loves this competition and she will always be a part of the attendance.

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2017: Gueorgiou and Niggli won the Portugal O' Meeting

Thierry Gueorgiou and Simone Niggli were the great winners of the Portugal O 'Meeting 2017. Repeating the achievements of previous years - it was Niggli's seventh victory in the Portuguese competition against six wins of Gueorgiou - both showed an enviable technical condition and the reason of being the best world orienteers ever.

Portugal O 'Meeting 2017 has come to an end. Fulfilling its 22nd edition, the biggest world event of the Winter calendar took place in Alter do Chão, Crato and Portalegre, stretching over four intense and exhausting days. Anchored in the good graces of a wonderful weather, ideal for the practise of Orienteering, the organisers – Grupo Desportivo dos Quatro Caminhos - did a remarkable job, offering maps and courses highly challenging, both physically and technically, meeting the expectations of more than 2,300 participants from 36 countries.

For the last day was reserved a Long Distance stage, in Chasing Start system, with the athletes starting according to the sum of times reached in the previous three stages. Thus, Thierry Gueorgiou (Kalevan Rasti) was the first to go into the forest, having the hard task of managing the 1:03 lead over his closest opponent, Olav Lundanes (Paimion Rasti). The truth is that Gueorgiou was able to withstand the pressure imposed by the current World Champion of Long Distance and still win 1:40 to Lundanes, being the first placed in the Men Super Elite class with the time of 1:17:18. Lundanes was second, 2:43 after the winner, while Johan Runesson finished in the third place with the time of 1:20:46, after being the fastest in the final stage. With this result, Gueorgiou reached his sixth victory at Portugal O 'Meeting.

In the Women Elite class, Simone Niggli (OK Tisaren) had a much easier task, as the advantage over Eva Jurenikova (Halden SK), the second ranked at the start for the final stage, was more than six minutes. Like Gueorgiou, Simone Niggli's race wasn't a clean one, hesitating when approaching to several controls and losing some time, but in the end the difference between both athletes would exceed the eight minutes. Simone Niggli finished with the time of 1:06:22 against 1:15:01 of Jurenikova, achieving her seventh victory in the Portugal O' Meeting. Karoliina Sundberg (Lynx) was third ranked with more 13:03 than the winner. In the Men Elite class, Rafal Podzinski (PNT) did a great race, starting for the final stage with a ten-minute advantage and finishing with a difference of 18:17 over Timon Schweizer (Individual SUI), second placed. Ken Peeters (OK Linné) got the third position with the time of 1:46:01.

Final Results

Men Super Elite

1. Thierry Gueorgiou (Kalevan Rasti) 1:17:18 (+ 00:00)

2. Olav Lundanes (Paimion Rasti) 1:20:01 (+ 02:43)

3. Johan Runesson (Tampereen Pyrintö) 1:20:46 (+ 03:28)

4. Frederic Tranchand (Paimion Rasti) 1:20:49 (+ 03:31)

5. Gustav Bergman (OK Ravinen) 1:26:18 (+ 09:00)

Women Elite

1. Simone Niggli (OK Tisaren) 1:06:22 (+ 00:00)

2. Eva Jurenikova (Halden SK) 1:15:01 (+ 08:39)

3. Karoliina Sundberg (Lynx) 1:19:25 (+ 13:03)

4. Tessa Strain (IL Tyrving) 1:32:14 (+ 25:52)

5. Johanna Öberg (OK Linné) 1:34:41 (+ 28:19)

Men Elite

1. Rafal Podzinski (PNT) 1:27:10 (+ 00:00)

2. Timon Schweizer (Individual SUI) 1:45:27 (+ 18:17)

3. Ken Peeters (OK Linné) 1:46:01 (+ 18:51)

4. Emil Andersson (Ärla IF) 1:46:12 (+ 19:02)

5. Pavel Novikov (MO Yakhroma) 1:55:01 (+ 27:51)

Complete results and further information at http://pom.pt/en/

Joaquim Margarido

Simone Niggli: "I want to win"

Simone Niggli achieved a great win today, in the “queen stage” of the Portugal O' Meeting 2017. Returning to Portugal after a three-year pause, Simone is in the perfect position to get her seventh victory at POM. And she's looking forward to it!

The last time you'd been to Portugal O' Meeting was three years ago, in Gouveia. Did you miss us?

Simone Niggli (S. N.) - I was just looking forward to coming to Portugal. We always know that we're going to have nice terrains, nice challenges here, at POM... Yeah, I have to say that I missed it a bit (laughs).

Even if the time was short, mainly because your commitment with the Junior World Orienteering Championships 2016's organisation...

S. N. - Yes, with the event and with my family, of course. It was more than two years of a really nice challenge, which was part of a project for me and Matthias [Niggli]. We had the big goal of making the competition as good as possible for both competitors and spectators. You're really in this organisation if you're the head organiser, so you have the perception how things are working and how much work is needed. I didn't know it before and it's really hard work, so I really appreciate also the work here, at POM.

Would you do everything the same way if you knew how hard the work can be?

S. N. - Yes, I would. We are already in the next project, which will be the organisation of next World Cup in Switzerland, in Autumn. Matthias is the head organiser and I'm the technical director.

Let's talk about the Portugal O' Meeting's three first days. Did you enjoy it?

S. N. - It's again an incredible terrain. I don't know how do you always do to find this nice places (laughs). For sure, it's very hard working to map this areas. Today's course was really good, very difficult technically and also physically. You had to be very coordinative with the stones, still it was possible to run on the stones. There was no climbing and not too much green, but it was a really demanding course.

I believe that you did a mistake in the early part of the race.

S. N. - Yes, I missed the first control even though I was taking a safe route. Then I just try to stay calm because I saw there was a lot of controls which you could miss. In fact I missed two of them afterwards, it wasn't a clean race, but... I don't think anybody could do it without some small mistakes. I just try to push hard until the end and it was great, I'm very happy.

Did you expect to win?

S. N. - No, I didn't. When I catched Ida Marie [Naess Bjoergul], I knew that my speed was good. I was expecting to come along the five best but I didn't predict a victory in this terrain, where you never know how the others run.

Could you tell me where is the secret of your youth?

S. N. - (Laughs) Well, I think it's just loving orienteering. I love this sport, I love such places like this where you would never come if you're a tourist, all the friends around here, my children running in the terrain. Well, I think it's there the secret.

About tomorrow, are we going to see you winning the Portugal O' Meeting for the seventh time?

S. N. - I don't know exactly the standings, but I think I have a good lead and, of course, I want to win. Tomorrow we'll have a Long Distance and, in this terrains, lots of things can happen. But I'm looking forward to it and I'll try to do my best.

Joaquim Margarido

Lucas Basset: "Even unexpected, it was a great win"

One week after winning the two WRE stages of the Rainha Santa Trophy / Beira Litoral O' Meeting 2017, Lucas Basset was, once again, the fastest in a stage scoring for the IOF World Orienteering Ranking. It was at Norte Alentejano O' Meeting 2017, the “queen stage” of the Portugal O' Meeting 2017. Really happy with the victory, the French shared his thoughts with the Portuguese Orienteering Blog, along a nice and relaxing talk.

Did you expect to win?

Lucas Basset (L. B.) - To be honest, I didn't think too much about it. It was a hard and good training week and I was quite tired. I didn't know which way my legs would be able to react; so, even unexpected, it was a great win and I'm really happy.

What did you think about the race?

L. B. - I loved it. It's the type of Middle Distance that I really like, very fast but also very technical. It was really nice, with a precious map, quite well detailed. There wasn't too much climbing and you could keep a good pace along the course. Like every time at POM, the start field was quite strong and it's always a pleasure when you get ahead.

So, the perfect start of the season.

L. B. - Yes. Three WRE courses, three wins. Even if it doesn't mean too much this time of the season, it's always cool. It's better than not being in good shape, definitely (laughs).

Let me ask you about 2016. How do you rate the last season?

L. B. - I'm very happy with my season. In 2015, I reached some super-results in Scotland, during the World Orienteering Championships, and I didn't know if it was a fluke, the shape of my life or something else. I had to find my real level and, in the last season, I could prove to myself that I'm in the group of the world's best.

What about 2017? Is your attention focused on the World Orienteering Championships?

L. B. - Yes, like every year, WOC is the goal. We'll see what I can do. Estonia, it makes you wish to be there. I've been to Estonia last September and I liked a lot. I'll focus on the Middle Distance, it's my favourite distance, the one that I feel better, that I'm better, I think. Mainly, I'm waiting for a great result in the Relay. There's an “old aged” that will leave and it will be his last chance... (laughs).

The Portugal O' Meeting 2017 will end tomorrow. Do you still think in the overall win?

L. B. - No, no. I kept my strength on yesterday's stage and I'm out of battle. I think I'll manage to finish the course, taking profit of such beautiful terrains. Even if I'm very tired, I'll enjoy my last course in Portugal this year.

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2017: Victories in the WRE stage for Basset and Niggli

Lucas Basset and Simone Niggli won the Norte Alentejano O' Meeting 2017, the WRE stage of the Portugal O' Meeting 2017.

The third and penultimate day of the competitive program of the Portugal O' Meeting 2017 was dedicated to the Middle Distance, acclaiming the winners of the Norte Alentejano O' Meeting 2017, the chosen name by the organisation to the “queen stage”, scoring for the IOF World Orienteering Ranking. Expanding for a small area at Entre-Ribeiras e Coutadas, Portalegre, the course was tough and demanding, with lots of rocky and vegetation features asking for good legs and full focus. In the Men Super Elite class, Lucas Basset (OK Linné) managed quite well the 6.8 km of his course, finishing with the time of 35:30 and getting his third victory in a World Ranking Event this season. Johan Runesson (Tampereen Pyrintö) achieved the second best time, finishing 32 seconds after the winner. Just one second after Runesson, Rassmus Andersson (OK Linné) got the third place. Forty-six seconds after Basset, Thierry Gueorgiou (Kalevan Rasti) got the fourth position, but he's still in the lead of the Portugal O' Meeting 2017 overall standings, being the first to start tomorrow for the last stage of the competitive program, the Chasing Start Long Distance.

Simone Niggli (OK Tisaren) will be the first athlete to start tomorrow for the last stage, after her second victory in a row in the Portugal O' Meeting 2017. The gazillion-time World Champion was the only athlete able to break the thirty-five-minute barrier in the Women Elite class, completing the 4.9 km of her course with the time of 34:54, 26 seconds faster than Hollie Orr (Halden SK), second placed. The very young Elin Månsson (IFK Göteborg) was a surprising third placed, spending 57 more than the winner. Lari Pernu (Essu) was an unexpected winner in the Men Elite class, with the time of 40:12. Jakob Andersson (OK Linné) and Topi Anjala (Koovee) achieved the immediate positions, with more 00:33 and 00:44 than the winner, respectively. Pedro Nogueira (ADFA) in the Men Super Elite class, João Mega Figueiredo (CN Alvito) in the Men Elite class and Mariana Moreira (CPOC) were the best Portuguese athletes in today's stage.

Results

Men Super Elite

1. Lucas Basset (OK Linné) 35:30 (+ 00:00)

2. Johan Runesson (Tampereen Pyrintö) 36:02 (+ 00:32)

3. Rassmus Andersson (OK Linné) 36:03 (+ 00:33)

4. Thierry Gueorgiou (Kalevan Rasti) 36:16 (+ 00:46)

5. Gustav Bergman (OK Ravinen) 36:17 (+ 00:47)

Women Elite

1. Simone Niggli (OK Tisaren) 34:54 (+ 00:00)

2. Hollie Orr (Halden SK) 35:20 (+ 00:26)

3. Elin Månsson (IFK Göteborg) 35:51 (+ 00:57)

4. Helena Jansson (OK Ravinen) 36:36 (+ 01:42)

5. Ida Marie Naess Bjoergul (Paimion Rasti) 36:44 (+ 01:50)

Men Elite

1. Lari Pernu (Essu) 40:12 (+ 00:00)

2. Jakob Andersson (OK Linné) 40:45 (+ 00:33)

3. Topi Anjala (Koovee) 40:56 (+ 00:44)

4. Álvaro Prieto (Malarruta) 41:52 (+ 01:40)

5. Göran Winblad (Rehns BK) 42:07 (+ 01:55)

To see the complete results, please visit the event's webpage at http://pom.pt/en/.

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2017: Heikoop, Valente and Guedes da Silva won PreO stage

The beautiful historical spaces of Coudelaria de Alter hosted the PreO competition of the Portugal O' Meeting 2017. After twenty three funny and challenging controls, Mark Heikoop and João Pedro Valente were the big winners in the Open class with the same score. Alexandre Guedes da Silva was the fastest and more accurate in the Paralympic class.


The usual PreO competition of the Portugal O' Meeting took place today, with a 23-task course at Coudelaria de Alter. 115 competitors in the Open class and 11 in the Paralympic class faced a great course, both challenging and pleasant, with a three-task timed station in the pre-start. With two controls voided, four competitors in the Open class were able to solve successfully all the tasks, with the Dutch Mark Heikoop (Aligots) and the Portuguese João Pedro Valente (CPOC) being the fastest in the timed station with the same score, thus achieving a tasty victory. Faster than Heikoop and Valente (CPOC) in the timed controls, but with a 60-second penalty following a wrong answer, Peter Huzan (TVOC) was the third placed and the young Jorge Valente (CPOC), João Pedro Valente's son, got the fourth place.

In the Paralympic class, Alexandre Guedes da Silva (Individual POR) achieved the triumph with 20 points and a comfortable two-point lead over Ricardo Pinto (DAHP), second placed. Miguel Angel Garcia (ADOL) finished in the third position with 17 points. Just two curiosities: The 126 participants in the PreO stage is the biggest number ever registered in a TrailO competition in Portugal; and, Mark Heikoop achieved his second victory in the Portugal O' Meeting, four years after his triumph in Idanha-a-Nova. 

Results

Open Class

1. Mark Heikoop (Aligots) 21 points / 48 seconds

1. João Pedro Valente (CPOC) 21 points / 48 seconds

3. Peter Huzan (TVOC) 21 points / 111 seconds

4. Jorge Valente (CPOC) 21 points / 146 seconds

5. Zoltan Mihaczi (Tipo Orienteering) 20 points / 16 seconds

6. Nuno Rebelo (Ori-Estarreja) 20 points / 18 seconds

Paralympic Class

1. Alexandre Guedes da Silva (Individual POR) 20 points / 87 seconds

2. Ricardo Pinto (DAHP) 18 points / 98 seconds

3. Miguel Angel Garcia (ADOL) 17 points / 107 seconds

4. Carlos Riu (COMA) 16 points / 109 seconds

5. Julio Guerra (DAHP) 13 points / 99 seconds

6. José Laiginha Leal (DAHP) 13 points / 180 second

Complete results at the POM 2017's webpage or here [Open class and Paralympic class] 

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2017: Thierry Gueorgiou and Simone Niggli are back to the victories

Thierry Gueorgiou and Simone Niggle were the winners of POM 2017's second stage. Returning to Aldeia da Mata for another beautiful sunny day, both athletes showed why they are the best orienteers ever, leading a really strong start field.

Thierry Gueorgiou (Kalevan Rasti) won the Long Distance stage on the second day of Portugal O' Meeting 2017 . In a quite demanding course, particularly from a physical point a view, the French kept an intense duel with Albin Ridefelt (Ok Linné), finishing with a short nine-second advantage. Gueorgiou spent 1:36:10 in a eighteen-kilometer course, against Ridefelt's 1:36:19. Frederic Tranchand and Olav Lundanes, both from Paimion Rasti, were third and fourth placed with more 2:30 and 3:05, respectively, than Thierry. Andreu Blanes (Colivenc) achieved a great fifth position, finishing his course 4:16 after the winner. In the 45th place, with 1:57:31, Manuel Horta (GafanhOri) was the best Portuguese athlete in the Men Super Elite class.

After a three-year gap, Simone Niggli (OK Ravinen) returned to Portugal and to the victories in the Portugal O' Meeting. Keeping the focus during all race, she was able to be consistent enough to complete the 11.3 km of the race in 1:12:37, the best time today in the Women Elite class. Eva Jurenikova (Halden SK) got the second place with a three-minute disadvantage from Simone. Ida Marie Naess Bjoergul (Paimion Rasti) was third with 1:16:37, Karoliina Sundberg (Lynx) was a surprising fourth placed with 1:19:23 and Lizzie Ingham (Halden SK) finished in the fifth position, 7:24 after the winner. The best Portuguese athete was Mariana Moreira (CPOC) in the 18th position with the time of 1:30:23. As in the Men Super Elite class, the Men Elite class' course had 18.0 km and the fastest was Johan Ek-Larsson (SNO) with the time of 1:54:33. Yesterday's winner, Rafal Podzinski (PNT), got the second place, one minute after Ek-Larsson. Podzinski reinforced his leading position in this class, while Thierry Gueorgiou and Simone Niggli are the new leaders of the Men Super Elite class and the Women Elite class, respectively.

Results

Men Super Elite

1. Thierry Gueorgiou (Kalevan Rasti) 1:36:10 (+ 00:00)

2. Albin Ridefelt (OK Linné) 1:36:19 (+ 00:09)

3. Frederic Tranchand (Paimion Rasti) 1:38:40 (+ 02:30)

4. Olav Lundanes (Paimion Rasti) 1:39:15 (+ 03:05)

5. Andreu Blanes (Colivenc) 1:40:16 (+ 04:06)

Women Elite

1. Simone Niggli (OK Tisaren) 1:12:37 (+ 00:00)

2. Eva Jurenikova (Halden SK) 1:15:39 (+ 03:02)

3. Ida Marie Naess Bjoergul (Paimion Rasti) 1:16:37 (+ 04:00)

4. Karoliina Sundberg (Lynx) 1:19:23 (+ 06:46)

5. Lizzie Ingham (Halden SK) 1:20:01 (+ 07:24)

Men Elite

1. Johan Ek-Larsson (SNO) 1:54:33 (+ 00:00)

2. Rafal Podzinski (PNT) 1:55:33 (+ 01:00)

3. Timon Schweizer (Individual SUI) 2:01:58 (+ 07:25)

4. Ken Peeters (OK Linné) 2:03:50 (+ 09:17)

5. Emil Andersson (Ärla IF) 2:04:57 (+ 10:24)

To see the complete results, please visit the event's webpage at http://pom.pt/en/.

Joaquim Margarido

POM 2017: Martínez and Kadan were the fastest in the Night Sprint

Antonio Martínez and Ursula Kadan won the Night Sprint of POM 2017. Alter do Chão's historical centre and the “dark” Jardim do Álamo hosted a great course attended by over 1,100 competitors.

As usual, the first day of Portugal O' Meeting ended with the Night Sprint party. More than 1,100 competitors headed Alter do Chão, changing the Sprint race into a fast, furious and funny moment. Antonio Martinez (Turun Metsänkävijät) was the fastest in the Men Super Elite class, covering the 3.2 km of his course in 12:22. Ivan Sirakov (Variant5) got the second best time, 9 seconds after Martinez. In the third position, both with 12:33, finished Riccardo Scalet (HS) and Timo Sild (Koovee). The Men Elite class presents another Spanish athlete on top of the final standings. Marc Serralong (Dreamteam) achieved the best time between the sixty finishers with 12:49, sharing the first place with Chris Smithard (OK Pan-Kristianstad). Luis Sanchéz (Villena-O) finished in the third place, 21 seconds after the winner.

In the Women class, Ursula Kadan's great performance meant the first place, finishing the 2.8 km of her course in 11:38. Catherine Taylor (OK Södertörn) got the second place, 8 seconds after Kadan. The third place was achieved by Tereza Janosikova (TSM Hana) with 11:40, while Svetlana Mironova (Koovee) finished fourth, 18 seconds after the winner. Without competitors in the Men Super Elite and Women Elite classes, Portugal's best athlete was Nelson Baroca in the Men Elite class with the time of 16:14 which earned him the 41st position.

Results

Men Super Elite

1. Antonio Martinez (Turun Metsänkävijät) 12:22 (+ 00:00)

2. Ivan Sirakov (Variant5) 12:31 (+ 00:09)

3. Riccardo Scalet (HS) 12:33 (+ 00:11)

3. Timo Sild (Koovee) 12:33 (+ 00:11)

5. Frederic Tranchand (Paimion Rasti) 12:44 (+ 00:22)

Women Elite

1. Ursula Kadan (Austrian Military Team) 11:30 (+ 00:00)

2. Catherine Taylor (OK Södertörn) 11:38 (+ 00:08)

3. Tereza Janoziková (TSM Hana) 11:40 (+ 00:10)

4. Svetlana Mironova (Koovee) 11:48 (+ 00:18)

5. Tessa Strain (IL Tyrving) 12:00 (+ 00:30)

Men Elite

1. Marc Serralonga (Dreamteam) 12:49 (+ 00:00)

1. Chris Smithard (OK Pan-Kristianstad) 12:49 (+ 00:00)

3. Luis Sánchez (Villena-O) 13:10 (+ 00:21)

4. Vladimir Gribin (Individual RUS) 13:24 (+ 00:35)

5. Jakob Andersson (OK Linné) 13:40 (+ 00:51)

Complete results and further information at http://pom.pt/en/.

Joaquim Margarido