Spanish Trail Orienteering Championships 2017: Søren Saxtorph and Inês Domingues were the winners

Inês Domingues and Søren Saxtorph won their classes and were the great figures of the 2017 Spanish Trail Orienteering Championships. Internally, Santiago Pérez and Miguel Ángel Garcia achieved their first TrailO Spanish titles.

As usual during the Easter season, the Spanish Orienteering Federation organized, this time with GOCAN club, the 2017 Spanish Orienteering Championships, whose program included a PreO competition. With courses set by Hector Lorenzo, the event was held in Miraflores de la Sierra (Madrid) and was attended by 126 competitors from Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Israel, the United States and South Africa. In the Paralympic Class, the Spanish Miguel Ángel Garcia (ADOL) wasn't an easy opponent for the super-favorite Søren Saxtorph (Ballerup OK), Denmark, holder of four individual medals at World Championships. Both answered correctly to 23 out of 25 tasks and both missed one of the timed controls, being the victory to the Nordic competitor because of his faster answering speed in the timed station.

In the Open Class, the Portuguese Inês Domingues (COC) showed once again all her talent, being the only competitor to answer correctly all tasks. To this immaculate performance, Inês added a "supersonic" answer time in the timed station, clearly below the average of the other competitors. One point less than the winner were classified eight competitors, with another Portuguese, Jorge Baltazar (GDU Azoia), getting the best time in the timed station and achieving the second position. In the third position were placed two competitors with equal time of answer in the timed controls: the very young Danish Karoline Saxtorph Schulz (Ballerup OK), one of the great revelations of the recent World Championships, and Santiago Pérez (COMA), thus achieving his first national title.

Results

Open class

1. Inês Domingues (COC, POR) 25 points / 12 seconds

2. Jorge Baltazar (GDU Azoia, POR) 24 points / 36 seconds

3. Santiago Pérez (COMA) 24 points / 40 seconds

3. Karoline Saxtorph Schulz (Ballerup OK, DEN) 24 points / 40 seconds

5. Arturo Garcia Dingra (Escondite-T) 24 points / 77 seconds

6. Alex Tello Lacal (Valencia-O) 24 points / 91 seconds

7. Jorge Valente Barrera (Imperdible) 24 points / 92 seconds

8. Javier Arufe (APA Liceo) 24 points / 98 seconds

9. Ana Belén Calvo (UPV-O) 24 points / 116 seconds

10. Juan Pedro Valente (Imperdible) 23 points / 43 seconds

Paralympic class

1. Søren Saxtorph (Ballerup OK, DEN) 23 points / 84 seconds

2. Miguel Ángel Garcia (ADOL) 23 points / 100 seconds

3. Carlos Riu (COMA) 18 points / 112 seconds

4. Sergio Martin (COHU) 18 points / 116 seconds

5. Alice Rouillard (Montsant Orientació) 11 points / 180 seconds

[The Portuguese Orienteering Blog thanks Miguel Ángel Garcia for his kind attention in providing all the information]

Joaquim Margarido

Spanish Orienteering Championships 2017: Anna Serralonga and Antonio Martinez were the main figures

The Holy Week ended and, with it, the Spanish Orienteering Championships CEO 2017, which called to Canencia and Miraflores de la Sierra (Madrid) close to 1,900 competitors. Three days, five races and 27 medals distributed in the Elite category, mostly achieved by the Valencian Community and Catalonia, are a few numbers of a great event. Individually, Antonio Martínez and Anna Serralonga were the main figures.

Organized by GOCAN – Grupo de Orientación Complutense y Actividades en la Naturaleza, Spanish Orienteering Federation and International Orienteering Federation, the CEO 2017 kicked off on Friday, 14th April, in Pinares de Canencia with the Middle Distance, a very technical and fast race in which no one was saved from mistakes. In the Women Elite class, Esther Gil (Colivenc), was the fastest, ahead of the favorite, Anna Serrallonga (Go-Xtrem) and Annabel Valledor (Badalona-O). Among the Men, Luis Nogueira (COMA) achieved a surprising gold, ahead of Antonio Martinez (Colivenc), who was also a favorite. The bronze was taken by Eduardo Gil (Tjalve).

Friday afternoon, took place the always exciting Relay races, in which Catalonia and Valencia fought hardly for the victory, both in Men and Women Elite classes. The women's team of Catalonia would take the gold for the second year in a row, ahead of the Valencian Community and Castilla la Mancha. In the men's class, the Valencia team climbed to the top of the podium, ahead of Andalusia and Catalonia, who contested the silver in a tight and intense final.

10 individual medals for Colivenc

The second day of competition was dedicated to the urban races, having Miraflores de la Sierra as the perfect stage for two amazing moments. Scoring for the IOF Sprint Orienteering World Ranking, the Sprint had in the athletes of Center Esportiu Colivenc (Alicante), Violeta Feliciano and Andreu Blanes, the big winners. The podium was completed by Ona Ràfols (COC) and Anna Serrallonga, in the Women's class, and Eduardo Gil and Antonio Martínez, in the Men's class. During the afternoon, time for the Mixed Relay where Catalonia achieved the first and the second positions, ahead of Castile and Leon, third placed.

The third day of competition was reserved for the Long Distance that will surely be the hardest of the season, not only for the demanding courses but also for taking place after two intense days. After 1 hour and 21 minutes of race, Anna Serrallonga got the victory by just eight seconds over Esther Gil. The bronze would be achieved by Violeta Feliciano. In men Antonio Martinez would take the gold ahead of his team mates, Andreu Blances and Roger Casal. Looking on the overall standings, the Center Esportiu Colivenc took 10 out of 18 possible medals in the individual races, being possible to say that the Valencians were stronger in the individual races, while the Catalans got the most out of the Relay races.

Results

Long Distance

Men Elite

1. Antonio Martinez (Colivenc) 1:14:28 (+ 00:00)

2. Andreu Blanes (Colivenc) 1:17:07 (+ 02:39)

3. Roger Casal (Colivenc) 1:22:01 (+ 07:33)

4. Eduardo Gil (Tjalve) 1:22:50 (+ 08:22)

5. Pau Llorens (COB) 1:23:35 (+ 09:07)

Women Elite

1. Anna Serralonga (Go-Xtrem) 1:21:44 (+ 00:00)

2. Esther Gil (Colivenc) 1:21:52 (+ 00:08)

3. Violeta Feliciano (Colivenc) 1:27:23 (+ 05:39)

4. Ona Ràfols (COC) 1:28:39 (+ 06:55)

5. Annabel Valledor (Badalona-O) 1:36:42 (+ 14:58)

Middle Distance

Men Elite

1. Luis Nogueira (COMA) 28:10 (+ 00:00)

2. Antonio Martinez (Colivenc) 29:46 (+ 01:36)

3. Eduardo Gil (Tjalve) 29:51 (+ 01:41)

4. Marc Serralonga (Go-Xtrem) 30:08 (+ 01:58)

5. Andreu Blanes (Colivenc) 30:24 (+ 02:14)

5. Roger Casal (Colivenc) 30:24 (+ 02:14)

Women Elite

1. Esther Gil (Colivenc) 37:43 (+ 00:00)

2. Anna Serralonga (Go-Xtrem) 38:47 (+ 01:04)

3. Annabel Valledor (Badalona-O) 42:38 (+ 04:55)

4. Ona Ràfols (COC) 42:57 (+ 05:14)

5. Esmeralda Ruiz (Sant Joan) 45:28 (+ 07:45)

WRE Sprint

Men Elite

1. Andreu Blanes (Colivenc) 13:37 (+ 00:00)

2. Eduardo Gil (Tjalve) 13:45 (+ 00:08)

3. Ricardo Ferreira (FPO Portuguese Team) 14:47 (+ 01:10)

3. João Mega Figueiredo (FPO Portuguese Team) 14:47 (+ 01:10)

5. Gregory Ahlswede (Escondite-M) 15:06 (+ 01:29)

Women Elite

1. Violeta Feliciano (Colivenc) 13:25 (+ 00:00)

2. Ona Ràfols (COC) 13:34 (+ 00:09)

3. Anna Serralonga (Go-Xtrem) 13:57 (+ 00:32)

4. Mariana Moreira (FPO Portuguese Team) 14:00 (+ 00:35)

5. Amparo Gil (COB) 14:21 (+ 00:56)

Relay

Men Elite

1. Comunidad Valenciana (Roger Casal, Andreu Blanes, Antonio Martinez) 1:38:49 (+ 00:00)

2. Andalucia A (Jose Manuel Garcia, Javier Ruiz de la Herran, Luis Nogueira) 1:45:44 (+ 06:55)

3. Cataluña A (Marc Serralonga, Biel Ràfols, Pau Llorens) 1:45:59 (+ 07:10)

4. Madrid A (Greg Ahlswede, Alvaro Benavente, Alvaro Prieto Del Campo) 1:52:09 (+ 13:20)

5. Cataluña C (David Tarres, Llei Viles Bonet, Eloi Marti) 1:53:34 (+ 14:45)

Women Elite

1. Cataluña A (Ona Ràfols, Amparo Gil, Anna Serralonga) 1:30:32 (+ 00:00)

2. Comunidad Valenciana A (Violeta Feliciano, Esmeralda Ruiz, Esther Gil) 1:39:15 (+ 08:43)

3. Castilla-La Mancha A (Carmen Patiño, Maria Rodriguez, Guadalupe Moreno) 1:48:03 (+ 17:31)

4. Cataluña B (Marta Sanchez, Laura serra, Annabel Valledor) 1:50:13 (+ 19:41)

5. Castilla Y León A (Marina Garcia, Marta Perez, Amanda Pons) 1:52:45 (+ 22:13)

Mixed Relay

1. Cataluña A (Ona Ràfols, Pau Llorens, Marc Serralonga, Anna Serralonga) 45:25 (+ 00:00)

2. Cataluña B (Laura Serra, Biel Ràfols, Pol Ràfols, Amparo Gil) 51:51 (+ 06:26)

3. Castilla Y León A (Marina Garcia, Diego Lázaro de Juan, Cosme Sánchez, Yara Bores) 53:33 (+ 08:08)

4. Cataluña C (Andrea Guillen, Eloi Martí, Sebastián Ordoñez, Laia Gil) 56:41 (+ 11:16)

5. Aragón A (Jara Gracia, Israel Fuentes, Jesus Chicharro, Esther Arias) 56:51 (+ 11:26)

Complete results and further information at http://ceo2017.es/.

[Photo: Ampa Gil-Brotons]

Joaquim Margarido

3rd Ávila Trophy and 2nd Máximus Trophy: Victories of Antonio Martínez and Alicia Gil

The fourth round of the 2017 Spanish Orienteering League, held in Burgohondo, Ávila, joined nearly eight hundred athletes for a challenging and fun orienteering weekend. The fastest in the Elite category were Antonio Martínez Pérez and Alicia Gil Sanchéz.

With the accomplishment of the 3rd Ávila Trophy and 2nd Máximus Trophy, took place in Burgohondo, Ávila, the fourth round of the 2017 Spanish Orienteering League. The event was organized by the Máximus Orienteering Club and the Burgohondo Municipality, gathering close eight hundred competitors for two challenging races – Middle Distance and Long Distance – and, still, the bonus of a Sprint race, in the afternoon of the first day.

Both, the Middle and the Long Distance, were held in challenging terrains, with lots of rocky features of all kind, demanding high accuracy in the map reading and a good physical shape. After some small mistakes, Antonio Martínez Perez (Colivenc) was able to achieve the best record in the Middle Distance race, finishing with the time of 36:20, against 38:14 from Pau Llorens Caellas (COB Barcelona) and 40:24 from Eduardo Gil Marcos (Tjalve), second and third placed. Martínez's Long Distance race was far from being perfect, but the ten-minute advantage over Llorens clearly demonstrate his huge superiority. Both Middle and Long Distance races were also a jigsaw in the Women Elite class, with all athletes having a lot to review after mistake-filled races. Esther Gil i Brotons (Colivenc) won the Middle Distance race in the Women Elite with the time of 48:15 against 49:47 from Alicia Gil Sánchez (Colivenc). In the Long Distance, Alicia finished six and half minutes before Esther Gil, achieving the Trophy.

Overall standings

Men Elite

1. Antonio Martínez Pérez (Colivenc) 2:17:32 (+ 00:00)

2. Pau Llorens Caellas (COB Barcelona) 2:30:12 (+ 12:40)

3. Eduardo Gil Marcos (Tjalve) 2:36:25 (+ 18:53)

4. Álvaro Prieto Del Campo (Malarruta) 2:42:01 (+ 24:29)

5. Pol Ràfols Perramon (COB Barcelona) 2:47:56 (+ 30:24)

Women Elite

1. Alicia Gil Sánchez (Colivenc) 2:22:37 (+ 00:00)

2. Esther Gil i Brotons (Colivenc) 2:27:35 (+ 04:58)

3. Carmen Patiño Déniz (Toledo-O) 2:41:10 (+ 18:33)

4. Marta Guijo Alonso (Via Plata) 2:43:43 (+ 21:06)

5. Laura Serra Sala (COB Barcelona) 2:48:24 (+ 25:47)

Complete results and further information at http://carrerasdemaximus.blogspot.pt/.

[Archive photo]

Joaquim Margarido

José Enrique Barcia: "I have a feeling that something big is going to happen in Spanish Orienteering this year"

The Spanish Orienteering Federation has, since last 10th December, a new President, José Enrique Barcia. He is the guest of Portuguese Orienteering Blog, telling about his ideas and proposals, his dreams and ambitions for the four years of his term.

How did you feel accepting the charge of President of the Spanish Orienteering Federation for the next four years?

José Enrique Barcia (J. E. B.) - I felt great, like everyone who loves things to which they are committed.What legacy did you receive from the previous governing body?

J. E. B. - Spanish Orienteering Federation is very grateful to my predecessor in office. He and his crew have worked hard for our sport.

I believe that economic problems are your biggest concern and dealing successfully with them will be your main goal. What strategies have you made to move forward?

J. E. B. - Joaquim, look: it is not the economic problem that worries me the most; what worries me the most is the lack of recognition of our sport as what it is: a demanding, spectacular, very technical, very complete sport. The day we fit Orienteering into society - and I'm sure we will do it -, it will be the day our economic problems will finish. Summarizing, we have to work really hard looking forward to introduce Orienteering to our society.

How do you see the role of the Autonomic Leagues in Spain and its heterogeneity? Is Orienteering in Spain moving at different speeds?

J. E. B. - Unfortunately the development of orienteering is not the same throughout Spain. Ideally, all the autonomies would be able to enjoy a strong and competitive League and that, effectively, doesn't exist. But I'm very confident that, during this period of 2016-2020, we will manage to create a Territorial Federation in each autonomy and then create territorial leagues strong enough to reach the level of the excellent Northern League and the exciting Southeastern League.

One of the considerations of your program is about celebrating the Spanish Orienteering Championships in two or three different stages, moving away from the traditional meeting time of the Spanish orienteering family during Easter. Has your proposal been well received?

J. E. B. - Well, my proposal only set expectations higher among orienteers. In fact, Victor García did the same on his application proposal, so I can say that it has been very well received. How couldn't it be? From now on, we will have two great parties of the Spanish Orienteering and not just one!

Of course, not all of it are “thorns”. Would you like to say something about the “roses” of the Spanish Orienteering?

J. E. B. - Working for the benefit of the sport that you love above all compensates the few bad moments.

MTB Orienteering, Adventure Racing, Rogaine, even Ski Orienteering are, in addition to Foot Orienteering, objects of interest of your "Program of Action and Considerations in relation to the Presidency of the Spanish Orienteering Federation”. However, there isn't a single word about Trail Orienteering. May I ask why?

J. E. B. - Well, I can't tell you why. What I can tell you is that the Spanish Orienteering Federation and me, personally, are very interested in the development of Trail Orienteering. In fact, one of the first meetings we had, just after me becoming president, was held with the single goal of promoting Trail Orienteering and I have made some proposals in this regard.

How has the battle of the first 100 days of Presidency been?

J. E. B. - I can't say, honestly, that I have been engrossed in any battle. I'm, in general, very happy with how things are going. I only hope that the Federative life treats me, along my term, as well as it has done up until now.

You've been to Portugal and attended the Portugal O' Meeting recently. What lessons have you learned from the experience?

J. E. B. - I love the Portugal O' Meeting, the great organization, the great show that is developed, the level of competitors it attracts, the great choice of terrains that is made, the magnificent courses which, in general, can be enjoyed ... It is certainly one of the great events of European orienteering ... I would like to have something like this in Spain ... there are competitions starting to approach that level but we have not achieved such high standards yet. In short, the Portugal O' Meeting is a model to follow.

Are there any aspects that can be improved in the relation between the Portuguese and the Spanish Federations?

J. E. B. - During the Portugal O' Meeting I met the new President of the Portuguese Orienteering Federation, having the chance to exchange views with him. We are both willing to work hard together with the goal of increasing Orienteering in the Iberian Peninsula.

Without asking you to dabble in futurology, how do you expect to see Spanish Orienteering after your first year of Presidency?

J. E. B. - I have a feeling that something big is going to happen in Spanish Orienteering this year ...

I would ask you to share your greatest wish?

J. E. B. - A wish... My big wish is to see the Spanish Orienteering on the front page of the sports newspapers ... and that, this year, news get to the “Marca”: the announcement that one of our runners has climbed to the podium.

[Photo courtesy of José Enrique Barcia]

Joaquim Margarido

Martin Kronlund International Trophy 2017: Victories of Andreu Blanes and Sofia Haajanen

Confirming an excellent shape, Andreu Blanes Reig was the winner of the Martin Kronlund International Trophy 2017. On the women's side, Sofia Haajanen get the best overall time, ahead of Esther Gil and Ona Ràfols. Daniel Hubmann was the event's big absent.

With the presence of 1,238 athletes from 15 countries, took place last weekend in San Martin de Valdeiglesias, 80 km west of Madrid, the 27th edition of Martin Kronlund International Trophy. After Santa Pola, Alicante (15th Costa Blanca Trophy) and Murcia (29th Costa Calida Trophy) the event marked the return of the Spanish Foot Orienteering League 2017, offering three stages - Long Distance and Sprint on the first day and Middle Distance on the second Day -, the first of which scoring for the IOF World Orienteering Ranking. The organization, led by the clubs Adyron, OrientaGetafe and Alabarda-O, Madridian Orienteering Federation and Spanish Orienteering Federation, offered excellent courses on beautiful terrains, paying the best tribute to the “father” of Spanish Orienteering, Martin Kronlund.

Very tough physically, not only by the undergrowth vegetation preventing a faster and fluid running, but also by the heat, the Long Distance race had in Estonian Timo Sild (Koovee) and Finnish Marika Teini (SK Pohjantahti ) the great winners. In the men's sector, Sild counted on the strong opposition of the Spanish Andreu Blanes Reig, registering in the end of the 11.4 km of his course a time of 1:09:52 against 1:11:36 of his most direct opponent. Lauri Sild was the third ranked, at 4:13 of his brother and teammate. Introduced as the favorite to the victory, Marika Teini had also a hard task to get rid of her compatriot and team mate Sofia Haajanen, having finished in 1:10:44 the 8.2 km of her route and registered a twenty-second advantage over the second placed. With a high quality performance, the “veteran” Esther Gil i Brotons (Colivenc) was the third ranked, with more 6:48 than the winner.

Andreu Blanes and Outi Hytonen won the Middle Distance

With many absences, surely motivated by the hardness of the Long Distance race and by the fact that this stage didn't count for the Trophy, the Sprint had again in Timo Sild the great figure, winning conclusively with the time of 11:44 . Marc Serralonga Arqués (Go-Xtrem) and Joni Hirvikallio (Koovee) took the immediate positions, with more 27 seconds and 28 seconds than the winner, respectively. Violeta Feliciano Sanjuán (Colivenc) was the fastest to complete her course, winning the Elite class with the time of 13:08. Sofia Haajanen finished in the second place with a thirty-second disadvantage, and Anna Serralonga Arqués (Go-Xtrem) get the third position, 46 seconds behind the winner.

For the last day was reserved the Middle Distance stage, in which Andreu Blanes Reig was clearly the strongest. In a very technical and fast terrain, Andreu did a perfect race, finishing with the time of 24:02 and a two-minute advantage over the second placed, his teammate Antonio Martinez Perez. In third place, 2:44 after the winner, stood the Finnish Olli-Markus Taivanen (IMP 1398 Navi). Lauri Sild couldn't get better than the 5th place in this stage, and Andreu Blanes Reig won the Trophy. In the Women Elite class, the stage's winner was the Finn Outi Hytonen (Kangasala SK) with a time of 26:09 against 26:48 of her compatriot, Miia Niitynen (Koovee), second placed. The Spanish Ona Ràfols Perramon (COC Barcelona) achieved the third place. Overall, Sofia Haajanen won the Trophy with Esther Gil i Brotons and Ona Ràfols Perramon getting the immediate positions, separated from each other by only three seconds but at a distance of almost four minutes from the winner.

Overall standings

Men Elite

1. Andreu Blanes Reig (Colivenc) 1:35:38 (+ 00:00)

2. Timo Sild (Koovee) 1:37:07 (+ 01:29)

3. Lauri Sild (Koovee) 1:42:55 (+ 07:17)

4. Antonio Martínez Perez (Colivenc) 1:44:07 (+ 08:29)

5. Johan Backman (Malungs OK Skogsmårdarna) 1:44:11 (+ 08:33)

Women Elite

1. Sofia Haajanen (SK Pohjantahti) 1:43:25 (+ 00:00)

2. Esther Gil i Brotons (Colivenc) 1:47:09 (+ 03:44)

3. Ona Ràfols Perramon (COC Barcelona) 1:47:12 (+ 03:47)

4. Anna Serralonga Arques (Go-Xtrem) 1:49:06 (+ 05:41)

5. Sari Nurmela (Vehkalahden Veikot) 1:57:29 (+ 14:04)

For more information, complete results and photos of the event, please visit the respective website at http://www.alabardaorientacion.com/index.php/martin-krolund-2017/.

[Archive photo]

Joaquim Margarido

Martin Kronlund: "I always take a map, a compass and a camera"

At a time when, in San Martin de Valdeiglesias, Madrid, is about to start the Martin Kronlund Trophy's 27th edition, the Portuguese Orienteering Blog recovers an Interview published this week on the Spanish Orienteering Federation's webpage, reproducing the conversation between the “father” of Spanish Orienteering and Chemari Bustillo, in the role of journalist. Worth reading!

Martin Kronlund is 84. Old in age, but still young, both physically and mentally. Swedish by birth, he feels himself Spanish. “My name is now Martin Kronlund Kronlund”, he laughs, “because I wouldn’t get my passport otherwise”. Since his arrival to Spain, he lives in Madrid, in the heart of the city, something he doesn’t like very much: “Especially now. When I arrived, it was a nice place”, he recalls. That was in 1962, when he moved to Madrid to spend a season working as Fencing teacher and became captive by “the land, the people and their way of living.” Martin Kronlund is a gentleman, observer, sincere and calm. It's quite obvious that he enjoys to be in the forest. For some reason he has been practicing orienteering for more than 70 years, since his father taught him.

In the little Orienteering world he is a guru, a well-known person worldwide. I was supposed to interview him early in the morning, before the race, but he asked me to wait. “My voice in the morning isn't very good”, he argued. He talks brokenly, slowly, and before doing it, he thinks, just like in Orienteering, where you have to think before running. Martin Kronlund loves exchange experiences and the conviviality with people, showing his great sportsmanship nature, something that has been with him all his life. Its physical background lies in the daily “must-be” cross-country skiing, as it was “the only way to go to school”, he says. No doubt it worked and he keeps an excellent physical and mental shape, despite his advanced age.

When and how was born the Martin Kronlund Trophy?

Martin Kronlund (M. K.) -The first edition was in 1988, although I don’t remember how it was born. It was a proposal to my club at that time, the Orienteering Club Adyron. We agreed and accepted the challenge to organize an Orienteering event in Madrid, where it has always been held, it’s a tradition.

How was your arrival to our country?

M. K. - I was working in Stockholm (Sweden), teaching Fencing, but I had something inside me that was encouraging me to move. I saw an advertisement in L'Esgrime, a magazine I used to read, where they were looking for a Fencing teacher in Spain. I didn’t think twice.

It is said that you are the introducer of Orienteering in our country. Is it true?

M. K. - Well, it’s possible. The origin, in a broad sense, isn’t well known, but, as a new sporting discipline, it’s possible that I was responsible for the introduction of Orienteering in Spain.

The truth is that I worked as Fencing teacher in the Spanish Federation, developing my work in the Physical Education National Institute, Madrid, in a beautiful forest. In 1967, I came up with small Orienteering courses in this forest, offering to my students a fun way to practise. I had been practising this sport for years in my country of origin, but in Spain it was unknown. The goal was to train my students phisically and Orienteering was an easy and fun way of doing it. I had a very good relationship with INEF teachers, and they were very happy to have a new sport in Spain.

How has the evolution of this sport been in Spain?

M.K. - It has changed a lot since then, thanks to the work of lots of young people, to formation programs and to the creation of a Federation dedicated exclusively to this sport. All this has made it become something real and well established. In 1971 I contacted a Swedish guy living in Madrid proposing him to make a new map during his Christmas holiday. This was published in 1972 and, according to the International Orienteering Federation, was the starting shot, a real boom. Now there are thousands of orienteers, people who are not dedicated to it professionally, but who trains and strives to consolidate and promote the sport.

What would you say to someone who wants to start in this sport?

M.K. - If someone wants to start, the simplest thing to do is to give me the hand and we'll go together into the forest. With a map and a compass we will learn together to watch it and to discover the secrets it keeps, like when I was a child and I walked in the forest with my father, holding hands.

What's the most important thing: running or thinking?

M.K. - The two things are very important, it depends on the course and the map. There are parts where you can run thinking less and others where you have to go very focused, keeping a low pace. The one who set the course must mix the two types. The most important thing is to keep focused when approaching the feature in which the flag is located; you have to increase your concentration as you approach the control and, in the end, the most important thing is not let that physical exhaustion stops you thinking: a mistake under these circumstances can be the cause of a bad result.

In this sport you have a goal to achieve. Each one chooses the way. When you reach the goal, you immediately set another, and so on. Depending on the character, some arrive faster and others slow down, there are some that are passed and others don't arrive, even others that aren't able to meet all goals. Don't you think Orienteering is very similar to people's life?

M.K. - What a beautiful observation! Orienteering is like life, life is like Orienteering ... I had never thought about it; it's true, you're right... like the lives of people ... In addition, the one who passes, loses control. There are people who prefer the binomial map-compass and others choosing map-legs.

What do you have in that backpack you always carry on your shoulder?

M.K. - I always take a map, a compass and a camera. I like to photograph highlights, special elements, interesting elements of the forest that I can use later in my presentations on course setting to propose control points where to put a flag. I also like to take photos of the orienteers, the children, all of you... By the way, wait a moment ... Well, I also have a chocolate (laughs), in case of burn out...!

The original Interview can be seen at http://www.fedo.org/web/ficheros/noticias/2017/2017-Entrevista-Chemari-Martin.pdf.

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

Andreu Blanes: "A WOC medal is the next step"

Major interpreter of the Spanish “fury”, Andreu Blanes spent a few days in Portugal where he achieved a very motivating set of results. The Portuguese Orienteering Blog met him, listening to his thoughts on the present moment and the main steps looking forward to the Estonian mission.

It's not the first time you win a Sprint race in Aguiar da Beira, is it? Does this distance have any special meaning for you?

Andreu Blanes (A. B.) - The Sprint is my favourite distance to run, or rather, my best distance, and the one I've been practising more for the World Orienteering Championshops, so it has a very special meaning to me.

Does this course meet your demands for a good sprint race?

A. B. - It's a typical portuguese town, with narrow streets, great concentration of controls, some faster areas and I think it's a fine place for a Sprint race.

Where did the secret towards your victory lie?

A. B. - I believe it was the speed. I'm in great shape, the legs performed the way I expected them to (laughs), and I was able to run quickly, keep a cool head and make the best options.

How do you rate yourself at this moment, after these events here in Portugal?

A. B. - I feel really well. In the beginning of the season, a few mates and I moved to Madrid and practised intensely, so we were curious as to know how our bodies would respond to these high-skill, competitive environments. But it looks as though we are fit, feelings are great and we evaluate our performances and results in a very positive manner. On the other hand, these Portuguese terrains are very different from the ones I'm used to back home, and it's great to achieve results so close to the ones achieved by the best in the world.

Did moving to Madrid implicate any kind of change to your training method?

A. B. - Yes, there was a great deal of changes. Antonio Martinez and I didn't have a coach anymore, so now we're working according to our own plan. I believe we already know enough to do so, and we're also practising more, so that is the biggest difference in relation to the last years.

At the end of the Costa Calida Trophy it was possible to see José Enrique Barcia, President of the Spanish Orienteering Federation, meet the Spanish Elite group and give them his full support. How do you assess this new president's dynamic? Are there any changes that begin to be noticed?

A. B. - Yes, president Barcia has a different way of thinking as opposed to our last president, but he's been in charge for too little time, so there really isn't much to say as of now. But he's someone with fresh perspectives and who seems open minded about our ideas, so I believe his work will be very profitable.

What are the most important steps in your preparation?

A. B. - In a month we'll have the Spanish Orienteering Championships, which are always a very exciting and important moment. After that, I will focus only on the WOC. Of course, the big Relays with my Swedish team will always be very important moments, but the main goal is to perform well in the World Championships.

You talked about the big Relays and, if I can recall correctly, one of your finest achievements last season was the Tiomila victory. How do you evaluate 2016?

A. B. - Well, my goals for the season were probably too ambitious, mostly because I performed very well in 2015 and so the first impression I got of the season was kind of disappointing. But looking back on it now, I realize it didn't go as badly as I previously thought, and there was that definitely special moment when we won Tiomila, which is something I will never forget. As for the WOC, I won't say that I did a bad job, but whoever scores a 7th place in 2015 and ends up in 14th place can't be truly pleased. The truth is I made a wrong option which cost me some places in the standings, but this is Orienteering and we should all learn from our mistakes.

You've said WOC is your main goal for 2017 and I'm sure you'll bet on the Sprint again in Estonia.

A. B. - Yes, that definitely is my main goal, but I also wish to run the Middle Distance. I won't tell you which results I'm going for, but I'm sure you can guess them (laughs).

So, you goal is to achieve a WOC medal.

A. B. - Yes, a WOC medal is the next step. I finished in 7th place in 2015, less than a second away from reaching the podium and 5 seconds away from the medals, so I'll see if I can take that big step this year.

To conclude, I'd ask you to leave a word to the Portuguese organizations.

A. B. - You do awesome work and what you're able to create in these events is terrific, and something we definitely need in Orienteering in order to attract more public. I must thank you for your great job, especially for the Elite athletes.

Joaquim Margarido

29th Murcia Costa Calida International Trophy: Victories for Runesson and Kinni

Johan Runesson and Saila Kinni were the brightest stars of the 29th Murcia Costa Calida International Trophy, the second oldest orienteering event in Spain. Held in Caravaca de la Cruz and Cehegín, two cities of Murcia region, the event gathered more than 1,200 competitors from 17 different countries.

After the 15th Costa Blanca Trophy and the 4th Lorca O' Meeting, the Spanish Orienteering calendar moved ahead this weekend with the 29th Murcia Costa Calida International Trophy, Spain's second oldest orienteering event and also one which, from the beginning, has deserved the trust of runners from Spain and also numerous countries from all Europe. So it was this year, with more than 1,200 competitors from 17 different countries heading to Caravaca de la Cruz and Cehegín for three stages of high level orienteering.

The event couldn't have a better start, offering a Long Distance WRE stage, scoring for the IOF World Orienteering Ranking, on the map of Llano de Arriba, 8 km west of Caravaca. Moderately hilly and, in some areas of replanted forest, with reduced visibility, the race was dominated by two representatives of Tampereen Pyrinto, Johan Runesson, Sweden, and Saila Kinni, Finland, respectively in Men Elite class and Women Elite class. Keeping a very strong pace along the course, Runesson achieved the fastest time in eleven out of twenty-six controls, leading the race from start to finish. The advantage reached along the course allowed him to survive a one-minute mistake, already in the course's final part, ending with the time of 1:22:05. The Norwegian Magne Dæhli (Halden SK) finished 1:50 after the winner, reaching the second position, while the third place went to the Spanish Andreu Blanes (Colivenc), with the time of 1:24:51. In the Women's competition, Saila Kinni showed a huge consistency throughout the course, allowing her to win seconds after seconds over her most direct rivals, scoring 1:09:55 at the finish and a four-minute lead on the second ranked, the Russian Anastasia Rudnaya (MS Parma). In the third place, with more 5:46 than the winner, finished Sari Anttonen (Keuruun Kisailijat), Finland, while the best Spanish athlete was Esther Gil (Colivenc) in the 12th place, 18:46 after Kinni.

Held in the afternoon of the first day, in the historical centre of Cehegín, the Sprint stage was dominated by Spanish athletes in the Men's sector. Eduardo Gil (Tjalve), Andreu Blanes and Antonio Martínez (Colivenc), the three best Spanish orienteers currently, finished the race by this order. After a fourty-second mistake on her way to the fifth control, Anastasia Rudnaya reach the second placed in the Women Elite class, this time with a one-second disadvantage to the winner, Sari Anttonen. The Middle Distance stage that ended the 29th Murcia Costa Cálida International Trophy was held in Cañada de Canara, Cehegín, and saw Johan Runesson and Saila Kinni keeping the advantage brought from the eve and calling to themselves the first place in the overall standings. Runesson reached the second placed in the stage, six seconds behind the winner, Andreu Blanes, who spent 34:16. The fight for the victory between the two competitors was really intense, with Runesson breaking in the very final part of the course, after having been leading 21 out of 24 controls. In the Women Elite class, the triumph finally smiled to Rudnaya with the time of 32:12, with Anttonen and Kinni, finishing second and third, with more 1:38 and 1:39 respectively than the winner. Andreu Blanes and Violeta Feliciano (Colivenc) were the best Spanish athletes overall.

Results

Long Distance WRE

Men Elite

1. Johan Runesson (Tampereen Pyrinto) 1:22:05 (+ 00:00)

2. Magne Dæhli (Halden SK) 1:23:55 (+ 01:50)

3. Andreu Blanes (Colivenc) 1:24:51 (+ 02:46)

4. Vojtech Král (IFK Mora OK) 1:30:28 (+ 08:23)

5. Martin Regborn (Hagaby GoIF) 1:30:37 (+ 08:32)

Women Elite

1. Saila Kinni (Tampereen Pyrinto) 1:09:55 (+ 00:00)

2. Anastasia Rudnaya (MS Parma) 1:13:55 (+ 04:00)

3. Sari Anttonen (Keuruun Kisailijat) 1:15:41 (+ 05:46)

4. Henna Haikonen (Anttolan Urheilijat) 1:19:56 (+ 10:01)

5. Kristin Löfgren (IFK Mora OK) 1:20:44 (+ 10:49)

Sprint

Men Elite

1. Eduardo Gil (Tjalve) 16:04 (+ 00:00)

2. Andreu Blanes (Colivenc) 16:11 (+ 00:07)

3. António Martínez (Colivenc) 16:18 (+ 00:14)

4. Vojtech Král (IFK Mora OK) 16:21 (+ 00:17)

5. Isac Von Krusenstierna (OK Kare) 16:26 (+ 00:22)

Women Elite

1. Sari Anttonen (Keuruun Kisailijat) 15:50 (+ 00:00)

2. Anastasia Rudnaya (MS Parma) 15:51 (+ 00:01)

3. Maija Sianoja (MS Parma) 16:24 (+ 00:34)

4. Maria Prieto Del Campo (Malarruta) 16:52 (+ 01:02)

5. Miia Niittynen (Koovee) 17:17 (+ 01:27)

Middle Distance

Men Elite

1. António Martínez (Colivenc) 34:16 (+ 00:00)

2. Johan Runesson (Tampereen Pyrinto) 34:22 (+ 00:06)

3. Andreu Blanes (Colivenc) 34:40 (+ 00:24)

4. Eduardo Gil (Tjalve) 34:44 (00:28)

5. Eetu Savolainen (Ikaalisten Noiseva V) 35:02 (+ 00:46)

Women Elite

1. Anastasia Rudnaya (MS Parma) 32:12 (+ 00:01)

2. Sari Anttonen (Keuruun Kisailijat) 33:50 (+ 01:38)

3. Saila Kinni (Tampereen Pyrinto) 33:51 (+ 01:39)

4. Henna Haikonen (Anttolan Urheilijat) 34:52 (+ 02:40)

5. Silje Ekroll Jahren (OL Norska) 35:13 (+ 03:01)

Overall results

Men Elite

1. Johan Runesson (Tampereen Pyrinto) 2:14:06 (+ 00:00)

2. Andreu Blanes (Colivenc) 2:15:42 (+ 01:36)

3. António Martínez (Colivenc) 2:24:39 (+ 10:33)

4. Manuel Jurado (Sant Joan) 2:30:26 (+ 16:20)

5. Eetu Savolainen (Ikaalisten Noiseva V) 2:30:34 (+ 16:28)

Women Elite

1. Saila Kinni (Tampereen Pyrinto) 2:01.21 (+ 00:00)

2. Anastasia Rudnaya (MS Parma) 2:01:58 (+ 00:37)

3. Sari Anttonen (Keuruun Kisailijat) 2:05:21 (+ 04:00)

4. Sofia Haajanen (SK Pohjantahti) 2:17:09 (+ 15:48)

5. Miia Niittynen (Koovee) 2:22:30 (+ 21:09)

Complete results and further information at https://www.costacalidaorientacion.net/.

[Photo: FEDO / Comunicacion Federacion Española de Orientacion]

Joaquim Margarido

Angel Garcia Garcia: Spain on the map

Born in Salamanca 31 years ago, it's in La Coruña, in the northwestern Spain, that Angel Garcia Garcia currently lives. To the Tower of Hercules he goes to seek his enormous strength and the brilliance of the results achieved merges in the frontages of the City of Crystal.

Lover of both sports and music, Angel practiced Canoeing for eight years, but it was through Adventure Racing that he first made contact with Orienteering. MTB Orienteering has emerged as an extension of his growing interest for the sport; being able to combine mountain-biking with Orienteering challenges and the ceaseless quest for the best option has resulted in the perfect “two-in-one” solution for him, in a passionate story with just two years.

An unexpected result

Angel's first international experience took place at Bialystok, Poland, during the World MTBO Championships 2014. The athlete had just finished a mountain marathon and his physical conditions were everything but perfect. Unpreparedness and inexperience in events of such high demand resulted in weak performances, but Angel was able to make the most of this unique opportunity and learn from his failure. In 2015, in Liberec, Czech Republic, we cannot say that the results significantly improved, so it was with great surprise that we saw him reach the 5th place in the Sprint of the World MTB Orienteering Championships, held in Portugal this summer.

- Were you expecting the 5th position?

“I didn't expect it at all! During the race, I took the risky but wise decisions I had to, and it went well. When I found out, at the end, that I had achieved the 5th place, my joy couldn't have been greater, because this is the Spanish Orienteering Federation's best result ever in the World Championships.”

Growing and improving

MTB orienteering is a discipline that is both exciting and demanding, in which athlete and bike merge perfectly in the pursuit of excellence. Emphasizing the particularities of the MTB Orienteering, Angel remarks that “the most difficult part is to identify the thin line between pushing at full speed and slowing down, so as always to be able to navigate on the limits”.

Speaking of this discipline in his country, Angel highlights the good technical work in the Spanish team and also “the brilliant athletes who will present nice results in a short time.” With these riders, this coach and this Federation, the MTB Orienteering future in Spain seems promising and Angel sums it up in two words: “Growing” and “improving”!

Fighting for top positions

Awaited with impatience, the 2017 season is already Angel's main focus. He knows that all the races are special so, in France or in Austria, in the Lithuanian World Championships or in the Spanish League, we will see him making the most of each experience and, above all, enjoying maps, terrains and the company of the best in the world. “I'm very motivated and looking forward to the start of the season, in which I promise to do my best and fight for top positions”, he concludes.

Joaquim Margarido

LOM 2017: Rudnaya stood out in Lorca

Faster than their opponents in the Sprint WRE stage, Anastasia Rudnaya and Florian Howald were the first winners of Lorca O' Meeting 2017. Rudnaya also won the Long Distance, together with Magne Dæhli, while Pascal Buchs and Sabine Hauswirth achieved tasty victories in the Night Middle Distance.

Took place last weekend the 4th edition of Lorca O' Meeting 2017, event that gathered in the historical center of the city of Lorca and the neighboring place of La Almudena nearly 600 athletes from 20 countries. From the list of participants, a special word for the excellent start field, which included the Russians Natalia Gemperle, Svetlana Mironova and Anastasia Rudnaya, the Swiss Florian Howald and Sabine Hauswirth, the Belarussian Anastasia Denisova, the Swedish Johan Runesson and the Norwegian Magne Dæhli, all outstanding names of the sport, with a place in the top 20 of the IOF Orienteering World Ranking and/or the IOF Sprint Orienteering World Ranking. The event opened with a Sprint stage, scoring for the respective IOF World Ranking, followed by a Middle Distance stage in the evening of the first day. The second day was fully dedicated to the Mass Start Long Distance stage.

Introduced by the thirteen times World Champion Thierry Guergiou, France, as “a challenge, one of the great events of the season”, the Sprint WRE toured the main streets and monuments of Lorca's historical center, through a labyrinthine network of narrow streets. Florian Howald (Tampereen Pyrinto) and Anastasia Rudnaya (MS Parma) were the most accurate in the map reading and also the fastest, achieving tough victories over respectively Antonio Martinez (Colivenc) and Sabine Hauswirth (OL Norska). Hauswirth and Rudnaya fight another battle for the victory in the Night Middle Distance, this time with the advantage falling to the Swiss side by 9 seconds. The difference between the two top contenders in the Men Elite class was even tighter, with Pascal Buchs (Tampereen Pyrinto) reaching a six-second victory over his team mate Johan Runesson. The Lorca O' Meeting 2017 ended up with the Mass Start Long Distance stage, in the very detailed map of La Almudena and, like in the first stage, Anastasia Rudnaya reached the first place, nearly one-minute faster than Sabine Hauswirth. Despite some mistakes, Magne Dæhli was able to reach the first place in the Men Elite class, finishing with a good advantage of 1:17 over Antonio Martinez, second placed.

Results

Sprint

Men Elite

1. Florian Howald (Tampereen Pyrinto) 15:33 (+ 00:00)

2. Antonio Martinez (Colivenc) 15:35 (+ 00:02)

3. Eduardo Gil (Tjalve) 15:54 (+ 00:21)

4. Ivan Sirakov (Variant 5 Targovi) 16:36 (+ 01:03)

5. Artem Popov MS Parma) 16:47 (+ 01:14)

Women Elite

1. Anastasia Rudnaya (MS Parma) 15:42 (+ 00:00)

2. Sabine Hauswirth (OL Norska) 15:55 (+ 00:13)

3. Svetlana Mironova (Koovee) 16:33 (+ 00:51)

4. Tatiana Bevza (NordWest) 16:45 (+ 01:03)

5. Anastasia Denisova (Savedalens AIK) 16:47 (+ 01:05)

Night Middle Distance

Men Elite

1. Pascal Buchs (Tampereen Pyrinto) 24:39 (+ 00:00)

2. Johan Runesson (Tampereen Pyrinto) 24:45 (+ 00:06)

3. Florian Howald (Tampereen Pyrinto) 24:52 (+ 00:13)

4. Antonio Martinez (Colivenc) 25:13 (+ 00:34)

5. Algirdas Bartkevicius (SM Gaja) 25:40 (+ 01:01)

Women Elite

1. Sabine Hauswirth (OL Norska) 27:18 (+ 00:00)

2. Anastasia Rudnaya (MS Parma) 27:27 (+ 00:09)

3. Anastasia Denisova (Savedalens AIK) 27:59 (+ 00:41)

4. Mariia Makarova (MO Yakhroma) 31:48 (+ 04:30)

5. Salla Laitinen (Espoon Akilles) 33:42 (+ 06:24)

Mass Start Long Distance

Men Elite

1. Magne Dæhli (Halden SK) 1:12:50 (+ 00:00)

2. Antonio Martinez (Colivenc) 1:14:07 (+ 01:17)

3. Nikita Asoyan (Dyusash Spring) 1:14:10 (+ 01:20)

4. Florian Howald (Tampereen Pyrinto) 1:14:18 (+ 01:28)

5. Roger Casal (Colivenc) 1:17:34 (+ 04:44)

Women Elite

1. Anastasia Rudnaya (MS Parma) 1:04:57 (+ 00:00)

2. Sabine Hauswirth (OL Norska) 1:05:47 (+ 00:50)

3. Svetlana Mironova (Koovee) 1:06:01 (+ 01:04)

4. Natalia Gemperle (Alfta Osa OK) 1:08:49 (+ 03:52)

5. Josefine Heikka (Alfta Osa OK) 1:09:13 (+ 04:16)

Complete results and further information at http://lom2017.blogspot.pt/.

[Photo: Raúl Ferra / facebook.com]

Joaquim Margarido