Two or three things I know about it...

1. The Spanish MTBO League 2016 had its beginnings last weekend in Zaragoza, with the 5th Trophy Faro MTBO / Female Iberian Championships. Organized by IBON Club, the event registered the participation of 184 athletes for three tough and well contested stages. Repeating the excellent performances of the last season, the Spanish Monica Aguilera (Tierra Tragame) revalidated the Middle Distance and Long Distance titles in the Elite class, with Ana Varela Yañez (Brigantia) being second in the Middle Distance and the Portuguese Susana Pontes (COC) taking the second place in the Long Distance. The Spanish Margarita Molero Urios (Wakhan) in Juniors, Pilar Garcia (Peña Guara) in Cadets, Luisa Felpeto González (Fluvial Lugo) on Veterans A and Marce Fornies Domènech (COC Barcelona) in Veterans B took the Iberian titles, both in the Middle Distance and in the Long Distance, while the Portuguese Marisa Costa (COA) conquered the Iberian title in Juveniles in both distances. The triumph in the Men Elite class overall fell to the Spanish Ángel Garcia Garcia (Brigantia), ahead of his compatriots David Toll Clos (Go-Xtrem) and Francisco Javier Costoya (Adventure La Coruña). By doing “mp” in the second stage, the Portuguese Davide Machado lost definitely the chance to win the trophy, after a good win in the opening stage. Complete results and other information http://www.obmaragon.com.es/.

2. Combining the convenience of a smart phone and the challenge of orienteering, it's available on Apple AppStore and Google Play an application called “iOrienteering”. Suitable for all age groups and abilities, the App is very easy to use and has a free version to download and try for yourself. To get started, you just need to scan the course set up code from the map or at the start location. Once you ready to go, scan the start code to start to clock. Scan the controls as you pass them, then the finish code at the end to stop the clock. Once finished you'll be offered the chance to upload your results to the App's webpage. Designed for both iPhone and iPad, this app was developed by Richard Patton and requires iOS 6.0 or later. iOrienteering isn’t just limited to the traditional sport. It has lots of other uses. It can be used anywhere in the world. Any time of day or night. “Start in a group or challenge your friends. Why not set up your own events and have fun?”, can be read at www.iorienteering.com.

3. The World Masters Orienteering Championships/World Masters Games 2017 Organizing Committee is seeking course planners for the sprint qualification and sprint finals races to be held on the Auckland Waterfront and Auckland University City Campus areas on Sunday and Monday April 23rd and 24th 2017 respectively. If you have experience at planning sprint events and are interested please email Gillian Ingham (WMOC2017 National Controller) at gillian.turner@vuw.ac.nz as soon as possible. It is anticipated that draft maps will be available soon after Easter 2016 and we would appreciate draft courses to be ready for the visit of the IOF Senior Event Advisor in June 2016.

4. “All in or all out?” it's the question that we can find at Maja Alm'sFacebook page. There, Maja explains the contradictory emotions after Emma Klingenberg's announcement of her retirement from the high competition. “When you get the news that one of your teammates and good friends is quitting the National Team it makes you reconsider why you spend all your time on one thing - trying to become the best in the world. For so many years Emma, Ida and I have tried to become World Champions. We finally succeeded last summer when we won the Relay Gold Medal, and so what? When you reach such a big dream you find out, that it is really not all about the medals”, she says. Underlining the idea that “you need to love the way to the top”, Maja says to be ready to take the challenge of defending the gold from last WOC. “If I should conclude whether I’m in or out, I’m definitely in. I really love my life as an athlete, I love to train and most important of all - I’m hungry for more”, says Maja. And she turns to Emma again and her replacement in the team, concluding: “ I just talked to Ida Bobach and even though we both have our things to struggle with, we are ready to fight for more Gold Medals to Denmark. Of course it will be a different and bigger challenge without Emma on the team, and I hope that who ever will make it to the Danish Relay Team will enjoy it, because we REALLY do!”

Joaquim Margarido

Annika Billstam: "I never looked back"

The major international Foot orienteering events in Portugal ended, but you may still feel the echoes of the Portugal O' Meeting, in which the World Champion of Middle Distance, Annika Billstam, took the victory in the Women Elite class. Today, the Portuguese Orienteering Blog disclose a pleasant talk, revisiting not only the event but also, in brief, the athlete's career and some projects for the future.

Why did you choose the Portugal O' Meeting in the early season?

Annika Billstam (A. B.) - As you may know, I decided not to go all in for this whole year and I'm not part of the Swedish National Team. So, now Orienteering is more for enjoyment. I decided quite early that I was coming to the Portugal O' Meeting because it's a competition that I really like and it's a nice break from freezing Scandinavia.

Retired from the Swedish team but not retired from Orienteering, is it right?

A. B. - My goal isn't the World Orienteering Championships anymore, but I'm still training as much as I have time to. I mean, Orienteering is part of my life, I've done it my whole life and I think I might never quit the sport.

After two gold in a row in the WOC Middle Distance, I believe it wasn't an easy decision. I believe this is never an easy choice...

A. B. - I have had it in mind for some years, like taking one year at a time. But the thoughts were quite strong already last year during the season. I work full time so it's a lot of effort to stay on top. Actually, my decision wasn't as difficult as you may think because it feels like I did the right thing and I'm happy about it.

Can you choose one moment from many in such a fantastic career?

A. B. - It's hard not to say any of the WOC gold medals and, of course, the first one is always very special, also the margin in my race to the second place... it was not just a win, it was a good race, which makes it double up. It was a special moment, for sure.

You're in Portugal mostly for fun, for enjoyment, but you've been able to win the Portugal O' Meeting. How do you feel?

A. B. – Yeah! Actually it was the first time that I got it and it's really nice. If I look back to the different stages, the second stage was really amazing. I had such flow... I'm very proud of that race. Of course I can see I haven't done many trainings with map this year and I feel my technique a little bit shaky. Also, in the World Ranking Event stage, I really struggled with my physical abilities and I was really tired in the last stage, so I'm just happy that I got the overall title, which was the first time I did and I enjoyed it.

But the last stage was easier, wasn't it?

A. B. - If you're looking at the climbing, yes, it was definitely easier. But I had a lot of more “bush fighting” - I don't know if I made wrong route choices. And I also think when your mind gets tired, you easily do some small mistakes that cost you time and make you lose your flow.

Did you feel that you were being chased during the last stage?

A. B. - Yes, of course you can never be sure about it. I felt really tired during my warm-up, so I tried to push from the beginning and everything was going quite okay until the 8th control, when I did a parallel mistake. It was difficult for me to relocate and it's hard to say how much time I lost, but it was, for sure, several minutes. Then I felt like “I have to do a good job now” and from there everything went, well... not actually perfect (laughs) but I never looked back, I just looked forward.

What is your opinion on the POM's organization?

A. B. - It's really good, it's why we come here every year. It's challenging, the Long Distance races are Long Distance races, and it's what all National Teams are looking forward. So, it's excellent, like part of a Training Camp or for doing a “check up” before the big competitions. The Spring is coming in Scandinavia, so you know what you have to work for. Besides that, everything around is great, I really enjoy the Expresso machine (laughs), you can have a nice cake, you meet some friends that you haven't seen during the whole Winter.

What are your plans for the future?

A. B. - We'll see what happens but I'm really looking forward for the big relays. We have strong teams in OK Linné, both for Women and Men, but we never won any of the big Relays. It's a main goal for us, we have Cat [Catherine Taylor] and also some other girls in the team, I'm excited about that. I also have more time now to inspire younger people, I do some speeches, I love to join some trainings.

Being a coach in the future is a possibility in your case?

A. B. - I enjoy my life and my work, so I'm not thinking of it for now. My title is Landscape Architect and I'm Object Developer in a company who built rental apartments, What I do is something like the early stage of a building project. It's a very demanding job, but I really love what I do, it's a little bit like a map. But who knows about the future? It's interesting and a real challenge how to inspire individuals to find and improve their abilities.

Are we going to see you again in the Portugal O' Meeting next year?

A. B. - I haven't put it yet in my calendar, but I'll consider that and, if it fits well with my program, I will came back.

And with a major responsibility...

A. B. - Yes, I'll be here as a defending winner (laughs).

Joaquim Margarido

  

World of TrailO

1. With the World Trail Orienteering Championships 2015, in Zagreb and Karlovac, still alive in our memory, the Trail orienteering returned to Croatia for the start of the 2016 season. Having in the island of Cres a beautiful host, the Kvarner Bay Challenge 2016 was organized by club OK Vihor and had the participation of 28 athletes. With 16 points out of 17, the Croatian Zdenko Horjan (OK Vihor) started in the best way on the first day of competition, getting a comfortable lead of two points on his most direct opponents. On the second day, the athlete lost one point for the best in the stage, but eventually reached a much desired victory with a total of 31 points and 163 seconds in the timed controls. Tomislav Varnica (OK Vihor) was second, one point behind the winner, while the third placed was Jasminka Cindric Perkovic, with 29 points. Find the complete results at http://www.vihor.hr/assets/2016_03_05-06_preo_results_all-.pdf.

2. The Slovak Dušan Furucz was the big winner of the Lipica Open 2016's Trail orienteering competition, which took place in Lipica, Slovenia. Offering two stages – the first of Preo and the last of TempO -, the event was organized by club OK Trzin and registered the participation of 51 athletes representing 9 countries. With 19 points out of 20, the Croatian Ivica Bertol (OK Vihor) took the lead after winning the PreO stage that opened the competition, alongside with his teammate Tomislav Varnica, the Slovak Pavol Bukovac (Farmaceut Bratislava) and the Czech Libor Forst (MatFyz Praha) and with a small advantage of one point ahead of a group of six athletes, which included Dušan Furucz and Ján Furucz, representing Farmaceut Bratislava. And it was precisely the Furucz brothers the great protagonists of the second day, imposing clearly to the concurrence and reaching the two top places overall. Ivica Bertol was the third placed. Check everything at http://www.oktrzin-klub.si/sl/lipica-trailo.html.

3. The University of Valencia and the Chair Divina Pastora of Adapted Sports (CDPDAUV) organized a Trail orienteering clinic in the last weekend of February. Attended by 22 participants, the sessions were structured in two days and were aimed to teachers of physical activity sports, teachers of physical education, specialist of sports related to the environment, orienteers in general and people interested in trail orienteering. Looking for better understand the discipline of Trail orienteering and training of technical staff in planning and organizing Trail O events, the CDPDAUV invited once more Joaquim Margarido for talking about this discipline, giving some important ideas about its secrets, as well as how to organize a Trail orienteering event. Ana Belén Calvo, José António Tamarit and Gil Niclás Nieminen were responsible for the practical activities. During the morning of the first day, Joaquim Margarido presented the Trail orienteering to a 130 students group, with a theoretical part in the University and a formal course at Viveiros Park. Presentation, videos and maps related with the practical activities can be seen in the University's Moodle Platform, at http://sefuv.uv.es/moodle/.

[Photo: OK Vihor / facebook.com/OK-Vihor]

Joaquim Margarido

  

Portugal City Race 2016: Rodriguez and Fernandes won the first stage

Barcelos attended the first stage of the Portugal City Race 2016. In a sunny morning, Maikel Rodriguez and Joana Fernandes were the big winners in the senior classes.

In a truly fantastic day for the practice of Orienteering, Barcelos hosted the 1st stage of the Portugal City Race. Organized by the Amigos da Montanha Association, the event called to this beautiful city more than 300 participants, many of them youngster from the school sports or simply curious, trying here the sport for the very first time.

In the Men Senior class, the victory went to the Spanish Maikel Rodriguez (Aromon) with a time of 40:16. Assiduous presence in the Portuguese races organized in the north, the athlete has shown a tremendous consistency along the course, taking advantage of the mispunch of Pedro Torres (VidaActiva), the great leader in the first half. With more 30 seconds than the winner, Victor Barreiro (Individual) would reach the second position, while the third place went to Carlos Viana (.COM), with a time of 42:17. In the Women Seniors class, Joana Fernandes (.COM) dominated from the first to the last control, beating categorically the favorite Carolina Delgado (GD4C), current National Champion of Spint and winner of the 1st edition of the Portugal City Race. Joana Fernandes spent 41:17 to complete her course, against 42:07 of Carolina Delgado. The third place fell to Tânia Covas Costa (.COM), with 2:18 more than the winner.

An attractive certamen

After a successful first edition, the Portugal City Race is back this year with another breath, divided for nine cities in the north and the center of the country. As Barcelos, the cities of Braga, Vila do Conde, Viseu and Porto back to welcome the event, Penafiel being the only “break” in relation to 2015. In contrast, the cities of Leiria, Águeda, Aveiro and Figueira da Foz do, this year, part of the offer, greatly enriching this unique set of events.

Inspired in the City Race Euro Tour, the Portugal City Race bases its philosophy on Foot orienteering events in an urban environment and with courses designed for times of winners matching with the rules of the Portuguese Orienteering Federation for the Middle and Long Distance. The courses cover all ages, can be made individually or in groups, and for the less competitive or to take the first steps in Orienteering, the organizations promote a tourist course, putting on the map the major attractions of each of the sites where the event is perform.

Results

Men Senior

1. Maikel Rodriguez (Aromon) 40:16 (+ 00:00)

2. Victor Barreiro (Individual) 40:46 (+ 00:30)

3. Carlos Viana (.COM) 42:17 (+ 02:01)

4. André Rodrigues (Individual) 42:44 (+ 02:28)

5. Sergio Duarte (.COM) 43:04 (+ 02:48)

Women Senior

1. Joana Fernandes (.COM) 41:17 (+ 00:00)

2. Carolina Delgado (GD4C) 42:07 (+ 00:50)

3. Tania Covas Costa (.COM) 43:35 (+ 02:18)

4. Carla Sousa (GD4C) 48:01 (+ 06:44)

5. Albertina Sá (ADFA) 49:27 (+ 08:10)

Complete results and further information at http://www.amigosdamontanha.com/_barcelos_city_race_6.

[Photo: Portugal City Race / facebook.com/cityraceportugal]

Joaquim Margarido

Mariya Kechkina: "The greatest achievement of ESOC was my victory in the Middle Distance"

The results in the precedent rounds of the World Cup were a good harbinger for some interesting performances in the European Ski orienteering Championships 2016. But not even Mariya Kechkina would be able to guess about the two individual gold medals achieved in Obertilliach, Austria. This is the starting point for today's interview on the Portuguese Orienteering Blog.

Two great races and two fantastic wins in ESOC 2016. Did you expect it?

Mariya Kechkina (M. K.) - To tell you the truth, I had thought I could achieve some good results in ESOC but I couldn’t predict I would win two individual races. Most of all, it’s difficult to get ready for two races one after another in a psychological way. In the past two or three years I was preparing intensively for the main international events (WSOC, ESOC) although I hasn't been able to achieve significant results. I had psychological problems every time. After unsuccessful performances in the last season in the ESOC and WSOC I had a strong wish to improve my results.

Was your preparation as good as it could be or did you feel some difficulties along the months before the European Championships?

M. K. - This season I performed well in the Russian Championships and World Cup rounds in Finland and Germany. Since November, the season was full of competitions and I managed to achieve excellent results. Some weeks before the European Championships I caught a cold. Though there was some time before the competitions, it was psychologically difficult to realize that the main start wasn't close enough because my physical shape was everything but perfect. Anyway I managed to get a good shape by ESOC.

Can you point some strong ideas from your week in Obertilliach?

M. K. - A really nice week, with some ups and downs. Thinking back on the Relay I remember a complicated feeling of discontent when your team is one step behind the victory. The Relay is a hard work of all the team members but at this Championships we were unlucky and didn’t win. I also have to say some words about Russian sportsmen. In Russia there are a lot of athletes who are able to compete at the highest level and they do this. At the same time the qualifying system for ESOC and WSOC is complicated and intensive, the rivalry is high, that’s why not every athlete is able to go through the qualifying rounds showing stable results. That’s very difficult to keep fit in an appropriate way. Probably that is the reason why only few can participate in Russian Championships with high results and after that show their maximum at ESOC and WSOC. There are many strong and perspective junior sportsmen in Russia. Most of them are children of trainers or their parents always did Orienteering. It’s a pity a lot of them leave this sport without taking part in elite competitions. They have to choose between the career of a professional sportsman or another profession. As they realize they have to sacrifice many things, only few are ready to make an attempt to become an elite sportsman.

What was the best and the worse of the Championships?

M. K. - I'm afraid I can’t say what was the best and the worst of the Championships. I could get from all races much experience, both positive and negative, and it helps me to improve.

If I asked you for a moment - the great achievement of the Championships - what would be your choice?

M. K. - The greatest achievement of the ESOC was my victory in the Middle Distance because of my best physical shape and an almost clean race.

You finish the season with the second place in the World Cup and the third position in the IOF World Ranking. Does it fit with your goals?

M. K. - I knew that reaching a great place in the World Ranking would mean stable good results and I did it. I didn’t set a goal to win all the races at the beginning of the season. The main thing was to plan my training process and to get ready for the main competitions . I’m happy that I could manage to succeed and to get a high position in the world ranking, also thanks to my coach.

We have now a time lapse of eight months until the next races. What do you have in mind for keeping your shape during such a long break?

M. K. - After the end of the season I would take a small rest. Then I’m planning to keep practicing in my usual regime.

What are your plans for the future. Are you going to see you doing SkiO at the highest level five years more? Ten?

M. K. - Next season I’m planning to take part in several competitions: ESOC, for sure, WSOC and the World Military games. I haven’t decided my future plans yet as my family (husband and son) need me and I feel I have to devote them more time than I've done so far.

[Photo: Nordenmark Adventure / facebook.com/NordenmarkAdventure]

Joaquim Margarido