Podium places at the World Masters Orienteering Championships
Andy R Sprint Qual
Four intrepid QO members battled this week with extreme temperatures (up to 38 degrees C) at the WMOC near Girona, Spain.
For those not in the know these are anyone-can-enter championships for all M/W35 and older orienteers. It was no surprise that the most represented countries were Finland, Norway and Sweden, although one stalwart competitor had made it from India and one from Kazakhstan. The QO members were definitely eligible – Rosie W (W70), Andy R (M60), Brian P (M65) and Steve R (M70).
The format is qualification races to decide which final (A, B or C) for the Sprint, and for the Forest Middle and Long, each competitor is allocated to.
The Sprint was up and down, and fast through the cobbled streets and alleyways of the medieval city of Girona, including some route choices that involved climbing the city walls! Fortunately the start window was from 08:30 to 10:00, so we missed the extreme heat of the day and the tourist crowds. Nevertheless, with 43 courses and 4 starts and a parallel Costa Bravo OCup event the streets were crowded with orienteers going in all directions. QO fortunes were mixed – 2 made it to the A finals and 2 to the B finals on the following day. Reasonable results for all recognising that there were 80 to 90 competitors in each A or B Final.
Then to the forests and higher temperatures and no protection from the sun afforded by the buildings in Girona. The really great aspect of the Spanish forests – no brambles.
The terrain for the middle event was relatively flat compared to the Quantocks but very sandy so some of the tracks were slow going. The maps had been redrawn for the event and were accurate – so anyone (me) thinking that a shorter route choice through that patch of green was a good idea soon realized their mistake. Rosie did well and made the Middle A Final and the rest of us were in the B Finals. The outcome in the Finals can best be described as - we ended up at about middle of the overall competitors in our respective age groups.
Then the Long Final, where things became a little more complicated because one could be promoted or relegated to a different A, B or C Final depending on your result in the Middle Final. Brian was extremely unlucky to miss promotion to the A Final by only 10 seconds. The terrain was more difficult this time – taller scrub and very steep in places, but no sand.
Excellent results from QO – Rosie won the W70B class by 8 seconds and Brian was 3rd in M65B, only 47 seconds behind the winner.
I maintained the QO balance by having a steady, excellent run when I looked at the splits, but confused a gully end with a narrow re-entrant and mispunched. No sympathy at download or from my wife!
Overall, it was an enjoyable event despite the heat and well organised.
I am sure the podium sitters will have some additional comments to make.
Steve R