World Orienteering Champs

i.e WOC, are happening in the Savoie/Grand Revard region of France (around Chambery/Aix-les-bains) this week.
The Karst-style (i.e. negative features) terrain is rough and tough both physically and technically.

A few who pepper fell races results are out there representing GB:
Oli Johnson and Rachael Rothman (Dark Peak), Graham Gristwood (Mercia, now Sweden based) and Murray Strain (Hunters Bog Trotters[?]), Doug Tullie, Hector Haines, Claire Ward and Scott Fraser (now Sweden based) from the Edinburgh area.

Qualifiers for the long and middle have taken place over the last 2 days. (Urban) Sprint Quals and finals are on Tuesday, Long final Wed, Middle final Friday and Relays on Saturday.

GB have 5 (of 6) through to the long final (including Oli, Doug, Claire and Rach); 4 (of 6) in the middle (inc GG and Rach)

There's an introduction and overview to WOC in my blog if you have nothing better to do, and if you have even less to do there is live GPS tracking of the finals - it's quite addictive to watch (and quite entertaining when people go wrong!)

Sprint Qualifying (Aix) and Final (Chambery) was held today. There was some confusion over the qualifying with some people being Disqualified for crossing objects marked on the map as impassable. Some were re-instated upon appeal (including GB's Scott Fraser) but it was an absolute nightmare and not a great way to portray the sport - especially when the international governing body has made it no secret they want to be involved in the Olympics!

Anway, on the podium it was a day for the Swedes and the Swiss. Some fantastic results for the men, especially from the guys:

Women:
1 GUSTAFSSON Linnea SWE 13:14.3 0:00.0
2 JANSSON Helena SWE 13:22.7 +0:08.4
3 ELIASSON Lena SWE 13:28.5 +0:14.2
13 ROLLINS Sarah GBR 14:21.4 +1:07.1
22 HILL Tessa GBR 14:44.0 +1:29.7
26 ORR Hollie GBR 15:06.2 +1:51.9

Men
1 HUBMANN Daniel SUI 13:11.8 0:00.0
2 HOLMBERG Anders SWE 13:37.8 +0:26.0 (Swiss based)
3 MUELLER Matthias SUI 13:41.2 +0:29.4
4 GRISTWOOD Graham GBR 13:58.8 +0:47.0
9 FRASER Scott GBR 14:14.8 +1:03.0
12 STRAIN Murray GBR 14:18.9 +1:07.1

Tomorrow is the long distance final where home favourite Thierry 'Tero' Gueorgiou will go for the gold medal he desperately wants in the Classic distance.

Sweden and France were the big winners in yesterday's long distance races.
Men
1 GUEORGIOU Thierry FRA 1:47:29 0:00
2 IKONEN Pasi FIN 1:51:56 +4:27
3 GONON François FRA 1:53:35 +6:06
Women
1 BILLSTAM Annika SWE 1:22:26 0:00
2 BROZKOVA Dana CZE 1:26:54 +4:28
3 JANSSON Helena SWE 1:29:55 +7:29

Course winning times were much longer than expected (over 10 mins) and the navigation looked tough as.

In other news, Scotland has been selected to host the 2015 WOC. They'll be held in the Aviemore area and I can't wait!

thank u