European Champs: Long Distance Final

What route would you choose?

The orienteering action returned to Skattungbyn today for the long distance final. The performance of the day came in the women’s class where Simone Niggli won by 4 minutes. Commenting after the race, she said that she lost very few seconds on the course (scary words when you are competing against her!) Impressive. Olav Lundanes (Norway) added to his middle distance gold of yesterday by taking victory again.

Hugh finished 34th in the men’s B-final and found it extremely physical with good route choices. The GPS replays are worth a look – but firstly, challenge yourself and decide what you would have done.(Map from B-final to the right).

The highlight of the week for the Irish team will be the sprint final tomorrow, with Nick Simonin in the men’s class starting at 12:40 and Rosalind Hussey in the women’s at 14:02. There will be live GPS tracking, results and even live TV (in Swedish, but available worldwide). Tune in!

On Sunday we will have both men’s and women’s relay teams (possibly for the first time at a European Championships?). The men will be led off by Nick Simonin, with the CNOC duo of Hugh Cashell and Conor Short running 2nd and 3rd. In the women’s, Niamh O’Boyle is starting, Rosalind Hussey is running 2nd leg and Ciara Largey will take the team home. This will also be live on GPS and TV.