Video quality is not the best. Thus, this is considered another video piece for the specially interested orienteer. Still – it is nice to see exactly what kind of challenges the competitors met when comparing with the map.

Enjoy the video!

• Map long final men

Note that the runthrough was done after the competition, and it was therefore rather dark, and some of the controls were already removed from the forest. No music this time either – only the breathing of the headcam operator. Thus, this is considered another video piece for the specially interested orienteer. Still – it is nice to see exactly what kind of challenges the competitors met when comparing with the map.

Enjoy the video!

• Map middle final women

Event presentations with a special twist

When I am deciding about going to a multiday o-event, what I am looking for is usually:

Will there be interesting technical orienteering…?

• What kind of orienteering will I meet? Will there be interesting technical orienteering and/or challenging route choice problems.
• What kind of terrain is there? Preferably I want something else than what I am used to from my home terrain.
• Are there good recreational possibilities? A multiday o-event is holiday – and there should be other interesting things to do in the area – like for example nice nature, good hiking possibilities, magnificent mountains, swimming, or …

You can see which events I choose in 2006 based on these criteria here.

A map sample with a typical long route choice leg from a map in the area

The answers to these questions is also what I want to have highlighted in the event presentations. This will give event presentations with a special twist – and require a bit more work for event organizers who want their event highlighted at World of O. From all event organizers who want their event presented, I need the following:

• Event name and dates
• Link to event in World of O Calendar
• A short introduction about the event – why should somebody choose YOUR event! Max 150 words.
• A map sample with a short leg from one of the most technical/difficult areas in one of the competition maps / a typical map in the area. Accompanying the map sample, there must be a discussion (max 200 words) about how to manage the technical orienteering in this type of terrain, vegetation, undergrowth and other specialties about the terrain. Map sample will be scaled to width 590 pixels.
• A map sample with a typical long route choice leg from a map in the area – possibly from one of the event maps. Accompanying the map sample, there must be a discussion (max 200 words) of the route choice alternatives and how to think when doing route choices in this type of terrain. Map sample will be scaled to width 590 pixels.
• Two pictures from the terrain and two pictures from the nature/surroundings/recreational activities, including a presentation of recreational activities in the area (max 150 words).

The content should be sent in plain text in an e-mail to jan@kocbach.net with the pictures as attachment (no word/pdf files!). Max size of the e-mail should be 10 MB.

To be included in the event presentations, the following must be fulfilled:

• The event must be at least a 3 day event – between March 2008 and December 2008.
• The event must be included in World of O Calendar with geographic position, map sample and picture.
• The event should have at least 500 participants.
• The event must be an International event open to anyone – that is not an elite-only event, a national championships or similar.

All events who fulfill the above and send an e-mail with all requested details, will get their event presented at World of O. Please do as written in the instructions: No PDF/Word files! I hope to hear from many events – like for example French 6 days, O-Ringen, Nordvestgaloppen, WOC spectator races, EOC spectator races, Sørlandsgaloppen, OO.cup, and all the ones I forgot now ….

… an ideal area has been found at Kikyu – 20 km west of Nairobi – in the grounds of the Kenya Forest Research Institute

The intended terrain of Uhuru Park in the centre of Nairobi is still closed and after an intensive search for an alternative venue, an ideal area has been found at Kikyu – 20 km west of Nairobi – in the grounds of the Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI).

The map of the area is having to be made in the very short time available and the race preparations are hectic, but everything is going according to plan. In addition to the numerous competitors from the organising club, Bushtrekkers-Kenya, lots of youngsters are also expected to take part from the schools in Nairobi that have been contacted. We would of course love to welcome competitors from Europe too!

The A4 map will be at a scale of 1:5 000 and the area has been mapped in accordance with the Sprint ISSOM Norm. Competitors can choose between four different categories and a special course for children: M Elite, W Elite, M up to 18, and W up to 18.

About the first Kenya Sprint-O-Champs

Orienteering without borders is the motto of the Thermenland Open orienteering event which was initiated three years ago as a cross-border cooperation project between three orienteering clubs in Slovenia, Hungary and Austria. An additional element to this project was the participation of athletes from Kenya at this year’s Thermenland Open event organised in Lenti in Hungary.

• More info about the race in woO Calendar

How to get to the competition:

• From Nairobi follow the Nakuru Highway to Zambezi, then turn left, through Nderi and follow the road approximately 3 km to Kari (past the entrance gate and turn right at roundabout). If travelling by Matutu, take the no. 131 (Nairobi bus station – Kari).
• Entries will be accepted at the race. Entry fee for M/W Elite (19+) is 200 Ksh. Entries for competitors in the younger classes and for children is free. Entry fee for non-African runners is € 10. Please contact +254 – (0) 710 – 717019 if you need more information or have any questions.

Source: Press Release / Thomas Krejci