Men and women
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Sweden | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Finland | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Switzerland | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Norway | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| France | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Russia | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Sweden | 6 | 6 | 4 |
| Denmark | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Norway | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Finland | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Sweden | 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Finland | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Switzerland | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Norway | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Denmark | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| France | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Russia | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Jukka Liikari - 10.6.2009, 22:54
1. Daniel Hubmann Switzerland 14.23
2. Andrey Khramov, Russia 14.32
3. Thierry Guergiou, France 15.01
Daniel Hubmann (Photo: JL)
Thierry Guergiou (Photo: JL)
Jukka Liikari - 10.6.2009, 20:57
1. Minna Kauppi, Finland 15.37
2. Anne Margrethe Hausken, Norway 15.46
3. Marianne Andersen, Norway 15.48
All the three best said that the course was very demanding. It was not easy to make route choises to longer legs while it was necessary to concentrate to shorter ones.
Minna Kauppi - The Champion (Photo: JL)
Anne Margrethe Hausken (Photo: JL)
Jukka Liikari - 10.6.2009, 20:21
Sweden got one more gold again. In M20 Sprint Jerker Lysell was the fastest. His team mate Jonas Leandersson lost 12 seconds. Martin Hubmann of Switzerland took bronze.
Jerker Lysell (Photo: JL)
Jonas Leandersson (Photo: JL)
Jukka Liikari - 10.6.2009, 14:26
Britt Ingunn Nydal of Norway won W20 Sprint today. Jenny Lönnkvist of Sweden took silver 12 seconds behind. Ida Bobach from Denmark was third.
Britt Ingunn Nydal (Photo: JL)
Jenny Lönnkvist (Photo: JL)
Jukka Liikari - 10.6.2009, 14:16
Start lists of the Sprint Finals M/W20 at "Bulletins and files".
Admin - 10.6.2009, 11:56
The NOC medals after three days:
Men and women
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Sweden | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Finland | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Switzerland | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Norway | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| France | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Russia | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Sweden | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Denmark | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Finland | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Sweden | 9 | 4 | 4 |
| Finland | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Switzerland | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Denmark | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Norway | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| France | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Russia | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Jukka Liikari - 9.6.2009, 23:19
Sweden continued its unbelievable success also in men's junior class.
Two medals - gold for Albin Ridefelt and bronze for Anton Tynong - and totally seven Swedish boys among ten best. Heja Sverige!
Albin Ridefelt (Photo: JL)
Sören Bobach of Denmark is the silver medalist. (Photo: JL)
Jukka Liikari - 9.6.2009, 21:57
Once again Sweden dominated Junior classes. This time the Swedish girls took all medals and also the 6th and 7th position.
Jenny Lönnkvist was in a fever in the last weekend, but yesterday she was able to come to Salo. Now she is the Nordic Champion. Lönnkvist was 1.17 faster than Kristin Löfgren and that's pretty much in the middle distance competition. Tove Alexandersson took bronze.
Jenny Lönnkvist (Photo: JL)
Kristin Löfgren (Photo: JL)
Jukka Liikari - 9.6.2009, 21:08
Middle distance, men, 6.0 km
1. Peter Öberg, Sweden, 32.34
2. Thierry Guergiou, France, 32.59
3. Valentin Novikov, Russia, 33.14
Peter Öberg:
This is one of the biggest win for me, because this was also a Championships event. I had a very good race from the start. It was easy to push. I really like this kind of terrain. It is my favourite. I like the middle distance most, but the long is also okay. We have so fun and good feeling in Team Sweden right now.
Peter Öberg (Photo: JL)
Thierry Guergiou:
It was quite good race for me, but I did couple of mistakes. I have not prepared to this NOC week at all. I will run better in the future. I know that Peter and Valentin are now good and I have now challenges. Nobody will remember today's result after two months or maybe Peter does. My focus is on bigger events.
Valentin Novikov:
I'm a little bit tired just like all other Russian men. We had our national selections, five competitions only one week ago. I made some small mistakes and that was enough. I will focus on the middle distance and sprint in the WOC. I have trained sprint very much this year.
Thierry Guergiou (Photo: JL)
Jukka Liikari - 9.6.2009, 20:53
Minna Kauppi:
I was really nervous before the start. However, I found the first controls quite easily. Then I made some hooks. I did not have enough kick to the last climbs. In the second last control I planned to stay on contour line, but when you are tired, it is easier to run downhill.
(Kuva: JL)
Anne Margrethe Hausken and Minna Kauppi did a mistake together in the second last control. In photo they have just noticed the control flag three contours uphill and begin to climb.
Hausken was the fifth today after Merja Rantanen of Finland.
Merja Rantanen (Kuva: JL)
Jukka Liikari - 9.6.2009, 17:40
Helena Jansson:
This is my biggest win. I bet even Minna Kauppi here in Finland. I tried to pick one control after another. It was really a struggle today, there was not time to relax. I'm some happy for the work I have done.
Marianne Andersen:
I did some mistakes in the spread loops. Not bad anyway. It is hard to find balance between orienteering and running in this kind of terrain. There are many people working hard in our team and our success will be better in the future. The long and middle distance are my goals in the WOC.
Jukka Liikari - 9.6.2009, 17:26
During the World Cup/NOC week two competitions will be broadcast on television.
On Tuesday June 9, the middle distance competitions are shown at 16.00 -17.00 (men's race) and at 18.00-18.48 (women's race). Both will be delayed broadcasts.
On Wednesday June 10 the sprint competitions will be televised live. Men's race will be broadcast at 16.00-17.00 and women's race at 18.00-18.48.
If you are not coming to Salo to see the exciting events, please turn on the channel YLE TV 2.
Jukka Liikari - 8.6.2009, 22:36
Updated version of the Entry Form for Sprint has published on page "Bulletins and files".
Jukka Liikari - 8.6.2009, 20:59
After Swizerland's gold-silver success in Long distance, Sweden was surprisingly strong in mens's relay. Sweden took a clear victory by 1.24.
David Andersson:
- I have had a lot of injuries in last couple of years. It is good to be back on the top.
Emil Wingstedt:
- Yesterday in long distance I made a huge 5-6 minutes mistake in the ninth control. It was very important to do technically good and secure performance today. I was in a very good team so it was nice to run.
Peter Öberg:
- I really wanted to show my skills in this kind of terrain. The terrain here is so beautiful. I like it very much, it's almost same near my home town Örebro. I'm very satisfied for my performance today.
Heja Sverige! (Kuva: JL)
Jukka Liikari - 7.6.2009, 17:19
Sweden took gold in women's relay. Linnea Gustafsson finished in a lead after first leg. After second leg Kajsa Nilsson changed 11 second behind Marianne Andersen of Norway. Helena Jansson was fastest today and caught Norway in the middle part of the last leg.
Linnea Gustafsson:
Our coach Marita Skogum asked us to do our own race without mistakes.
Kajsa Nilsson:
I was very nervous in start. It was not easy to run in a lead. I must say that this was very good team work.
Helena Jansson:
My race started with a mistake, but then I saw Hausken quite soon after that and once again in radio control. After that I was pretty sure that I was leading. Last part of the course went very well and that was enough. We are going to win in the NOC banquette this evening too.
Linnea Gustafsson won the first leg by 1.06 (Kuva: JL)
Anne Margrethe Hausken made several small mistakes and also Merja Rantanen of Finland passed her. Finland took silver 10 second before Norway.
Anni-MaÃja Fincke made a very bad mistake in the first control, but after that everything went. well. Finland was in second position after first leg.
Minna Kauppi: - I have run so many last legs during last hundred years. I wanted to run first leg but it was not given to me. During the race I run some butterfly loops, but there were not those in my course. After this big mistake I commented "Perkele" to the one organiser in the forest. The control flags were not easy to see.
After Kauppi's leg Finland was third.
Merja Rantanen: I did not thought about the position. I got good feeling because the spectators shouted so loud. I wished for a better flow, but I'm happy now.
Rantanen is taking silver, Hausken follows (Kuva: JL)
Jukka Liikari - 7.6.2009, 17:03
Team Denmark took its first gold in NOC 2009.
Emma Klingenberg, Ida Bobach and Signe Klinting run very well. They won Finland 2 by 4 minutes 22 seconds.
Finland took other medals. Finland 2 was number 2 with team Sari Anttonen, Mira Kaskinen and Lotta Karhola. Finland 3 was number 3 with team Frida Lönnberg, Eva-Lina Skogvik and Heini Papinsaari.
Emma Klingenberg started Denmark's golden run (Kuva: JL)
It is easy to smile after success (Kuva: JL)
Jukka Liikari - 7.6.2009, 15:59
Sweden's team 3 (Jerkell Lysell, Jonas Leandersson, Kalle Johansson) took gold medal. Sweden 1 (Anton Tynong, Gustav Bergman, Johan Runesson) came to the Finish only 15 seconds behind. Finland 2 took bronze (Einari Heinaro, Tuomo Istolahti, Vili Niemi).
Jerkell Lysell run the first leg (Kuva: JL)
Kalle Johansson started his leg on the third position nearly two minutes after Sweden 1 and one minute behind Norway. Johansson was the fastest today. He beated Vili Niemi of Finland 33 seconds.
Kalle Johansson (Kuva: JL)
Jukka Liikari - 7.6.2009, 15:42
The medals after the first day
Men and women
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Switzerland | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Finland | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| France | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Norway | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Sweden | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Sweden | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Switzerland | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Finland | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| France | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Norway | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Jukka Liikari - 6.6.2009, 23:51
Sweden dominated totally the first day in Junior classes.
In M20 Sweden took all the medals and also the fourth and the 6th place:
1. Gustav Bergman 1:04:33
2. Anton Tynong 1:05:15
3. Johan Runesson 1:06:10
4. Albin Ridefelt 1:06:46
6. Olle Boström 1:07:29
Only Olli-Markus Taivainen of Finland broke this Swedish success by his 5th position.
In W20 the knock-out made by Team Sweden was as clear as in M20. The Swedish girls took all medals :
1. Anna Forsberg 53:36
2. Anna Segersson 5:29
3. Kristin Löfgren 55:36.
Gustav Bergman (Photo: JL)
Anna Forsberg (Photo: JL)
Jukka Liikari - 6.6.2009, 17:43
Nordic Champion Daniel Hubmann, Switzerland:
- My training in the winter went very well and now I can see the results. It was nice to start the season by winning. The terrain was fantastic. It was nice to beat all Finns and other Nordic orienteers here in Finland. Al this gives me self-confidence to continue to the WOC.
Silver medalist Matthias Merz, Switzerland:
- It was necessary to concentrate all the time in this terrain. Also the longer legs were demanding. I was very happy after I heard that I was in a lead by 42 seconds. I did not make any mistakes in the last two kilometres, maybe I was just a little bit tired. A medal was my goal and I took it.
Thierry Guergiou of France took bronze medal today.
Guergiou, Hubmann, Merz
Jukka Liikari - 6.6.2009, 17:10
The course was not easy even for the three best in women's competition today.
Minna Kauppi:
- This was my best NOC performance ever. Today I took my first gold in NOC Long distance. I made some small mistakes, but that's normal for me. The course was very demanding. The controls were in so detailed parts of terrain. It was also difficult to keep on the line.
Merja Rantanen:
- The running has been easier since the season started, so I was very confident. I waited some good news after the first loop and it was nice to continue to the last part of the course.
Anne Margrethe Hausken:
- I injured my knee on Christmas Eve. It took very long to recover. In April I started to run again. After these problems I'm very happy to be on the podium. The course was very demanding. It was necessary to make some changes in orienteering technique many times during the course.
The course planner Matti Mäkinen was happy when he heard Hausken's comment: - That was my idea in course planning.
From left: the silver medalist Merja Rantanen, Finland, the Nordic Champion Minna Kauppi, Finland and the bronze medalist Anne Margrethe Hausken, Norway.
(kuva JL)
Jukka Liikari - 6.6.2009, 16:40
The Entry form for NOC Relay can be downloaded from the page "Bulletins and files".
Final deadline for the entry of the competitors' names and running order for NOC Relay is Saturday, June 6 at 16:00 PM.
Jukka Liikari - 5.6.2009, 17:04
Reigning Nordic Champions DO NOT get a free place
(Update 5.6.2009 9.55)
The news published yesterday is again overruled. The interpretation is that "The reigning Nordic Champions do not get a free place to the World Cup events held in conjunction with the Nordic Championships. The IOF rule (6.8) is about IOF Regional Championships, i.e. Continental Championships (e.g. European, Asian). This rule is not valid for sub-regional championships such as the Nordic Championships.
Thus this story underneath first published yesterday is NOT valid!
..................................................................
The new Competition Rules for IOF Foot Orienteering Events were published on the IOF website May 25th (see full text here), and are valid from June 1st.
On the section dealing with participation in major events, a new formulation conserning World Cup participation, more specifically rule 6.8, states that "...If a World Cup Event is arranged in conjunction with a Regional Championships, the reigning regional champions of that region in each format are allowed to compete in the World Cup event of that format in addition to their Federation’s quotas".
Let it be highlighted that this free place is in fact distance specific, whereas the free place for World Champions is relevant irrespective of distance as stated previously today. This means that the following runners have a free place in addition to the national quota.
Sprint
Matthias Mertz
Helena Jansson
Middle
Jarkko Huovila
Simone Niggli
Quotas for different nations
Thus, for the World Cup events 1 & 2 in Salo, the national quotas are as follows (hopefully this will be the final version...):
Men:
12 Finland
8 Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Russia, Denmark
6 All other nations
+ additional places for Thierry Guergiou, Andrei Khramov and Daniel Hubmann for both events
+ additional place for Matthias Merz for sprint, and for Jarkko Huovila in middle distance
Women:
12 Finland
8 Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Great Britain, Australia
6 All other nations
+ additional places for Minna Kauppi, Anne Margrethe Hausken and Dana Brozkova for both events
+ additional place for Helena Jansson in sprint and for Simone Niggli in middle distance
For more information and questions on this subject, please contact Event Advisor, Flemming Norgaard, kort (at) do-f.dk or IOF Sports Director Björn Persson bjorn.persson (at) esri-sgroup.se
Remember the new rule prohibiting GPS-equipment with display
As the new rule on regional champions has gone mostly under the radar, the other new word formulation in the new rules has received more publicity. The organizers wish to emphasize that all rules, including the rule prohibiting the use of GPS equipment with display, shall be followed and respected. See the clarification of the new rule on the IOF website here.
As stated, any position recording device that is capable of informing the athlete about position or navigation during the race, is not allowed.
Vesa Mäkinen - 4.6.2009, 21:47
Free place for ALL Individual 2008 World Champions in World Cup.
After consultations between the IOF, some national teams and the organizers, the statement published on NOC website on May 22nd, and also in Bulletin 4, has been overruled.
This statement interpreted the IOFs Special Rules for the 2009 World Cup in Orienteering, see full text here, that a free place for an Individual 2008 World Champion is distance specific.
The final ruling in this matter concludes that a free place shall be given to ALL Individual 2008 World Champions irrespective of the distance. Thus the sentence in Bulletin 4 already published and printed "This place is on the same distance as was the Championship" shall be ignored.
Quotas for different nations
Thus, for the World Cup events 1 & 2 in Salo, the national quotas are as follows:
Men:
12 Finland
8 Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Russia, Denmark
6 All other nations
(+ additional places for Thierry Guergiou, Andrei Khramov and Daniel Hubmann)
Women:
12 Finland
8 Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Great Britain, Australia
6 All other nations
(+ additional places for Minna Kauppi, Anne Margrethe Hausken and Dana Brozkova)
For more information and questions on this subject, please contact Event Advisor, Flemming Norgaard, kort (at) do-f.dk or IOF Sports Director Björn Persson bjorn.persson (at) esri-sgroup.se
Vesa Mäkinen - 4.6.2009, 8:35
Start lists of the Public Events can be found here...
Admin - 3.6.2009, 20:17
Please click the link "Bulletins and files" in the front page.
Jukka Liikari - 3.6.2009, 14:42
Junior Team Sweden full of big names
Swedish juniors for NOC were selected a few days ago. Junior leaders Anneli Östberg and Niclas Jonasson have a luxury of having numerous established and successful runners available. Sweden was by far the best nation in last years Junior World Championships on home soil in Gothenburg, taking five out of possible eight gold medals. All individual gold medallists are still in junior ranks, and are expected to lay claim for total dominance in the junior classes this year. See the team selection and junior presentations on the Federations website.
Among the boys the biggest name is Johan Runesson. This wonderkid was only one second away from taking all four gold medals in JWOC last year, winning middle and long distances as well as being part of the gold medal winning relay team. The achievement is all the more impressive as he was only 18 years old at the time. The bare rock terrains around Gothenburg are not so much different from the ones waiting in Salo, so Runesson is expected to pose a formidable barrier to other junior runners wishing to challenge for glory. In addition, Runesson has a strong supporting cast with the likes of Olle Boström, Jerker Lysell and Gustav Bergman among the favourites to challenge for the medals.
Johan Runesson is a 3-time junior World Champion (photo:www.worldofo.com)
The Swedish girls are also going to be hot favourites for the medals in NOC. The team includes last years JWOC long distance top two in the form of Jenny Lönnkvist and Beata Falk and the defending NOC long distance junior champion Anna Forsberg. With strength in depth, it would be extremely surprising if the Swedish juniors would leave NOC in Salo empty-handed.
Will the Swedish juniors celebrate also in Salo? (photo: Emanuel Winblad)
Vesa Mäkinen - 28.5.2009, 17:35
Three groups plus a "red group" for seniors in NOC long distance.
There has been questions on the rules specifying the starting order for NOC long distance which is not a World Cup Event. In the NOC middle distance and sprint which are also World Cup Events, the World Cup rules will determine the starting order. See World Cup rules here.
In NOC long distance, NORD rule 12.19 will be applied to determine the starting order:
12.19 For M21 and W21 there shall be three start groups plus a "red group" of 15 runners. For M20 and W20 there shall be three start groups. The starting order within each group is drawn at random.
i) Individual World Champions at the previous two World Championships are always in the red group.
The individual champions from the previous European Championships are always in the red group.
The individual champions from the previous Nordic Championships are always in the red group.
The winners of the previous World Cup are always in the red group.
ii) If there are less than 15 runners in the red group after the criteria above the remaining runners will be selected from the IOF World Ranking list standing at the dead line for entries. The "red group" is to be placed at the end of the start list, and the starting order within the group is drawn at random.
The dead line day for entries is May 27th . Thus, the order for selection in the NOC long distance "red group" of 15 runners is shown here:
Men:
Daniel Hubmann
Matthias Merz
Dmitri Tsvetkov
Thierry Gueorgiou
Andrey Khramov
Anders Nordberg
Emil Wingstedt
Peter Öberg
Valentin Novikov
Martin Johansson
Pasi Ikonen
Baptiste Rollier
Francois Gonon
Mats Troeng
Michal Smola
--------------------------
Mats Haldin
Marc Lauenstein
Jamie Stevenson
Tero Föhr
Topi Anjala
Matthias Müller
Mikhail Mamleev
Öystein Kvaal Österbö
Carl Waaler Kaas
Audun Weltzien
Women:
Dana Brozkova
Minna Kauppi
Heli Jukkola
Anne Margrethe Hausken
Simone Niggli
Helena Jansson
Signe Söes
Merja Rantanen
Annika Billstam
Marianne Andersen
Emma Engstrand
Tatyana Riabkina
Sofie Johansson
Lina Bäckström
Vroni König-Salmi
--------------------------
Radka Brozkova
Lea Müller
Ingunn Hultgren Weltzien
Lina Persson
Eva Jurenikova
Marianne Riddervold
Linnea Gustafsson
Liisa Anttila
Julia Novikova
Katri Lindeqvist
The order of different starting groups will be 1, 2, 3, "red group". The Federations may allocate runners to different groups in the following order: 3, 2, 1. That is:
- if a Federation has 1 runner = to group 3,
- if a Federation has 2 runners = one to group 3, one to group 2.
- if a Federation has 3 runners = one to group 3, one to group 2, and one to group 1.
- if a Federation has 4 runners = two to group 3, one to group 2, and one to group 1, and so on.
The "red group" will not affect this allocation. For example, if a Federation has three runners in the "red group" the so called fourth runner will be allocated to group 3.
For more information and questions on this subject, please contact Event Adviser Tauno Haapasaari, hapsu (at) pp.phnet.fi
Vesa Mäkinen - 27.5.2009, 22:22
The Norwegians have high expectations.
Norway was the last Nordic nation to announce selections to NOC/WC in Salo. National team coach Petter Thoresen has selected 11 senior men and 9 women to the team. This means that all runners cannot run all the distances, but as of yet the selections for specific distances has not been published. See team here.
The biggest star in the senior group is undoubtedly the defending World Cup winner and sprint World Champion Anne Margrethe Hausken. WOC2008 long distance silver medalist Marianne Andersen also showed good form in the selection races, and these two are expected to form an extremely strong one-two-punch for the Norwegian womens team in NOC/WC. Another interesting runner is Betty Ann Bjerkreim Nilsen who makes her comeback to orienteering after concentrating a few years in cross country skiing.
Anne Margrethe Hausken will be tough to beat in NOC/WC (photo:www.worldofo.com)
The mens team is headed by another WOC2008 long distance silver medalist, Anders Nordberg. The team also includes 2006 World middle distance Champion Holger Hott. Otherwise the mens team is packed with hungry up-and-coming runners capable of very strong performances on their day. NOC will surely be seen as an ideal arena for an international breakthrough among these young guns.
The junior team runners are perhaps not so well established on the international scene as, for example, the Swedish youngsters. On the other hand, the technical nature of orienteering waiting in Salo will surely suit well for the Norwegians known for their technical skills. Most notable name among juniors is Ulf Forseth Indgaard who won silver in JWOC2008 middle distance. Torgeir Nörbech meanwhile has already earned himself a status of a legend by claiming first place in Tiomila’s 1st leg in 2007.
Anders Nordberg (photo: www.worldofo.com)
Vesa Mäkinen - 26.5.2009, 22:26
Women (13): Liisa Anttila, Anni-Maija Fincke, Yvonne Gunell, Bodil Holmström, Marttiina Joensuu, Minna Kauppi, Saila Kinni, Riina Kuuselo, Anne-Mari Leskinen, Katri Lindeqvist, Maria Rantala, Merja Rantanen, Karoliina Sundberg.
Vacant: Pinja Satri and Heini Wennman
Men (12): Hannu Airila, Topi Anjala, Antti Anttonen, Tero Föhr, Mats Haldin, Jarkko Huovila, Pasi Ikonen, Jonne Lehto, Petteri Muukkonen, Vesa Taanila, Tuomas Tervo, Jörgen Wickholm.
Vacant: Antti Parjanne and Simo-Pekka Fincke.
Juniors:
W20 (10): Sari Anttonen, Lotta Karhola, Mira Kaskinen, Marjo Liikanen, Frida Lönnberg, Venla Niemi, Heini Papinsaari, Eva-Lina Skogvik, Marika Teini, Tuulia Viberg.
Vacant: Tytti Kirvesmies and Elina Virekunnas.
M20 (10): Einari Heinaro, Tuomo Istolahti, Samu Lehtola, Kalle Liukkonen, Victor Mansner, Oskari Mikkola, Vili Niemi, Olli-Markus Taivainen, Antti Vainio, Juho Westerlund.
Vacant: Fredric Portin and Severi Kymäläinen.
Jukka Liikari - 25.5.2009, 9:33
Free place for ALL Individual 2008 World Champions in World Cup.
After consultations between the IOF, some national teams and the organizers, the statement published on NOC website on May 22nd, and also in Bulletin 4, has been overruled.
This statement interpreted the IOFs Special Rules for the 2009 World Cup in Orienteering, see full text here, that a free place for an Individual 2008 World Champion is distance specific.
The final ruling in this matter concludes that a free place shall be given to ALL Individual 2008 World Champions irrespective of the distance. Thus the sentence in Bulletin 4 already published and printed This place is or the same distance as was the Championship shall be ignored.
Quotas for different nations
Thus, for the World Cup events 1 & 2 in Salo, the national quotas are as follows:
Men:
12 Finland
8 Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Russia, Denmark
6 All other nations
(+ 1 additional place for Thierry Guergiou, Andrei Khramov and Daniel Hubmann)
Women:
12 Finland
8 Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Great Britain, Australia
6 All other nations
(+ 1 additional place for Minna Kauppi, Anne Margrethe Hausken and Dana Brozkova)
For more information and questions on this subject, please contact Event Advisor, Flemming Norgaard, kort (at) do-f.dk or IOF Sports Director Björn Persson bjorn.persson (at) esri-sgroup.se
Vesa Mäkinen - 22.5.2009, 15:41
Denmark sends an extremely talented junior squad to NOC.
As previously noted, Swedish team Sports Director Pekka Nikulainen, and Finnish team coach Janne Salmi have had a friendly disagreement over whose juniors will be the best in NOC. Both of them may be disappointed, however, as Denmark will pose a strong challenge for supremacy in the junior classes. The team includes many already successful runners who, with one more year of experience and training, should now be even better when arriving to NOC in Salo.
The star of the team is undoubtedly Sören Bobach, who won JWOC middle distance as a 17-year old in 2006. He also dominated NOC2007 in Denmark and begins his last junior year with high expectations. He will be the one to beat if the others want to taste gold medal glory. The other notable name on the boys' side is Rasmus Thrane Hansen who impressed for example in Portugal O-Meeting WRE long distance finishing 5th in a field of strong senior runners.
The Danish girls are by no means any worse than their male counterparts. The team is headed by the reigning junior World Champion in sprint, Emma Klingenberg. Signe Klinting and Zenia Hejlskov Mogensen also recorded top 10 finishes in last years JWOC and, together with Ida Bobach, will hope to do little bit better and climb to the podium positions this time around.
The terrain in Salo will be very different from the ones in Denmark, and it will be interesting to see how the young Danes will manage them in NOC. See Danish junior team selections here.
Emma Klingenberg will try to add a NOC-title to her medal collection(photo: www.worldofo.com)
Vesa Mäkinen - 21.5.2009, 11:16
The British team for NOC and World Cup 2009 in Salo has already been published. Our reporter Ari Paganus had an opportunity to interview Mr. BJ, David Brickhill-Jones, who was nominated to run in the Sprint competition.
David, you are back to racing, what happened?
Well, you know I moved to Finland few years ago. I had a number of injuries, and in addition a number of other issues. It was hard to get studies, work, private life etc in balance. Anyhow, this year I will focus on the World Championships in Hungary, and for that the first milestone was to get a place for Salo in the British team.
What do think about your chances in Salo World Cup Sprint?
I have heard that Salo is a nice small city. Unfortunately even qualifying to final, i.e. among the best 33 runners, might require an excellent run, so there will be no sightseeing at all. I have now three rather good training months behind me and in addition I will try to run a number of Sprint competitions around Kirkkonummi, Espoo and Karjaa and the Finnish Championship in Kokkola.
What about the other runners in the British team, do you think they will take some medals?
Even though the last year's men's team won the Gold medal in WOC Relay, there might not be such good chances in Salo hills. Neither Jamie Stevenson nor Jon Duncan are in the team this time. Anyway, I suppose Scott Fraser could manage it all the way to the podium, and among the ladies Sarah Rollins could also have a good chance.
You run for the Finnish club team Lynx. How about Jukola 2009?
Naturally I want to be in the team, but these young boys are one year older now and they were close to win last year already, so I need to have a few excellent races to show what I can do. They say it's going to be fast running in Mikkeli. Let's see if MÃ¥re, my good friend MÃ¥rten Boström, and I can try to make new records as in Jämi Jukola. MÃ¥re was running some 3,40 per kilometer, I close to four.
Jukka Liikari - 19.5.2009, 0:27
It is about three weeks to the start of the World Cup/NOC. When will the Team Finland be nominated? Could you say some names at this point?
The team will be nominated on Monday May 25. Only then we will know all the names, but of course the athletes in our A and B team, which that have succeeded well last year, are near the nomination.
What is the importance of the World Cup in top orienteering?
It is too insignificant due to IOF's weakness. In sports which are internationally visible - specially in winter sports - the World Cup is the showpiece of the sport and through it the discipline and the top athletes are known all over the world. In 25 years the World Cup in Orienteering has not developed from small-circle gathering into a widely known event.
NOC will now be held in Finland. The type of the terrain is very familiar to you. This might present some advantages and disadvantages to Team Finland. How would you characterize them?
The advantages are naturally the familiar type of terrain, the style of mapping and course planning. Also short travel to the event and having Finnish porridge for breakfast are advantages. As I see it, there are no major disadvantages. Some competitor could be nervous because there are friends watching, but this only bring more effort and a good spirit.
(kuva: JL)
Please state the three most important keys to success, when an international top event is held in the south-western part of Finland in hilly terrain with a lot of bare rock areas.
Just the same as in any country or in any terrain: very good condition, excellent skill in orienteering and enormous self confidence.
How much do the Finnish top orienteers train specifically for sprint?
Too little in my opinion. Sprint exercises and training where the character of sprint is involved, are excellent practice for oxygen uptake. They are also good practice for orienteering skills in overspeed. In urban environment sprint training improves the running skills.
Pekka Nikulainen stated that Sweden has the best juniors in the world. What is your comment to that? What is the situation of the Finnish Junior Team?
It is maybe better ask to Jani (Lakanen) or Laura (Hokka), but from my point of view as an outside observer, there has been more and more development, especially because the running speed is reaching the international level. I believe that in the home event our juniors will show our western neighbours the balls of the Eurasian Jay (this traditional Finnish phrase cannot be perfectly translated, but it means that Mr Salmi believes that the Finnish Juniors will beat Junior Team Sweden very easily).
Jukka Liikari - 19.5.2009, 0:09
The Swiss team for NOC/WC is packed with star runners.
The qualification races in long and sprint distances were held in Switzerland last weekend. National team coach Matthias Niggli has chosen a very strong line-up to NOC/WC which includes the likes of Matthias Merz, Daniel Hubmann and the ever young Vroni König-Salmi. Also interesting is that Simone Niggli seems to be well recovered from her stress fracture injury as she won both qualification races and will be making her long awaited international come back in NOC/WC. See full team here.
Matthias Merz won both sprint and long distance in NOC2007. (photo: www.matthiasmerz.ch)
Team Denmark will challenge for medals.
Danish team coach Ã…ke Jönsson has preferred quality over quantity in the women's team selection as there is only two runners in the team, Signe Soes and Maja Alm, who won the middle distance in W20 class in NOC2007. Soes meanwhile has been in excellent form this year and is expected to challenge for the podium places in Salo. For the men there is a full 10-man team with both experienced runners and young challengers. See the team on DOFs webpage.
Signe Soes has been in excellent form during the spring. (photo: www.worldofo.com)
Vesa Mäkinen - 18.5.2009, 21:03
Turun Offsetpaino printed the maps for long distance, middle distance and relay in Turku on Thursday June 14. The printing of this first set went very well. The organising club, Angelniemen Ankkuri has a long and excellent co-operation with Turun Offsetpaino. Since 1983 all maps of the club have been printed by spot colour offset printing method in this company. Making the NOC/World Cup maps is the club's second biggest mapping project. The biggest was Jukola Relay 2006.
One of the maps is presented by Matti Mäkinen, course planner for long distance, Ilkka Saarimäki, the leader of the mapping and the course planning group and the course planner for NOC relay and the public races, Jouko Tammi, the chairman of the Board in Turun Offsetpaino Oy and Raimo Rimmi, printing expert.
Admin - 15.5.2009, 7:46
Sweden was the first Nordic nation to select their senior runners to NOC/WC.
National team coach Marita Skogum has selected the following runners:
Women: Annika Billstam (IFK Lidingö), Lina Bäckström (Domnarvets GoIF), Lena Eliasson (Domnarvets GoIF), Annica Gustafsson (IF Thor), Linnea Gustafsson (OK Hällen), Helena Jansson (IF Hagen), Emma Johansson (Domnarvets GoIF), Sofie Johansson (OK Linné), Kajsa Nilsson (Halden SK) and Lina Persson (Södertälje-Nykvarn).
Men: David Andersson (Malungs OK), Martin Johansson (IFK Mora), Mattias Karlsson (Halden SK), Henrik LöfÃ¥s (OK Linné), Marcus MillegÃ¥rd (Sävedalens AIK), Mattias Millinger (OK Linné), Jan Troeng (OK Linné), Mats Troeng (OK Linné), Emil Wingstedt (Halden SK), Peter Öberg (OK Hällen) and Erik Öhlund (Ulricehamns OK).
Reserves: William Lind (Malungs OK) and Jonas Pilblad (IFK Göteborg).
Annica Gustafsson and Marcus Millegård will make their senior national team debuts. Junior selections will be made later.
Helena Jansson will defend her sprint title from NOC2007 in Denmark (photo: www.helenajansson.com)
Some other top nations have also made their team selections.
These include France, see team here, and Great Britain, see team here.
Thierry Guergiou will spearhead the French team (photo: www.antin.net)
Matti Mäkinen - 14.5.2009, 16:06
Pekka Nikulainen has now been the Sports Director in the Swedish Orienteering Federation for a couple of years. Ari Paganus had an opportunity to interview him.
Have you enjoyed your work?
This is a dream job. The Swedish orienteering has a long and wonderful history. The clubs are still working very hard, so the foundation is solid. However, we are living in some kind of breakpoint right now: the traditional way of doing things is not enough any more. We must understand the changes around us and find new possibilities to develop.
What does your work include?
I am responsible for operative activities. I lead the Sports Department. Two other departments are Governing and Marketing. At this moment there are 11 persons working in my department. We also have some more people leading special projects.
How has Team Sweden trained for the competitions in Salo?
Some orienteers have trained in Salo region, but there have been no common events. The terrain in Salo is so similar to Stockholm region, so no surprises will occur. Our main target is World Championships in Hungary in August. NOC is the most important milestone on the way to Hungary.
You have lived very close to the NOC terrain, when you were a top class orienteer in Angelniemen Ankkuri. Do you find any benefits in that?
Maybe there will be some benefits if I have enough time to participate in public races… Of course I have described the terrain and the maps; the finest terrain and maps in the world - specially around Ankkurikallio (a bare rock hill where Nikulainen lived).
Sweden will come with a full team to Salo. Maybe many orienteers are going to participate in all four distances, but are there any specialists in Sprint?
All the best Swedish orienteers are very good at all distances. We don't have a particular specialist, but I'm expecting a great input just in Sprint for instance from Linnea Gustavsson and Eric Öhlund.
Who are your favourites?
NOC will be the event of the highest level this year, so there are a lot of favourites. I believe that the whole Team Finland will be very strong. From the Swedish point of wiev, our biggest favourites are Emil Wingstedt and Helena Jansson. Peter Öberg is very good in this type of terrain too. Also our juniors are the best in the world, so I'm expecting for medals from every competition.
Jukka Liikari - 7.5.2009, 23:57
The course planners have almost finished their huge job. On Monday, May 4, the maps for model events, long and middle distance, relay and public races will be sent to a printing company. The three maps for sprint events will be printed in the middle of May.
The courses for public races will be printed only one week before the events, because at that point the number of participants will be known. All maps will be printed by spot colour offset printing method in Turun Offsetpaino Oy in Turku. The total number of maps is 14,000.
The course planners will continue their work by building control stands. Some of the first stands are already in the terrain and waiting for competitors. In 2006 there were 151 controls in Jukola Relay in Salo, so now the number of control stands will be more than doubled.
A vast amount of Emit punching equipment and control flags are needed. The idea is that every control point will be ready with its equipment before the first day of competition, so there will be no need to move them during the competition week.
Jukka Liikari - 3.5.2009, 20:52
The World Cup/NOC week in Salo will be very international.
25 federations have shown their interest in participating the events. At the moment the organiser has received an official pre-entry from 22 countries. According to the entries, totally 297 athletes will participate the competitions. Of them, 237 are listed to the long distance event, 295 to the middle distance event and 294 to the sprint. Total number of relay teams is now 70.
The organisers are very pleased with the amount of entries, but they are still expecting some more.
Jukka Liikari - 1.5.2009, 22:44
During the World Cup/NOC week two competitions will be broadcast on television.
On Tuesday June 9, the middle distance competitions are shown at 16.00 -17.00 (men's race) and at 18.00-18.48 (women's race).
On Wednesday June 10 the sprint competitions will be televised live. Men's race will be broadcast at 16.00-17.00 and women's race at 18.00-18.48.
If you are not coming to Salo to see the exciting events, please turn on the channel YLE TV 2.
Jukka Liikari - 1.5.2009, 21:39
Bulletin III can be found at the link "Bulletins and files".
Admin - 17.4.2009, 21:55
Exceptionally snowy winter in Southern Finland kept the course planners away from the forest for couple of weeks. Warm weathers during the past days has now melted almost all of the snow in the competition terrains.
During the Easter holidays most of the controls has been marked in the terrain and the competition controller Tauno Haapasaari has begun his work with the controls.
The competition center 9.4.2009
The terrain 10.4.2009
Admin - 14.4.2009, 10:48
You can download the Media Entry Form from the Bulletins and files -site. Fill it in and send it back to media@noc2009.fi before the 1st of May 2009.
Please, make your reservation for accomodation as soon as possible. For further information or extra help, please, take a contact to info@noc2009.fi.
Jari Kuusisto - 6.4.2009, 21:30
Welcome to the NOC2009 pages. You'll also find more information on a link "Bulletins and files".
Admin - 16.1.2009, 13:51
![[Kuvat Ilkka Saarimäki]](kuvat200/498.jpg)
Olli Vesalainen, Janne Kivelä ja Tuomas Kari FIN5-rastiviikolla 2001. 
