WOC

[DesignatedDriver]

Thought i would get in early on the obvious thread...


Who is it? Who is the winner?

i am sure that given the unquestionable intelligence and resource that [nopesport] has at its qwerty infeed, that the winner can be easily forecast.

anyway - to all those dedicated few that are making their way out the week before to train - good luck.
keep calm
concentrate
be confident in the training you have done

and most importantly

enjoy!

[DIDSCO]

Some predictions from me>

Womens Sprint: Simone is a class apart, if she runs clean nobody can beat her, she knows that. Minna Kauppi is the obvious athlete to give Simone a fight, and should take a medal. The other medal will probably come from one of these girls - Karolina Höjsgaard, Kajsa Nilson, or Anne Margrethe Hausken (if she can find her shape) - the dark horse with good recent form could well be Hanny Allston from Australia.....

Womens Middle: I think the middle will be Simones toughest fight for a gold medal. Marianne Andersson or Minna Kauppi will be the ones taking advantage of any of Simones mistakes, just like they did at European Champs earlier in the year. The dark horse could be Jenny Johansson, she's been injured pretty much since last years WOC but I've got a small feeling it could be her year to take gold - the pressures a little bit off and she may only run the middle distance - so she can be totally focused on doing that job. If anybody deserves that gold, she does.

Womens Long: This should be Simones 'easiest' gold medal. The closest competition should come from Marianne Andersson again, as well as her swiss team mates V-k Salmi and perhaps even Martina Fritschy. Emma Engstrand has the capability but can she hold it together on the big day. Close eye on Hanny Allston again in this race - 6th place last year, she's got the confidence and the ability to fight for a medal.

Womens relay:
Swiss v's Sweden for Gold
Finland probably Bronze


Mens Sprint: Emil Wingstedt will be the hot favourite, after him there are a whole series of guys that will be in with a chance - the 3 danes Bloch, Nielson, Lund will have the home crowd, Daniel Hubmann, Renard, Weltzein, Khramov are all looking good, BJ could well be the dark horse as we know how he likes to prove a point but if I have to stick my neck out 1st Wingstedt, 2nd Martn Johansson (Swe), and MÃ¥rten Bostrum 3rd as the suprise package.

Mens Middle: I think this will be a clear cut fight between just 3 runners, and perhaps the 3 best technitions and big pressure orienteers in the World.
Thierry, Emil Wingstedt, and Chris Terkelsen - hope Chris wins it. Merz and Hubmann would be good outside bets if any of the big three can't mix it.

Mens Long: This is perhaps Britains best chance of a medal. I've got a feeling Jamie can pull off something very special this year. I'd love to see him do it. Expect Lakanen ,Novikov, and Thierry to be the other big contenders, with good outside bets on norwegians Holger Hott Johansson and Hans Gunner Omdal. The dark horse will be 'old man' Carsten Jorgensen - how amazing would that be if such a legend was mixing it for a medal or even a gold.

Mens Relay:
France will be out for revenge but I don't think they'll do it.
I've got a feeling Finland might win it, and Denmark may well get a medal. The other medal will be a fight between Sweden and France, and hopefully Britain........


I'll be there at WOC watching the sprint and spending a couple of nights on the town. Should be a good laugh.

[HOCOLITE]

Really looking forward to the WOC tour event(I don't think) I'd predict last place for me, particularly on the classic events
Re the World Champs, I agree with Dids about Marianne Andersson being a threat and Hanny Allston has shown some good form, I don't know enough about individuals specialities to predict for events but Hubmann looked promising last year and I'd love to see Laukeken up there because of his passion(that's in orienteering) Of course it would be great if a Brit could pull it off GG in sprint? Alison for a good run. It would be good for the youngsters of the team to show their promise.
Anyway we'll be there with our flags cheering, hope the customs don't confiscate them Even got the union Jack umbrella/ sunshade to cope with all possibilities.

[Barny of Blandford]

I am not a betting man but I bet that I will be either 1st or 2nd British runner in M60
On Simon the sleepy owl my betting odds are even better - he will be 1st Brit in M21AK
My wife will be 2nd Brit in W55 (unfortunately Hilary Palmer can run!!!)
Now do not spoil it any of you by going and putting in a late entry - particularly if your name is Mike Hampton, Peter Gorvett, David May or Mike Murray.
It is not ever day that I have such good odds

[little slave]

http://www.woc2006.dk --> o-manager