There's a preview of the relay at the Europeans in the Times today, focussing on Helen Winskill. It actually seems to explain orienteering as a proper sport which is rather refreshing.
Focused Winskill takes strides towards mapping out future at higher level
O in the Times
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ROGER HARGREAVES used to be a rally navigator, so it is understandable that his daughter, Helen Winskill, inherited a fascination for maps and wild terrain. However, she prefers to run her route and a forest in Roskilde, Denmark, is the setting for her latest challenge as the European Championships reach their conclusion this weekend.
That is when Winskill, tipped as a future medal prospect in the individual events, teams up with Jo Stevenson and Kim Buckley for the relay. All three compete for the South Yorkshire Orienteers and have fine-tuned their training in Sheffield’s Ecclesfield woods.
“Denmark is renowned for its flat beech forests,” Winskill said, “and our local woods are a good likeness. The terrain means the race will be quite fast, so we’ll run on our compass a lot more than in, say, Sweden, where there’s much more small relief. All the little knolls and marshes on that sort of course mean you have to be very switched on technically and in constant contact with the map.”
The sport has four disciplines. “The sprint race is normally held in a park,” she said. “It’s roughly 2½ to three kilometres in distance and will be won in 12 to 15 minutes — too quick for me. The middle race is normally won within 30 minutes and is up to five kilometres, usually in a forest. The Classic takes 60 to 75 minutes and is anything up to ten kilometres, while the relay is for teams of three running about 40 minutes each. We think we’ve got a fantastic chance in Roskilde.”
They will not be told how many control points they have to find until a few minutes before the race. “Part of the challenge that keeps me coming back for more is that getting inside the head of the mapper, trying to beat them at their own game,” Winskill said. “We’re all striving for the perfect run, where you’re totally relaxed and at one with the map. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it brings complete contentment.”
Getting lost has the opposite effect. “There are different levels of being lost and it’s usually just a moment of ‘my goodness, where am I? Oh, it’s over there’ kind of hesitation,” she said. “Occasionally, though, there’s the completely ‘I have no idea where I am’ kind of lost, which is rather serious. It happens less and less at the highest level because we do so much practice, but unfamiliar terrain can always throw you.”
Finland, the 5ft 7in athlete says, seems to have an endless supply of deep, dark forest, so she is pleased that Sweden will be hosting the World Championships in September. “I have been targeting that race for several months because I do enjoy the more technical courses,” Winskill said. Running power and map reading are the key components and Winskill, an ever-present in the Great Britain team for 13 years, has improved her chances of world success by giving up her job as a mechanical engineer.
“I took a deep breath because handing in your resignation is a big step,” she said. “It was a great job, but the level I was getting to meant the company needed a bit more from me than I could give with my orienteering.”
She now works part-time for the British Orienteering Federation and, at 30, believes that it is time to challenge the Scandinavians and the Swiss at the top of the world rankings. “I’ve had some bitter-sweet races recently,” Winskill said, “where a little mistake has cost me a podium place. It’s taken a long time to reach that level, to realise that I can be something.”
Winskill’s husband, Phil, a fell runner pushing for international selection, is just as committed and the couple train together. Her parents and two brothers also compete. “Mum and Dad took up orienteering together 21 years ago, when Dad realised rallying was a bit selfish for a family man,” she said. “Obviously they were outdoor types and that rubbed off on us. We’ve come a long way since then.”
That is when Winskill, tipped as a future medal prospect in the individual events, teams up with Jo Stevenson and Kim Buckley for the relay. All three compete for the South Yorkshire Orienteers and have fine-tuned their training in Sheffield’s Ecclesfield woods.
“Denmark is renowned for its flat beech forests,” Winskill said, “and our local woods are a good likeness. The terrain means the race will be quite fast, so we’ll run on our compass a lot more than in, say, Sweden, where there’s much more small relief. All the little knolls and marshes on that sort of course mean you have to be very switched on technically and in constant contact with the map.”
The sport has four disciplines. “The sprint race is normally held in a park,” she said. “It’s roughly 2½ to three kilometres in distance and will be won in 12 to 15 minutes — too quick for me. The middle race is normally won within 30 minutes and is up to five kilometres, usually in a forest. The Classic takes 60 to 75 minutes and is anything up to ten kilometres, while the relay is for teams of three running about 40 minutes each. We think we’ve got a fantastic chance in Roskilde.”
They will not be told how many control points they have to find until a few minutes before the race. “Part of the challenge that keeps me coming back for more is that getting inside the head of the mapper, trying to beat them at their own game,” Winskill said. “We’re all striving for the perfect run, where you’re totally relaxed and at one with the map. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it brings complete contentment.”
Getting lost has the opposite effect. “There are different levels of being lost and it’s usually just a moment of ‘my goodness, where am I? Oh, it’s over there’ kind of hesitation,” she said. “Occasionally, though, there’s the completely ‘I have no idea where I am’ kind of lost, which is rather serious. It happens less and less at the highest level because we do so much practice, but unfamiliar terrain can always throw you.”
Finland, the 5ft 7in athlete says, seems to have an endless supply of deep, dark forest, so she is pleased that Sweden will be hosting the World Championships in September. “I have been targeting that race for several months because I do enjoy the more technical courses,” Winskill said. Running power and map reading are the key components and Winskill, an ever-present in the Great Britain team for 13 years, has improved her chances of world success by giving up her job as a mechanical engineer.
“I took a deep breath because handing in your resignation is a big step,” she said. “It was a great job, but the level I was getting to meant the company needed a bit more from me than I could give with my orienteering.”
She now works part-time for the British Orienteering Federation and, at 30, believes that it is time to challenge the Scandinavians and the Swiss at the top of the world rankings. “I’ve had some bitter-sweet races recently,” Winskill said, “where a little mistake has cost me a podium place. It’s taken a long time to reach that level, to realise that I can be something.”
Winskill’s husband, Phil, a fell runner pushing for international selection, is just as committed and the couple train together. Her parents and two brothers also compete. “Mum and Dad took up orienteering together 21 years ago, when Dad realised rallying was a bit selfish for a family man,” she said. “Obviously they were outdoor types and that rubbed off on us. We’ve come a long way since then.”
- Guest
Snowdon
Hey matey - been there - 2000 was the year. They selected A and B team somwhat strangely - said I had not done enough selection races, so then just ran the race (luckily it was open to all) and beat all the B team and one A team member, think I got most of the Italians too, etc. etc. So go and run and show them they should have selected you!I got some great prizes for being third in the open race (10th(?) overall)
- Ravinous
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