Jukola/Venla

[jarkko_01]

agreed. As if anyone doubted his quality Tsvetkov ran the 2nd fastest final leg at Jukola, beating Hubmann among others. He can't be so bad. Maybe you should retract your comments..

[graeme]

Eddie - its tiny because its really not worth reading

Kalle Dalin is ranked 100th in Sweden, Dmitri Tvsetkov is ranked 100th in Finland. Do you know what those two have in common?
...
what are you saying about the european championships

I'm saying that you think nobody ever heard of the winners.

[Kitch]

Mark, you're really not bothering to pay attention are you? Despite what Kitch says top-33 does not automatically count as outstanding in my book:

Then you simply don't appreciate what it takes to finish that high up at Jukola.

[Jon X]

I have experienced this level of pressure just once

Come on then - you know you want to tell us. Presumably something you actually had a chance/expectation of winning?

My money is on WOC 1995 relay.......with apologies to the other WOC relay team that Kitch ran in (and ran first leg at that)......however they can't both be the answer!!

[graeme]

Then you simply don't appreciate what it takes to finish that high up at Jukola.

Did you see Thierry's interview? He nearly hit the woman who said he had a great run, and he was sixth fastest on the long leg! Maybe you're confusing an outstanding athlete with an outstanding run?

I did run first leg once ... as a vet, ranked about 50th in the UK (i.e. nothing like as good as DougT or Nails are). Started at the back, as you do, visited all the first gaffled controls losing about 4 mins (that would be the pressure then). After that I was pretty comfortable running for an hour at what turned out to be top-30 pace, even without a proper headtorch and without top-30 athletes around me. So I know perfectly well from experience what it takes to run that fast on leg one at Jukola.

A lot of near-elites seem to big up Jukola as a phenomenal race with awesome high standards throughout. But it is disappointing, because it's not like that at all - it's a mass participation race which most UK orienteers could do just fine. Maybe a dozen or so teams have a real chance to win (i.e. pressure), for the rest its about setting your own target, and striving to do as best you possibly can, with enough competition that every error cost places.

[harry]

I was pretty comfortable running for an hour at what turned out to be top-30 pace

But what position did you finish in Graeme?
Running as fast as those finishing in the top 30 for large sections of your course is not the same as coming in in the top 30. Just like taking your team up 100 places when you are back in the 300s is not necessarily that impressive. If you are running in a long train of people and you are in OK shape it is easy to pass people.
A good leg time is not that difficult to achieve, in some ways easier to achieve if you are far back (no pressure and a long queue to overtake the whole way). When you are actually running for a competitive team it is a different type of race. At the sharp end it feels more like an international relay than a mass participation event. Apart from having to negotiate clusters of lapped runners.

As for Theirry of course he was gutted, but not exactly because he had the 5th fastest leg time. Because he finished 2nd. Leg times are interesting to look at, especially if your team result has not been that good. But it's your place in the relay that counts, it's not an individual race!

[harry]

ANYWAY

Overall Jukola was top class and will be even bigger and better next year.
Within 50km of Helsinki and accessible by public transport!
Great terrain.
Venla is only 3hrs next year, each leg being a bit shorter. Boo! But should make for an even tighter and more exciting race at the front, and nice leg lengths for lots of YOU!
Get involved! http://www.jukola2010.net/sivut/pages/fi/etusivu.php
There is also a World Cup race in Helsinki on the Friday before, the start of the Nordic O Tour, a series of sprints and middles in the Scandi capitals.

[Olsoran]

Suitably inspired by the events of a couple of weeks ago plans are starting to take shape around a Scottish M50+ team for Jukola 2010. With the incentive that we’ll probably crumble away entirely if we don’t do it soon there’s been plenty of interest and if all goes to plan and folk live up to their fine words the team may be, just may be, pretty strong ...in UK M50 terms! We certainly won’t make anything like the top 100, maybe 500, but 200+ years of O experience may count for something.

Anyone else fancy the challenge?

[Jethro]

A Scottish M50 team consisting of Messrs Barrett, Bloor, Coombs, Dean, McIntyre, Petrie and Tullie have got their flights booked to Helsinki for Jukola. All they need to do now is sort out the running order and a team name and try and keep fit and healthy until June 2010! Any chance of some Sassenach opposition?

[Big Jon]

Who's doing the long night?

[Jethro]

One of the three who are booked on an early flight home!

[Gross]

It should be Stephanis de Barrentis.... he's got the longests legs of that group

[EddieH]

As I failed to book my place it looks as though the team is amazingly 100% M50.
I'll bet England could not muster a team to beat them even if they're allowed the odd 55+

[andypat]

A Scottish M50 team consisting of Messrs Barrett, Bloor, Coombs, Dean, McIntyre, Petrie and Tullie have got their flights booked to Helsinki for Jukola. All they need to do now is sort out the running order and a team name and try and keep fit and healthy until June 2010! Any chance of some Sassenach opposition?

Well Mr Petrie has apparently pulled his calf doing the Paisley 10k last weekend - hasnt stopped him training of course, not sure even swine flu could do that!

[Catfish]

Anybody know which Airport in Finland to use for Jukola 2010