British teams - Jukola and Venla 2006

[Jon X]

The big Scandi relays are a fantastic experience that I would recommend everyone to try at least once - personally I prefer Jukola/Venla over TioMila as there are a lot more teams, it is warmer, and an average British team can do relatively better as there are a lot more teams of a low standard!

For the uninitiated, Jukola is a seven man overnight relay (not much night in Finland in June so normally only 2 or 3 legs in the dark), with around 1300 teams this year. Venla is the women's relay for teams of four which takes place on the Saturday afternoon before Jukola (i.e. all in the day) and had around 800 teams this year.

I know a lot of people go out and run legs in these relays for their foreign clubs, but this year there was a JOK team in each of Jukola and Venla, and only one other British team.

For Jukola/Venla 2006 we will be sending at least one JOK men's team and one women's team (currently hoping for three men's teams...).

It would be fantastic to have a whole load of British teams there to compete against - if there are more than 5 British teams then JOK will fund some prizes for the top one in each relay.

The 2006 event is on 17/18 June, website is http://www.jukola2006.net/index.php?lang=en

So come on - plenty of clubs have enough members to raise a team or two, and there is plenty of time to arrange them - let's get some competition going and get lots of people out there to enjoy what is a great experience (how many mass start relays in Britain have so many teams that the whole ground shakes when the leg one runners all set off!?)

Who is up for it then?

[eddie]

when euoc make hats we'll throw them in the ring

until that time i shall stand up and say aye euoc old boy team shall be there

[pyrat]

i'll speak to the new clyde captain and get him to sort out a team. sounds good.

[Spookster]

SYO/SPOOK etc often try to get a team at Tio, and we've been talking about going to Jukola instead, so I reckon there's a good chance we could be there. Especially if there's prizes

[mat d]

I think ShUOC will try to get a team in there too!!

Thanks... "Jon X" what an inspired idea! get some GB competitiveness in there!

[Guest]

not so inspired really... been tried many times before but most Brits don't jump in when it's needed:)

[Kitch]

thanks for that guest

[Supersaint]

what's the likelihood of being allowed ad-hoc teams together if you can't get a whole team together?

[rocky]

there are no restrictions on teams at jukola. any 7 guys can run together if they want.
sim any 4 girls.

[Becks]

Indeed, last year our JOK team had no actual members of JOK, but one from SOS/ShuOC, one from BOK, one random Irish now Swedish orienteer and me from OUOC.

[Jon X]

okay EUOC/SPOOK/SYO/SHUOC/CLYDE and others

hope you are not all talk and so are sorting yourselves out to enter for this.

JOK is definitely sending at least two men's teams and one women's team.

hoping to send a third men's team as well.....

anyone who would like to run but is unable to get a club team then PM me and I will let you know if we have any spare runs (or you could post here and try to make up a team?)

[Rich R]

Flights booked so a full NOC team will be going. How many clubs have managed to pull a team together then as only a team from London are currently registered?

[Jon X]

Rich, good work, bring it on!

As you say I have not entered any teams yet, but I will be entering three men's teams and one women's team.

I do however still have at least one space to fill to complete the final men's team. I am waiting on replies from a couple of people but if anyone out there fancies it (particularly a long leg......) then PM me or speak to me at the JK and I will let you know if we can offer you a run.