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Aix le Bains provided an excellent venue for the World Championships Sprint Qualifiers. The finish arena was located in an immaculate park, with manicured lawns and flowerbeds. Runners also had an area of forest park and some old streets and squares to contend with. In the end the qualifier will be remembered for out of bounds controversy as many competitors were first disqualified and then reinstated. After lunch the circus moved 20km up the lake to the town of Chambery were the organisers had really pulled out all the stops to provide a spectacular sprint venue. A big screen dominated the square which saw the runners not only start, but appear twice on spectator loops on balconys and terraces overlooking the square before a final sprint towards the finish via the crowd lined streets and alleyways.

The Brits Men and Women had a great set of results. Graham Gristwood had us hanging on the edge of our seats leading for what seemed like half of the competition before being knocked down to 4^th in the last minutes of the race.
The noise of the crowds, the big screen, waving flags and fantastic commentary all crammed into the medieval square was just amazing and shows the sprint orienteering format to be a true spectator sport.

Friday was a day in the car, driving down via the channel tunnel to spectate at the World Foot Orienteering Championships 2011 near Lyons in France. Friday night was a F1 hotel in Chalons en Champagne, made famous as being where one of my favourite comedians Eddie Izzard went on his French Exchange visit. His glue factory sketch based in Chalons is one of those that always brings a smirk to my face no matter how many times I hear it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1sQkEfAdfY

For those who have never stayed in a French F1 budget hotel they are brilliant. 33 euros for 3 of us. The toilets are down the corridor in little self cleaning pods, with stop go lights above them. Best of all the toilet seats are heated.
The spectator races at WOC 2011 start early on Sun. Time to head south out of Chalons and try and spot the Glue Factory!

The clever people at Singletrack magazine have wizzed up a searchable interactive results service which is available online now at
http://www.singletrackworld.com/2011/08/sleepless-in-the-saddle-2011-results/?rider_number=1038#riderdetails

They have also calculated total distance ridden, total time ridden and some speed, distance and overall rankings across the whole field of riders. I have no idea what criteria make up the speed but I’m quite happy with 47th out of 982 riders !

 

 

This year the Word Foot Orienteering Championships is based around Chambery on the edge of the French Alps. Held alongside is the ERDF O Festival, 5 days of spectator races on the same areas used the previous day by the best Orienteers in the World. 20 members of my Club, Walton Chasers will be travelling, competing and hopefully a bit of holidaying together with some spectating of the WOC races, cheering on the British Team.

The terrain promises to be steep and technical, the weather hot and of course being France the food and wine will be spot on.

http://www.woc2011.fr/

Well done to Bruce and Ant who completed their Epic Triathlon late on Sunday night in Westminster.

Lots of postings and comment on their website at  www.theepictri.com

Don’t forget to sponsor them !