The World Championships in Latvia have drawn to a close. What a week it’s been. Heatwave conditions every day. I hear it’s been a bit cooler in Hobart.
In Old Riga Town Square I watched runners turn at the last control on slippery cobblestones before the finishing chute. Tim Robertson from New Zealand was desperately chasing down a sprint title. He fell short by just one second to Switzerland’s Daniel Hubmann. There was an audible groan from all the non-Europeans in the crowd.
[ed: The picture is of Martin supposedly watching Tim. But he appears more interested in that rock? Especially when you look at the next photo]
Our son Karl joined Elizabeth and I for the public orienteering events associated with WOC. He had a couple of good runs finishing mid field and then disappeared overnight for a sauna party in the country with some locals.
I too had a new experience: stony motherless last in an event. But what a journey through idyllic forests. No wonder orienteering is so popular in northern Europe.
A couple of times I fell over. In Tasmania it’s an instant decision before impact: protect your wrist bones or expensive compass. Here in Latvia it felt like falling onto a feather bed. I was laughing when I got to my feet. The hard ground in Tasmania would have been a challenge for the Europeans at our World Cup events back in 2015.
On the first day at WOC we met Launceston's Kim and Dirk Nankervis who were cheering on their son Brodie at the Sprint. Blair Trewin (President, Orienteering Australia) saw my “Tasmanian Orienteer” shirt and said hello, after officiating at a protest.
After the Sprint the public events were scheduled on different locations to the WOC events. But the on-line live TV coverage was great. Germany’s Christoph Prunsche, our soon to be arriving Hobart Coach in Residence, did well in his events.
I’m looking forward to being in Latvia for the World Masters Orienteering Championships next year. With a bigger field, I am less likely to be last next time.
In a few days I will be back in Tasmania doing a relay tag with Hobart's Sally Wayte and Jeff Dunn as they hand back all the orienteering controls before leaving for their overseas trip the next day. I'll be back to work after so many different, wonderful experiences!