The 2024 European Orienteering Championships and World Cup Round 3 took place in Mór, Hungary from 16-20 August.
We had a team of 5 athletes representing Australia: Emily Sorensen, Oskar Mella, Alastair George, David Stocks and Toby Wilson.
Emily Sorensen, David Stocks, Oskar Mella, Toby Wilson
MIDDLE QUALIFICATIONS – 16 AUGUST
273 athletes from around the world competed in the first 2024 EOC and World Cup Round 3 race: the middle qualification. Qualification race had 3 heats in both classes. 2-minute start interval with 3 runners starting at the same time.
The terrain was moderately hilly with many erosion features (spurs and small re-entrants), generally good runnability and very good visibility in the open and “white” forest areas.
The top 20 athletes in each heat from the middle qualifications move on to the middle distance finals.
Here’s how our athletes placed in their respective races. While our Aussie athletes didn’t qualify for the finals, they all did a fantastic job in their races. After taking a rest day, they will get ready to compete in the long distance race on 18 August.
| Place | Name | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | Emily Sorensen | 36:18 | +12:32 |
| 35 | Oskar Mella | 27:34 | +5:00 |
| 35 | Alastair George | 29:51 | +6:23 |
| 39 | David Stocks | 28:22 | +5:29 |
| 47 | Toby Wilson | 32:17 | +9:24 |
LONG DISTANCE – 18 AUGUST
In the second world cup event, athletes competed an individual, long distance race through Csókakő, Hungary.
The terrain included flat highlands and long ridges, generally good runnability reduced by stony and steep slopes and green areas. The course length for women was 10.8 km with 630m climb and 22 controls. The course length for men was 13.9 km with 850m climb and 25 controls.
Here’s how our athletes placed:
| Place | Name | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96 | Toby Wilson | 2:18:37 | +41:23 |
| 101 | Oskar Mella | 2:20:50 | +43:36 |
| 102 | Emily Sorensen | 2:40:01 | +1:14:18 |
| 121 | David Stocks | 2:35:08 | +57:54 |
| MP | Alastair George |
RELAY – 20 AUGUST
In the final world cup event, athletes competed in a relay, with separate classes for men and women with 3 legs and a mass start in Várgesztes, Hungary.
The terrain included hilly areas with many erosion features (spurs and small re-entrants), generally good runnability, and medium to high density network of paths and forest roads. The course length for women was 5.6 km with 240m climb and 17 controls. The course length for men was 6.6 km with 270m climb and 18 controls.
Australia 1 placed 22nd!
Alastair George, Oskar Mella, David Stocks
| Australia 1 Team | Name | Time | Place in Leg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leg 1 | Alastair George | 39:38 | 29 |
| Leg 2 | Oskar Mella | 47:33 | 46 |
| Leg 3 | David Stocks | 42:55 | 29 |
Emily Sorensen competed in Team IOF Mix 4.
Emily finished leg 2 with a time of 47:23, placing 28th in her leg.
Toby Wilson competed in Team IOF Mix 5.
Toby finished leg 3 with a time of 47:52, placing 43rd in his leg.
World Cup Round 4
The 4th and final World Cup will take place in Kuopio, Finland at the end of September from 26-29 September 2024. Three forest races in central Finland – Long, Middle and Relay – will determine who gets to lift the World Cup trophies. The organisers have promised technically demanding forest orienteering in physically tough terrains for the World Cup final.
Besides competing for World Cup glory, the athletes get a perfect chance to prepare for the World Orienteering Championships in 2025 in Finland.
Photos by Eszter Kocsik, William Hollowell, Zsofi Albert, Vencel Lajtos and Marci Kriza.
