TWO OTHER CZECH CHAMPIONSHIPS

Napsal uživatel Roman Věžník

After Czech April Ultra Long distance championship came next two other in May: night orienteering and sprint. Jiskra Havlickuv Brod has arranged both.

The former took place in Lucice (10 kilometres north of Havlickuv Brod). Mostly passable highlands´ forest with some thickets checked night runners´ skills. The organizers found pleasant event’s centre, prepared first-rate map and set fine but not-easy courses. The weather was also well disposed to competitors. It was enjoyable championships therefore.  

            Petr Henych was best among men. He managed 12 kilometres in 77 minutes. By the way, this runner won night championship e.g. in 1982! Second place went to Radek Tichacek, third to Petr Vitek – they lost c. two minutes. Tichacek led the race until mistake at the 21^st checkpoint. Then Henych took the lead and nobody was able to attack him any more.

            Zuzana Stehnova has celebrated the victory among women.  Iva Navratilova scored second and former junior world champion, Dana Brozkova, finished third. Zbynek Sterba and Michaela Przyczkova (another favourite – Martina Dockalova – had some troubles with light) won the junior classes.

            The other championship had turn only few hours later. The sprint-distance courses were settled just in Havlickuv Brod. And it could be also nice competition: pleasurable centre, well-set courses  - partly in park, partly on woody slope and partly right in the streets of city; many spectators were also present due to following open race. But organizers committed a lot of mistakes.

It looked like the organizers have forgotten they have to arrange yet another championship: the courses and descriptions were not printed, start had to be postpone hence. The courses were drawing by hand meanwhile. It wasn’t enough, however. Some maps for veteran’s classes were still missing after start. Three or so checkpoints were not set the others were located wrongly or were knocked down. Two youth classes had to be cancelled, because of wrong drawn control. The preliminary results did never come out. Both the spectators and the competitors knew about rank just thanks to the speaker and RACOM, which has provided the splits´ transmission. Shortly: very bad!!!

            The women’s competition was thrilling even to the last meters. There were only 11 seconds separating the first and third places. In the end it came out that Zdenka Stara has run fasted. The silver medal belonged surprisingly to Barbora Chudikova (you can know her especially due to Ski Orientering), Dana Brozkova has finished 3 seconds behind her.

            Among men the victory was clearly taken by Rudolf Ropek. His lead was great: 41 seconds. The duel Ropek-Losman was expected. Fast phenomenon, Petr Losman, however, did more than a minute mistake (10^th checkpoint) and had to satisfy with only 10^th place. The others could take medals therefore: Lubos Mateju scored second and the third place went to Libor Zridkavesely.

            It turned out, that one club can arrange both good-class (night) and disastrous (sprint) competitions. We can only hope that the former will dominate!

Tento článek byl poprvé publikován na www.orienteeringonline.net.