FIN 5 orienteering competition

We have now had 2 days of competition at the FIN 5 orienteering event. We have all been challenged by the Finnish orienteering terrain, which has lots of medium sized hills with cliffs, areas of rock and boulders. The maps require detailed map reading as there is a lack of tracks / roads to use. It is just amazing to be part of an event with 3,500 competitors with 29 countries represented. The organisation of the event works like clockwork.

Angela saya the orienteering is 'AWESOME'. She is doing the best of the family. Her placings have been 4th and 11th. For todays rest day she competed in a sprint event around the local streets and parks in Lohja and came 11th. This event attracted many of the big name orienteers, and it was also a World Ranking event, so Angela did very well in the competition. We did not know the results, but over the commentary we kep hearing 'Angela Simpson', but did not know how what her results were. When I asked a local who was winning, the lady replied with the name of the local star who had not even started! The only other Kiwi competing in the sprint was Ross Morrison. Here is a photo of Angela and Ross talking to Ville Sundberg about their courses.

Today Raewyn, Ian and Steven travelled by bus to Helsinki. The main attraction was Suomenlinna, which was a fort on an island in Helsinki harbour built by the Swedish and French. Steven enjoyed all of the history of the fort since 1700. The history of the fort included Sweden, Russia, Britain, France and Finland.

We are hoping for an enjoyable days orienteering in a new area tomorrow. Raewyn is looking forward to the Salmon soup after her run. And there is a lake beside the event for the after-run swim. The lake might end up a bit salty after 3,500 orienteers.