Nopesport

The Nordic Orienteering Championships are taking place this weekend in Telemark, Norway, where many of the world’s top orienteers are taking part.

In the classic race Norway’s Anders Nordberg had a storming run to claim victory by 3 minutes from Olle Kärner of Estonia. Holger Hott Johansen, also of Norway was just 1 second behind in 3rd place. Great Britain’s Jon Duncan had a good run to finish 14th, beating some top class opposition. Marcus Pinker was the top Irish runner in 32nd place, being joined by Neil Dobbs (37th), Darren Burke (38th) and Colm O’Halloran (39th),
In the women’s race it was the Swiss pairing of Vroni König-Salmi and Simone Niggli-Luder at the top, with König-Salmi winning by 2 minutes. Jenny Johansson of Sweden was 3rd, a further 2 minutes behind. Ireland’s Toni O’Donovan finished in 33rd place, with Ailbhe Creedon 38th.
In the M20 class Sweden’s Erik Rost won by 19 seconds from Norway’s Olav Lundanes, with Fellow Norwegian Øystein Sørensen in 3rd. Great Britain’s Scott Fraser had a good run finishing in 11th place, showing that he has got over the injury which kept him out of the FCC Final.
The W20 was won by Betty Ann Bjerkreim Nilsen of Norway, 3 minutes clear of 2nd placed Anna Persson of Sweden. In 3rd place was Saila Kinni of Finland.

Friday sees the athletes compete in the Sprint distance, with the middle on Saturday and the relay on Sunday.

Follow the rest of the results from the weekend at the NOC website