Nopesport

It's been an exciting time out in Estonia at the middle distance final today.

Minna Kauppi got off to a shakey start, losing 30s at the 1st control, but from then on she ran the perfect race dominating all the way to the finish, taking the European Championships by 35s. Marianne Andersen of Norway took the silver medal and Heli Jukkola bronze. Simone Niggli may have been clear favourite before the race, but she got off to a shocking start, 1:27 down at the 1st radio. She did manage to pull herself from 23rd to 5th, just behind Tatiana Ryabkina.

Women
1. 33:41 Minna Kauppi FIN
2. 34:16 Marianne Andersen NOR
3. 34:55 Heli Jukkola FIN
4. 35:10 Tatiana Ryabkina RUS
5. 35:18 Simona Niggli SUI
6. 36:18 Emme Engstrand SWE

27 40:54 Jenny Whitehead GBR
30 41:19 Claire Ward GBR
40 44:53 Rachael Elder GBR

The Men's race was equally as exciting, with places changing all the time, and 11 runners within a minute of the gold medal. The French Master Thierry Gueorgiou took home another gold medal for the middle distance with an excellent final loop. Sensation of the day; the young Martins Sirmais from Latvia taking a fantastic silver medal, having been leading at the spectator control he lost some time to Theirry, finishing 7s down. Valentin Novikov took the bronze medal 17s down

Men
1. 34:04 Thierry Gueorgiou FRA
2. 34:11 Martins Sirmais LAT
3. 34:18 Valentin Novikov RUS
4. 34:26 Damien Renard FRA
5. 34:38 Peter Öberg SWE
6. 34:42 Emil Wingstedt SWE

29 37:27 Oli Johnson GBR
33 37:57 Graham Gristwood GBR
35 38:11 Jamie Stevenson GBR

Check out the EOC Website for results, maps, photos and live commentary during the races.