European Orienteering Championships 2014
Claire Ward was in the GB team at the European Orienteering Championships, which were held in Palmela, Portugal, from 10-16 April. She was in the Middle and Long races and also ran in the relay.
On Thursday 10 April, Claire ran in the Middle Qualification race, held at Meco - Norte, on the coast. The terrain is described as, "Gently sloping sand dune terrain with some detailed relief and vegetation; mostly good runnability and visibility. Moderate network of paths. Some areas covered by low but thorny undergrowth and dead wood." Originally, 17 from each of the 3 heats were to qualify for the final. Claire came 9th in her heat, qualifying comfortably, and Hollie Orr also qualified. Following protests over control placement, it was decided that all the men from all 3 heats were allowed to run in the final. Following further protests, all the women from all 3 heats were also allowed to run in the final.
On Friday 11 April, Claire ran in the Long Qualifier at Meco - Sul. The terrain is described thus: "Gently to highly sloping open areas with some small areas of pinus and eucalyptus forest. Mostly good runnability and visibility. Moderate network of paths. High grass, high thorny bushes, strong grown vegetation could significantly reduce runnability. Marked passages through 2-3m high fences." Apparently it was rough going, with a lot of brambles.
Again 17 from each heat qualified for the final. Claire came 15th in her heat; Cat Taylor and Tessa Hill also qualified for the final. From the men's heats, Graham Gristwood and Peter Bray qualified.
On Monday 14 April, the Middle final was held at Marateca. The terrain was described as: "Gently to moderately steep clean open forest, sandy earth loosened by mechanical equipment to 10 - 15cm depth mostly cork tree and pine tree, with some detailed relief. Almost no stone elements. Good runnability and visibility. Moderate network of paths.Some (unpassable) stone wall / barbed wires crossable at indicated spots." Claire came 41st in the final and was second GB woman after Hollie Orr, who finished in 24th place.
On Tuesday 15 April, the Long final was held, also at Marateca. The terrain was described as: "Clean open forest sandy earth loosened by mechanical equipment to 10 - 15cm depth of varying steepness, mostly cork tree and pine tree, with some detailed relief and some undergrowth vegetation. Almost no stone elements. Good runnability and visibility. Moderate network of paths.Some (unpassable) stone wall / barbed wires crossable at indicated spots.Big electric power lines." Claire came 34th in the final. Top result for GB was a bronze medal for Cat Taylor, a great performance. Tessa Hill was 21st.
On Wednesday 16 April the relays took place, also at Marateca. Claire was in the second team, running first leg, and finished in 18th place, within 2 minutes of the leader. The team was 16th overall, 40 seconds behind the GB 1st team.
The EOC 2014 website gives further details about the event, and the full British team can be seen on the British Orienteering website.