19Th World University Championships

O 19th NEWS N 4 World University Championships http://wuoc2014.cz August 12-16

ORIENTEERING 2014 Olomouc Czech Republic 19th World University Championship

Scott Fraser, WOC 2014, Italy, photo WUOC Archive

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t OPENING WORDS s u g Au Dear Readers, Dear Orienteering Friends, c, ou th C Olom Only one month remains before the 19 World University Orienteering zech Republic, Championships 2014 in the Czech Republic will be ceremonially opened at the Old Armoury in Olomouc. The organisers are finishing all the preparatory work and they are looking forward to welcoming student orienteers from 31 countries from all around the World in the Czech Republic.

You are reading the fourth issue of the “WUOC News” bulletin where you will find an exclusive interview with the 2012 World Champion No. COUNTRY MEN WOMAN OFFICIALS in the sprint distance and double overall World Cup winner 1. Australia 4 4 0 Matthias Kyburz from Switzerland, as well as with the Briton Scott 2. Austria 6 6 2 3. Belarus 2 5 1 Fraser who won the sprint silver medal at the World Orienteering 4. Bulgaria 4 4 3 Championships 2013 in Finland. Thereafter, you can read about the 5. Canada 4 2 2 support that were granted to WUOC 2014 by the President of the 6. China 4 3 5 Czech Olympic Committee, Jiří Kejval. The athletes might appreciate 7. Czech Republic 6 6 5 the useful information about the long distance and the sprint events 8. Estonia 4 6 2 terrains. Last but not least, we bring all the participants in WUOC or 9. Finland 6 6 2 WUOC Tour a tip for an interesting cultural and natural trip. 10. France 5 5 4 11. Germany 4 3 1 We wish you pleasant reading and nicely spent July. 12. Hong Kong 1 1 1 13. Hungary 6 4 3 See you in August in the Czech Republic! 14. Ireland 5 0 1 15. Italy 4 4 2 Dušan Vystavěl, Chairman of the Organising Committee 16. Japan 6 4 2 of WUOC 2014 17. Latvia 6 3 0 Tomáš Dlabaja, WUOC 2014 Ambassador 18. Moldova 3 0 0 Jan Exner, WUOC News Editor 19. New Zealand 4 5 1 20. Norway 6 6 2 21. Poland 4 4 1 CONTENTS 22. Romania 2 2 1 23. Russia 6 6 2 WUOC News Interview: Matthias Kyburz 24. Slovakia 6 4 2 Winner’s Tips and Espionage: Nectavské údolí (Valley) and 25. Slovenia 3 1 0 Kroměříž Through the Eyes of the Mapmaker 26. Spain 4 4 1 27. Sweden 6 6 2 News from the Organisation: Czech Olympic Committee 28. Switzerland 6 6 3 Support 29. Ukraine 3 2 3 Interesting Places that are Worth Seeing: Protivanov and 30. UK 6 6 3 Its Nature Beauties 31. USA 5 4 1 Today’s Stars, Tomorrow’s Leaders: Scott Fraser / ALL 141 122 58

DATE AND PROGRAMME OF 19TH WUOC 2014 – AUGUST 2014 Date Morning Afternoon/Evening Place Fri 8. 8. training Long Dzbel Sat 9. 8. training Middle, Relay training Middle, Relay Bukova Five Continents Championship – Sun 10. 8. Prostejov Prostejov Mayor’s Cup Mixed – Relay Test race Mon 11. 8. model Sprint WUOC Opening Ceremony Olomouc Tue 12. 8. WUOC – Sprint Mixed Relay + WUOC Tour Sprint Kromeriz Wed 13. 8. WUOC – Long WUOC Tour 1st Day – Middle Nectava Thu 14. 8. WUOC Tour 2nd Day – Middle WUOC – Sprint Sv. Kopecek Fri 15. 8. WUOC – Middle WUOC Tour 3rd Day - Middle, WRE Protivanov WUOC – Relay, Sat 16. 8. WUOC Tour 4th Day – chasing start + WUOC Banquet Protivanov/Olomouc Closing Ceremony Sun 17. 8. Departures WUOC NEWS INTERVIEW Jan Exner MATTHIAS KYBURZ: I WILL SHOW THIS YEAR THAT I HAVE IMPROVED IN THE LONG DISTANCE

Despite still being only 24-years old, he has won almost everything he can. The Swiss orienteer Matthias Kyburz knows the feeling of standing on the top position at the World Orienteering Championships, World Games and the World Cup. Being on one hand, modest at every situation, Matthias Kyburz still has goals to reach on the other. Besides winning a WOC medal in every discipline, he also aims at winning a race at the 19th World University Orienteering Championships 2014 in the Czech Republic.

Being still only 24-years old, you have won WOC, World Games is that I like sprints and the overall World Cup. What is the key to your success? because it is 15 It’s of course a mixture of many aspects. In recent years I could minutes full of action. train as I wanted in the strong Swiss team and become better In the course of time, in every training. On the physical side and on the technical side, you have improved I could still improve after my junior career and train injury “free” gradually also in nearly my whole career. forest orienteering. Where, after winning almost everything, do you look for What is your favourite motivation for further trainings and competitions? discipline at the Finding new motivation is no problem. In orienteering I face moment? Is there one in every competition new challenges. One big goal is to win discipline you now a World Championships medal in the forest disciplines. There are concentrate on more still many goals I want to achieve in orienteering. than on the others? I don’t really have one When did you start orienteering? Did you do any other sport as favourite discipline. a child? It really depends on I started orienteering at the age of 13. I was not interested in the course and on the thinking that much during sport before. I played football and terrain. I don’t like to practised gymnastics in regional sports clubs. But I practised do either sprints in many other sports and I was probably never sitting at home on boring terrain or the the couch reading a book. long distance on unsuitable areas. At the moment, I concentrate When did you decide to practise orienteering at the top level? most on the long distance. In the long distance I am the furthest What was the reason for your decision? away from the top runners and internationally I haven’t achieved It was not a real decision. I had from the beginning, quite good satisfying results in that discipline. That’s why this year I have results and that motivated me to go on. At first it was the a special focus on the long distance. I will show at the World regional selection and then the national selection helped me to Championships and also at WUOC that I have improved in the develop and become better and better, and a more professional long distance! athlete. You won the opening World Cup race in 2011, became the sprint You won your first gold medal at EYOC 2006 in the Czech World Champion and the overall World Cup winner in 2012 and Republic. What comes into your mind when you think back to the you won all three individual sprint races and defended the overall 2006 Championships? victory in the World Cup in 2013. Is it possible to compare your My memories about racing in the Czech Republic are really individual WOC gold medal and overall victory in the World Cup? good. I have good memories from the competition in the Czech No, absolutely not. I worked “much” harder for the World Republic, but also from EYOC on my home ground in 2008. Championships title. The hard work for winning WOC resulted They both were high quality events and what is more, I could afterwards in also winning the overall World Cup. I won’t say celebrate in both events with a gold medal. that the overall World Cup is less valuable but today the World Champion title counts just much more. Having won the sprint gold medal at JWOC 2009, you started your career as being a top sprint runner. Did you concentrate on A lot of people consider you being the best orienteer in the World sprint? Or did it just come naturally? at the moment. What do you think about it? I have never focused more on the sprint than on the forest I wouldn’t say I am the “best” orienteer. Technically and physically disciplines. On the physical side, the sprint distance suits me there are other runners who have more skills than me. I consider better. Compared to other runners, my speed is better on hard myself to be one of the best all-rounders. There aren’t many ground then on the soft ground in the forest. Another reason runners who can win in the sprint and in a difficult forest race.

6 1 O - AA 2 I think there is which I haven’t won. That’s why I would like to have good NEWS N 4 1

t a handful of athletes performances at the competitions. But as far as I have heard, s u who can do that and WUOC is much more than just racing. I really look forward to g I see myself in that a great week in the Czech Republic. Au c, group. ou How high amongst your priorities do you place it this year? Cze , Olom When your name European and World Championships were ranked much higher. ch Republic appears in a start list, But afterwards, I place it on the same level as the Military World everyone expects you to win. How do you deal with the pressure? Championships and also as the World Cup this year. It’s a high It is not a new situation for me. Already in the junior categories, quality competition where I can get experience for the most me and a lot of other people had high expectations. I found important races. a way to deal with the pressure. As long as people expect good When someone says the Czech Republic, what is the first thing results from me I am competitive and that’s a good sign for me. that comes into your mind? Switzerland has a strong men’s team. Does it help in improving Beer is clearly the first thing that comes into my mind. As an your individual orienteering skills? Is there significant rivalry orienteer, I also think about the sand stones terrain, which I between you, the Hubmann brothers and other top Swiss runners? always connect with Czech Republic. Of course, it helps a lot if you can compare your training with What is your experience with the Czech terrains? Do you like them? the World best athletes. I have never achieved an easy win in our The races and trainings I have done so far in the Czech Republic team. If I run really well, I can beat Hubmann, Hertner or the others were really nice. I especially like the sandstone terrain. I also have top shots. But if I don’t show a good performance in the training, good memories from the terrain where the World Cup in Liberec my mistakes will be clearly visible. That helps me to keep on was held. I have not experience the “green hell terrain” so far where working on details all year long and not to get too comfortable. In you also have competitions. That’s something I don’t regret. training and in competition there is, of course, rivalry, but besides training we have a lot of fun together and a good team spirit. What is your goal for WUOC 2014? Will you run all the disciplines? My ultimate goal is to win a race. I will have four chances: in You study biology. Is it difficult to combine top orienteering and sprint, in the sprint-relay, in the long distance and in the relay. University studies? Let’s say it is not easy. With good planning it is possible in What would be your message for those runners who would like a reduced way if you want to take part in the most important to follow your steps? races during the season. The problem is that exams and the At first I think that you have to find the passion for orienteering most important competitions are mostly at the same time. This by yourself. But the “passion” is not always there the whole year results in some stressful weeks right in the competition season. round. So that the fire is burning throughout the year, you have to work at it. Nobody says it is easy. You have to work hard but What is your long-time orienteering goal? there is truth in the phrase ‘hard work pays off’. You have to try My goal is to win WOC medals in every discipline. to improve physically, technically and mentally, step by step. You Having won almost everything on the World orienteering scene, will get new motivation if you see that you have improved. If you what does WUOC mean for you? continue improving yourself, you will get in a positive feedback I have never been to WUOC before. In fact, that’s the only title loop and you get addicted earlier than you would like.

NEWS FROM THE ORGANISATION Jan Exner CZECH OLYMPIC COMMITTEE SUPPORT

The President of the Czech Olympic Committee Mr Jiří Kejval granted his support to the 19th University World Orienteering Championships 2014 in the Czech Republic. The Championships thus gained the support of one of the oldest national Olympic committees that is a common base for Czech citizens, sporting unions, federations, associations and other entities within the Czech Republic. What is more, the Czech Olympic Committee categorised WUOC 2014 as one of the TOP 12 sporting events organized in 2014 within the Czech Republic area.

“Chairman of the Organising Committee of WUOC 2014 Dušan Vystavěl with the President of the Czech Olympic Committee Jiří Kejval who granted his support to WUOC 2014.” WORLD CHAMPION AT WUOC

The 2012 sprint World Champion and the double overall World Cup winner Matthias Kyburz from Switzerland will participate in the 19th World University Orienteering Championships 2014 in the Czech Republic. He will fight for his desired gold medal in sprint, sprint-relay, long distance and relay events. You will find a long interview with one of the biggest stars of the men start list at the beginning of this bulletin. CZECH TEAM

Czech orienteering runners will be especially motivated to perform their best on their home ground. Amongst the women, the team of the Czech Republic will be represented by Vendula Horčičková, Adéla Indráková, Eva Kabáthová, Jana Knapová, Denisa Kosová and Iveta Šístková. The Czech men’s team is composed of Adam Chromý, Stěpán Kodeda, Pavel Kubát, Vojtěch Král, Miloš Nikodým and Jan Petržela. “Support that has been granted to WUOC 2014 by the President of the Czech Olympic Committee Jiří Kejval.” WINNER’S TIPS AND ESPIONAGE Bohumil Háj NECTAVSKÉ ÚDOLÍ (VALLEY) AND KROMĚŘÍŽ THROUGH THE EYES OF THE MAPMAKER NECTAVSKÉ ÚDOLÍ (VALLEY)

The long distance terrain, which is situated between 350 and 590 metres above the sea level, is very hilly. The terrain is divided in half by a deep valley. In the valley, there is a road and a railroad that the athletes will cross in the course of their race. From the main valley, deep and sharply carved valleys with steep hillsides diverge to the hills tops. The valleys are often divided into smaller valleys. Occasionally, there are small rocks on some ridges.

There are spring marshes in the bottoms of the valleys from where streams run down through channels. On the edge of the area, there are systems of regular hillsides where previously there was agricultural production. Stone was mined at some places, so small quarries can be found in the area. The path network is quite dense. There all kinds of roads from tarmac roads to old disappearing tracks and footpaths. The big roads often go along ridges, through valleys or slopes.

The forest is mostly high, clean and very runnable. There are coniferous as well has broadleaved beech trees. From time to time, an athlete passes an individual beech tree in coniferous vegetation – a special distinctive tree. Seminal trees that were left by foresters either in clearings or in dense parts of the forest are mapped by a white point symbol. The forest is a typical working forest there are also some clearings, fenced parts and smaller more dense areas. Undergrowth that would prevent athletes from running occurs minimally.

It is an untouched area that has been mapped for orienteering purposes for the first time. Both actual and historical ortho-photos were used as a basic tool for mapping which took place in the autumn of 2013. In the spring of 2014, we finally got the laser scan DMR 4G on which the relief was mapped. The final revision is planned for this summer. KROMĚŘÍŽ

The sprint-relay race will be held in the historical centre of Kroměříž and in the large Podzámecký park. In the local Chateau’s surroundings, there are decorative plantings classified as impassable – entry is prohibited. Relatively hilly and dense vegetation elements are imbued with park roads and paths, pavilions, fountains, statutes and other park elements such as pavilions, mini ZOOs etc.

In the more distant part, there is an English park, most natural in character. Large meadows are followed by groups of old and mostly broad-leaved trees. There can often be found huge individual trees with treetops overlapping their trunks.

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t area is divided by some water reservoirs connected by water channels. Relatively s u deep and wide rivulets, which are impassable, are bridged by paths in a lot of g places. The elevation difference in the park is minimal. Very flat relief is mapped Au c, by contour lines at two metre intervals. At the perimeter of the park, there is an ou C lom impassable fence or wall where there are only a few passages. The park area is zech Republic, O surrounded and closed by the Morava river from one side.

There is a big rectangular square in the centre of the historical town’s heart. Around the square, there is an historical built-up area interlaced with crooked streets with a lot of blind alleys, passages, secluded places and small parks. The area is surrounded by a transit and busy main street.

The area of Květná zahrada (Flower Garden) and a part of the built-up area will be available for warming up. Greenhouses and the southern part of the garden are at the moment under reconstruction that will probably prevent the race being held there. On the other hand, the most beautiful part of the garden – Holandská zahrada (Dutch Garden) containing a rotunda and a colonnade – will be available for the race.

Ortho-photos were provided by the Archbishopric Gardens Administration; local cadastral map and laser scan DMR 4G were used as basic tools for mapping the area.

INTERESTING PLACES THAT ARE WORTH SEEING Jan Exner PROTIVANOV AND ITS NATURAL BEAUTIES

The middle and relay events at the 19th World University Orienteering Championships 2014 in the Czech Republic will be held in the surroundings of a former village and todays small town Protivanov. The small town, which is the highest situated municipality in the Prostějov district, offers to its visitors significant historical, cultural and natural wealth.

The first historical reference to Protivanov, which is home to 1062 inhabitants, dates back to the year 1505 when the former settlement belonged to the Boskovice Lords. Legend says that the municipality bears the name of its founder Protivan who established the settlement at the end of the 13th century. The Virgin Mary Church or local niche small chapel belong to the historical and cultural wealth of Protivanov. Moreover, the municipality also offers a rich wealth of natural character. SKÁLY NATURE RESERVE

The nature reserve called Skály (Rocks) that can be found in the cadastral area of Protivanov and Buková municipalities is dominated by the hill of the same name, 724 metres above sea-level. The nature reserve proclaimed in 1988 contains original beech forests supplemented by smaller spruce and maple forests.

Skály nature reserve also has military history. Originally a Soviet paratrooper unit, later a partisan group with the protecting name Jermak, operated in the area of the reserve during World War II. The partisan group, which was formed mostly by escaped Soviet prisoners of war and local citizens, performed a lot of resistance operations against the Nazi invaders in the area of Drahanská vrchovina (highlands). The military cottage Hanačka, built in 1810 that can be found right in the Skály nature reserve which served as one of the important strategy points during the World War II to the members of Jermak. NATURE PROTECTION AREA

In March 2012, the Olomouc region council declared Protivanov a nature protection area, for the protection of the rare Dusky Large Blue butterfly (Maculinea nausithous). Protivanov thus became one of the ten Cites of Community Importance in the Olomouc region within the European Union-wide network of nature protection areas, Natura 2000, that covers approximately 14.5 percent of the whole area of the Czech Republic. TODAY’S STARS, TOMORROW’S LEADERS Jan Exner SCOTT FRASER: I AM RUNNING THE SPRINT AND THE LONG AT WUOC 2014. AND I WILL BE AIMING FOR THE MEDALS.

Scott Fraser managed to win the sprint silver medal at the 2013 World Orienteering Championships despite not having run any previous race that year. His long-term goal is WOC 2015. This year, the 28 years-old British is aiming FOR WOC in Italy. Nevertheless, he also wants to fight for THE medals at the 19th World University Orienteering Championships in the Czech Republic.

Looking at your results, you seem to be a sprint specialist. in the United Kingdom? Would you say that e.g. more Is sprint your favourite distance? people started running orienteering in UK? Sprint is the distance I do best in, but I wouldn’t go as far WOC gold in 2008 did not bring much to the United as saying I am a sprint specialist. I’m working on bringing Kingdom in terms of new participation. Orienteering isn’t the long into the portfolio with an eye on the WOC long such a big sport and we were lucky to see two or three in Scotland next year. That’s why I will run the long at lines in some local newspapers about the result. It did, WUOC. however, inspire a generation of orienteers especially in light of WOC 2015. What has the sprint silver medal from WOC 2013 meant for you? Speaking about the Czech Republic, what do you think Silver medal last year was a dream that has guided about local terrains? and motivated my training for years. It was also When I ran there in 2008, I liked the fast long terrain very unexpected as WOC 2013 was my first race of the year much. I like the variety you get in the Czech Republic - due to injury. Some things come when you least and look forward to come to WUOC 2014. expect it! WUOC 2014 starts in a month. How high do you place Your team Södertälje-Nykvarn Orientering placed third WUOC 2014 amongst your this year’s priorities? in this year’s Tiomila and Jukola relays. How do you I am running the long and sprint at WUOC 2014 and I am compare the individual WOC medal with your collective very much looking forward to it. WOC will be my main achievements? aim and after a short holiday I will be aiming for the Tiomila and Jukola were good team performances. Even medals in the Czech Republic. I hope it will be a good though we are a team who wants to win, we are a young platform to kick-start the Autumn training and inspire team with no big ‘forest superstars’ so I think we punch the mission towards WOC 2015 in Scotland. And of above our weight in these relays. course, I very much look forward to tasting the fine local Czech beverages again! I can’t really compare the individual medal and the third place in Tiomila and Jukola as they are different priorities for me. Standing on the podium at WOC was like no other experience I’ve had before. A totally new kind of euphoric emotion! Running down the final meters with SNO is great but it’s a different kind of feeling.

My job at Tiomila was to do a steady run with no pressure to excel whereas as WOC is the coliseum, you have the pressure of only having one chance to do your best and compete with the world’s best who have all peaked for that competition. To get a medal is very difficult - everything needs to go right on the day, especially in the sprint where I think about 7 or 8 runners who have the capability to win a medal.

But maybe that would be different if we win Tiomila or Jukola... The British won the relay gold at WOC 2008 in the Czech Republic. What has this success brought to orienteering