Rainy Zofka crowned new...

Rainy Zofka crowned new state champions in mountaineering orienteering



The Slovenian Mountaineering Orienteering Competition (SPOT), which took place on 14 and 15 May 2016 in the area of Celje, Šentrupert nad Laškim and Gorica pri Slivnici, under the sign of "soaked Zofka" established new national champions. In the orienteering challenge, organized under the auspices of the Orienteering Committee of the Youth Commission of the Alpine Association of Slovenia by the mountaineering societies of Rogaška liga, 73 teams from all over Slovenia competed. In individual categories, victory was celebrated by competitors from mountaineering societies Krka Novo mesto (A), Ruše (B), Polzela (C), Vransko (Č), Poljčane (D), Ptuj (E), Nazarje (F) and Gornja Radgona (G). The most successful high school students, university students and adult members will participate in the first international mountaineering orienteering competition in October.



Over two days, more than 300 competitors from seven regional orienteering leagues demonstrated their orienteering and mountaineering knowledge: Gorenjsko-dolenjska, Podravska, Rogaška, Zasavska, Savinjska, Primorska league and Smrekovec league. Saturday's daytime and night races were attended only by competitors in the most demanding categories C, Č and D, while at the Sunday orienteering climax in Gorica pri Slivnici, competitors from all other categories also gathered. Mountaineers had to show, in addition to excellent orienteering knowledge, ability to move in demanding terrain, general mountaineering knowledge and good physical condition, also practical knowledge of mountaineering school material and additional material on Celje native Alma M. Karlin and the natural and cultural heritage of the Celje region, and on the course practical tasks from orienteering, mountaineering knots, first aid, nature protection and knowledge of mountains awaited them, adapted to the difficulty level of each category.



The Slovenian Mountaineering Orienteering Competition 2016 crowned new national champions in mountaineering orienteering on 15 May. In category A (pupils up to 6th grade of primary school) the team PD Krka Novo mesto won for the second year in a row, in category B (pupils from 7th to 9th grade of primary school) team PD Ruše, in category C (high school students from 1st year to 18 years) orienteers from PD Polzela, in category Č (young people from 19 to 26 years) team PD Vransko, in category D (members over 27 years) the winners rejoiced in PD Poljčane, in category E (members over 40 years) team PD Ptuj defended the title of national champions, in category F (families) the most successful was team PD Nazarje, in the less demanding open category G (comparable to category B) team PD Gornja Radgona.



SPOT 2016 RESULTS – top three teams in individual categories. Detailed results are published for each category. Teams in categories C, Č, D and E in bold qualify for the international mountaineering orienteering competition.



Category A: 1. PD Krka Novo mesto, 2. PD Šoštanj, 3. PD Ruše.

Category B: 1. PD Ruše, 2. PD Dobrovlje Braslovče, 3. PD Žalec.

Category C: 1. PD Polzela, 2. PD Lovrenc na Pohorju, 3. PD Poljčane.

Category Č: 1. PD Vransko, 2. PD Gornja Radgona, 3. PD Borovnica.

Category D: 1. PD Poljčane, 2. PD Domžale, 3. PD Sežana.

Category E: 1. PD Ptuj, 2. PD Polzela, 3. PD Ruše.

Category F: 1. PD Nazarje, 2. PD Polzela, 3. PD Ruše.

Category G: 1. PD Gornja Radgona, 2. PD Zabukovica G1, 3. PD Poljčane.



In the most demanding category D, national champions became orienteers from PD Poljčane (Gvido Španring, Aljoša Pavlič, Primož Koražija, Igor Zadravec and Brane Kores), who, along with teams from PD Polzela, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Vransko, Domžale, Ptuj and Ruše, qualified for the international mountaineering orienteering competition, which will be held from 30 September to 2 October 2016 organized by PZS on Pokljuka. "In many years of activity in mountaineering orienteering, the SPOT 2016 competition was one of the hardest due to weather conditions. On the section of the trail that for the first time ran along cables and pegs, we used personal protective equipment, swollen torrents after heavy rains we overcame in various ways, ascents and descents on waterlogged pathless terrain were extremely demanding – you only do such a path when forced to. At this year's challenge, the members of PD Poljčane team utilized knowledge, years of experience, physical fitness and team spirit. The virtue of our team is primarily speed, good intuition in finding points and moving in unknown terrain also helped us. Congratulations to all participants of SPOT 2016, as they proved that with strong will all obstacles can be overcome, and we thank the organizers for their dedicated work with organization and comfort in accommodation and meals," summarized team leader Gvido Španring.



"We are satisfied as we repeated last year's victory, so we are national champions for the second year in a row in the same team composition of three girls and two young men – of course in quotes, as we compete in category E. This year too we divided the tasks, so everyone is responsible for their area, but together we perform as a team in all races, regardless of weather conditions. Today we started first and had a good portion of rain, but we have no influence on that. Nevertheless, we had the best time, and for next year we will get umbrellas with 'national champions' written on them, so we can repeat the title even if it rains," joked Jože Dajnko on behalf of the national champions in category E, and the PD Ptuj team also included Ksenija Bračič, Irena Prelog, Rosanda Rojko and Sebastijan Borko.



Mountaineering orienteering competitions are one of the most popular methods of learning orienteering, which is also promoted by the Youth Commission of PZS. Under the auspices of the Orienteering Committee of MK PZS, this year's SPOT was organized by volunteers from mountaineering societies Vitanje, Slivnica pri Celju, Sloga Rogatec, Boč Kostrivnica and Celje Matica. "This year's SPOT was marked by rainy conditions, a very demanding route and the incredible will of competitors to first confront the weather and then the course. On the two-day competition, part of the route was overcome with a climbing harness, self-belay set and helmet, ensuring safe passage over Hudičev graben, without time limits. Due to the flooding of Voglajna, it was necessary to close the ideal route on some Sunday trails and redirect competitors. Otherwise, SPOT ran without complications, as more than 50 volunteers helped with the organization. The numerous and all-Slovenian participation in the competition was also very pleasing," drew the line organizational leader of SPOT 2016 Feri Kropec, whose right hand was technical leader Metod Gradič.