Ten new national champions

Ten new national champions in mountain orienteering.



At the Slovenian Mountain Orienteering Competition (SPOT), on May 21, 2017, in Žetale, we crowned 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 associations of the Podravska League, 65 top teams from all over Slovenia competed. The winners in individual categories were competitors from the mountaineering associations Dobrovlje Braslovče (A and B), Poljčane (C and D), Vransko (Č), Ruše (E), Nazarje (F), Krka Novo mesto (G1), Zabukovica (G2), and Domžale (H). The most successful high school students, university students, and adult members will participate in the international mountain orienteering competition in Serbia in October.



On the slopes of Haloze, on May 20 and 21, more than 280 competitors from seven regional orienteering leagues demonstrated their orienteering and mountaineering knowledge: Gorenjsko-dolenjska, Podravska, Rogaška, Zasavska, Savinjska, Primorska League, and Smrekovec League. The Saturday daytime and night races were a challenge only for competitors in the most demanding categories C, Č, D, and H, while at the Sunday orienteering highlight in Žetale, competitors from all other categories also gathered. Mountaineers had to demonstrate, in addition to honed orienteering knowledge, the ability to move in demanding terrain, general mountaineering knowledge, and good physical fitness, also practical knowledge of the mountaineering school material and additional material about Haloze, Žetale, and local attractions, and on the course, practical tasks in orienteering, mountaineering knots, first aid, nature conservation, and knowledge of mountain ranges, adapted to the difficulty level of each category.



The Slovenian Mountain Orienteering Competition 2017 on Sunday placed new national champions in mountain orienteering on the podium. In categories A (pupils up to 6th grade of elementary school) and B (pupils from 7th to 9th grade of elementary school), PD Dobrovlje Braslovče teams won, in categories C (high school students from 1st year to 18 years) and D (members over 27 years), victories were celebrated by PD Poljčane, in category Č (young people from 19 to 26 years), PD Vransko team triumphed, in category E (members over 40 years), PD Ruše team won the national champions title, in category F (families), PD Nazarje team defended the title, in the less demanding open category G1 (elementary school pupils), PD Krka Novo mesto celebrated, in the less demanding open category G2 (others) PD Zabukovica, and in the demanding open category H (comparable to Č and D) PD Domžale. The top three teams in categories C, E, and Č/D (absolute) will participate in the international BMU Championship in mountain orienteering, which will take place from October 6 to 8, 2017, in Serbia.



SPOT 2017 RESULTS – top three teams in individual categories. Teams in categories C, Č, D, and E, marked in blue, qualify for the international mountain orienteering competition.



Category A: 1. PD Dobrovlje Braslovče, 2. PD Borovnica, 3. PD Slivnica pri Celju.

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

Category C: 1. PD Poljčane, 2. PD Polzela, 3. PD Ruše.

Category Č: 1. PD Vransko, 2. PD Borovnica, 3. PD Dobrovlje Braslovče.

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

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

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

Category G1: 1. PD Krka Novo mesto, 2. OŠ Petrovče - Zbogom, 3. PD Borovnica.

Category G2: 1. PD Zabukovica, 2. PD Žalec, 3. PD Polzela.

Category H: 1. PD Domžale, 2. PD Borovnica.



In category B, the national champions are young mountaineers from PD Braslovče: Vid Ambrožič Satler, Tan Planinšek, Luka Miser, Gregor Kalar, and Gašper Cilenšek Čuk. "We have been competing in orienteering since the sixth grade, and most of us have been involved in the mountaineering club since the first grade. Orienteering competitions are the most interesting for us because we socialize, run, and search for control points, which are sometimes a real challenge. Even if they are well hidden, we try to find them. The biggest challenge of this year's SPOT was to improve last year's result when we were second - and we succeeded. We are proud of the victory, as we are the first in the country! We won a prize camp in Bavšica. No one overtook us, and our wish is that maybe one day we will go to the European competition too," said team leader Gregor Kalar.



Mountain 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 the mountaineering associations Ptuj, Ruše, Cirkulane, Majšperk, Žetale, and Gornja Radgona. "The Organizational Committee of the Orienteering Committee at MDO Podravje successfully held the Slovenian Mountain Orienteering Competition for 2017 in the area of the Municipality of Žetale in Haloze, below the slopes of Macelj and Donačka gora. The two-day competition was attended by 65 teams with over 280 participants from all regional leagues. We missed the Primorska participants the most. Together with friendly locals, the Žetale Primary School, and the Municipality of Žetale, we successfully held this traditional gathering of orienteers, which means socializing with exchange of experiences and a competitive note. In the end, awards and trophies count, which will adorn the showcases of individual associations. Finally, I would like to thank all mountaineering workers who helped with their long-term knowledge to successfully carry out this event. See you next year at SPOT 2018," was satisfied competition leader Jože Dajnko.