Many World Champions at the O-Festival

With just over two months left until the O-Festival 2009, Bulletin No. 3 for the World Cup competitions is ready. It shows a clear increase in the number of registered participants compared with 2008 and there will be many World Champions at the start at Fossum.

Last year at Siggerud, Anne Margrethe Hausken won the World Cup middle distance, whilst Anders Nordberg took care of the mens class. Hausken was way ahead overall in the World Cup, but this year faces competition from Swiss Simone Niggli, who is on her way back after the birth of her daughter last year. Niggli has been troubled by an injury during the spring and the O-Festival at Fossum may be the first meeting between these two orienteering queens.

Add Minna Kauppi from Finland, Dana Brozková from the Czech Republic and up-and-coming Signe Søes from Denmark; the competitions at the O-Festival will be exciting, with close to 70 women runners registered. That's already over 20 more than last year.

In the men's class it also looks like Anders Nordberg and the other Norwegians face strong competition. Thierry Gueorgiou is sure to be out for revenge after missing controls and being disqualified from the chasing start victory at Siggerud last year. Last years big star, Daniel Hubmann from Switzerland has also registered that he will be coming.

The World Cup competitions will be held on Friday afternoon, before the O-Festival classes. On Saturday there will be an exciting chasing start in the afternoon, as soon as all other runners have finished their races.

For more information, see Bulletin No. 3.