European Universities Championship in Orienteering held in Switzerland this weekend

Only held for the second time, the European Universities Championship in Orienteering will bring orienteers from up to 17 countries and 62 universities to compete in the Alpine landscape. The Swiss city of St.Gallen will provide a great setting for the sprint, middle distance and sprint relay races, in which the participants will compete between 25 and 27 August.

The athletes are already looking forward to the Championship starting on Friday. “It’s always been great to orienteer in Switzerland when I’ve had the chance to compete there,” says Karoliina Ukskoski, who competed in the World Cup held in Switzerland last season. Ukskoski, who is studying in Jamk University of Applied Sciences in Jyväskylä, Finland, has a relaxed attitude about the competition where she will do her best. “These kinds of championships are always great for gaining experience for the future. Our team seems like a good group, so I’m sure this will be a fun trip.”

Finland will be represented in the Championship by a team of ten orienteers. Even though this is the first European Universities Championship in which Finnish orienteers participate, the leader of the Championship team, Markku Rantahalvari, has great expectations. “No official target has been set for the number of medals, but as our team is highly competent, it would be disappointing to be left without any.”

Finland’s team:

Aalto University
Jonny Donner, OK 77
Emil Sevelius, OK 77

University of Helsinki
Hanne Hilo, Espoon Suunta
Sara Niva, SK Pohjantähti
Eetu Korhonen, Kouvolan Suunnistajat

Jamk University of Applied Sciences
Karoliina Ukskoski, Lahden Suunnistajat-37

University of Jyväskylä
Tuukka Mäkinen, MS Parma

University of Turku
Tessa Salmia, MS Parma

Åbo Akademi
Hilla Pitkänen, Jämsän Retki-Veikot
Niklas Heikkilä, Kouvolan Suunnistajat

Race schedule:
Fri 25 August Sprint
Sat 26 August Middle distance
Sun 27 August Sprint relay (men, women and mixed)