We have uploaded the results of the long and middle distance race such as the overall result of VIII Bizkaia Saria. Within the next days we will also publish photos of the event. If you have online albums of the weekend, please send an e-mail in order to share them with everybody.

Thank you very much.

 

There's a map with the hot spots of Bizkaia Saria: hard floor, competition centre, hostel, etc. Perfect for not getting lost this weekend!

 

We've just published start times for long and middle distance.

 

Clubs or groups interested in the free trainings should fill out the following form. We will send you then your maps as PDF, and free of charge.

 

Distances for long and middle distances are already published at the web. It's also possible to check your entries here. If you need to request some change or notify any mistake please contact us by email.

 

Next Sunday, march 8th, is the deadline for entries at normal fee. Don't leave it till the last minute!

 

The Spanish team which is currently preparing for the World Championships will stay in the Basque Country. Besides of trainings in similar terrains as in the World Championships they will take part in all competitions of the Bizkaia Saria. 

The Rumanian champion who is being living in Vitoria-Gasteiz will take part in the Bizkaia Saria 2009 and is aiming to gain the long distance race (points valid for world ranking). 

Juanma, please introduce yourself
I am from Palencia, thus I know the Spanish North very well. I always have been envying the maps from the Basque Country and Navarre. I started making maps in 2002 for my club. Although some of my maps have been used in international championships such as the Spanish Orienteering Championship of 2006 and the Trofeo internacional Ciudad de Palencia 2007, the elaboration of this map has been a big challenge because it’s the first time I prepare a map for a WRE.

What can you tell us about the map?
I present you the mountains of Gibijo. A unique map. A chaos of dolines. Hundreds of depressions of all sizes. A fairy beech forest. A living forest…
In this terrain I would emphasize the Southern part with a smooth relief but with numerous karst depressions. This zone stays in contrast with the Northern part of the map with steep hills and pronounced stream beds.

What do you think about the competition?
It’ll be very interesting. Since 2005 in Urbasa (Navarre) there wasn´t any Spanish League in a similar terrain. And also then getting lost was easy and I think this time it will be all the same.
The terrain’s characteristics will force the runner to apply different orienteering techniques and keep concentrated all the time even in open areas because of the different thicknesses of vegetation.

Do you like to say something else?
As cartographer I simply wish that you like the terrain and the map and I hope not to be “on the news” which would be a good sign that the map has been worth. Gook luck and concentration!

 

The organisation of Bizkaia Saria is managing an accommodation facility and offering 80 places to all participants. Lodging includes accommodation and breakfast. On Saturday you have the possibility to have dinner.Deadline for inscription is the 28th of February 2009.

More Information

 

 

The prestigious magazine Orienteering Today published in its first number of 2008 an extense article on the Bizkaia Saria 2007 O-meeting, celebrated in October 2007 in the Biscayan localities of Zeanuri and Areatza. The magazine emphasised the great number of activities organised by COBI in this event (sprint, microsprint, classic and middle distance, concerts, karaoke...) 

 

Activities that, without a doubt, will be repeated in the next Bizkaia Saria O-meeting.