Lord of the O-Ringen
A large FVO squad was at the biggest multi-day event in the world, and despite some packed fields, six athletes claimed top 20 places on one of the stages, and there are two in the final reckoning for the medals.
O-Ringen is the highlight of the Swedish domestic season, with more than 15,000 competitors in the traditional homeland of the sport, so getting a place is hard to do in the circumstances, with many non-Scandinavians content just to be part of the event experience in the largest event they'll take part in.
Graham Gristwood, though, was in imperious form as he scorched his way to an overall win in M40, joining a select band of non-Swedish athletes to have won at O-Ringen. He had four stage wins along the way, with the only "blip" being a two minute drop on day 2 that left him 4th on the stage, and established an eight minute winning margin by the end.
Scarlett Kelly wasn't able to get a W18E place, as the class closed early, and she had to settle for the regular W18 class, which still had a large international field. She was in top form throughout the week, always in the leading pack with the highlight beng a 2nd place on day 2 (64.11) and she comes home with the class bronze medal. Sophie Howard was also in the field, as part of a touring party with some other GB Talent Squad athletes, ans her best day was also on day 2, where she was 5th (69.38).
James Hammond used the week as a warmup for next week's World University Championships, in Portugal, so wasn't racing at full intensity, but he managed an 18th place (15.36) on the first Middle distance stage, which he followed up on day 4 with an excellent 2nd (30.02).
Hannah Inman showed she can mix it with the best Swedish W14s, as she came away with three top 20s during the week, the best being a 5th place (20.15) on day 3, and she ended up in 14th place, and Roger Goddard saved his best for the end in M50, where he was 19th (57.23) on the final stage
The warmup event was the Bagheera junior relay, which saw FVO entered for the first time, amongst more than 250 teams, and Hannah Inman, Esme Finch, Sean Truswell and Fraser Cheyne were well placed throughout the four leg sprint relay to come home in 88th place overall.