Junior European Cup 2023 Round up

Last week, 13 athletes travelled to Virton, Belgium to compete in the Junior European Cup in the beautiful forests of Wallonia, alongside 12 other nations with over 150 athletes represented.

The competition got off to a great start with Imogen Pieters taking a 6^th place in the Women’s 18 Middle event with James Bailey and Rachel Brown also finishing inside the top 10 in the Men’s and Women’s class respectively.

Images: Imogen Pieters at the Middle Distance event and pictured at the prize giving ceremony (far right).

On Sunday the competitors returned to the long event. With all events taking place in new terrain for orienteers, the competitors were faced with a variable environment from open, leafy but hilly forest with more densely vegetated summits. Alex Wetherill was top placed athlete in the Men’s 20 in 7^th with both James Bailey and Imogen Pieters again securing top 10 finishes.

The competition concluded on Monday with the relay event with the top Men’s team in 8^th and the Women’s in 9^th.

Images: Euan Tryner, Miia Roller and Ben Squire during the Long Distance.

Results

Middle event

Long event

Relay event

This now concludes the Junior International Season and the focus is on the European Championships and World Cup Final as the last senior international competition for 2023. 

Images: Iris Macmillan returned to the relay event after a sickness bug, Alex Wetherill during the race, and Isobel Howard and Rachel Brown are all smiles at the event.

Images

With thanks to Christophe Amerijckx for the above images from the event.