Delta secures Finnish victory in Jukola Relay orienteering event

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The rejoicing knew no bounds as the members of Delta, this year’s winning team at the Jukola Relay orienteering event (see article below from 2007), joined their anchor Valentin Novikov to cross the finish line alongside him.
     
”It is difficult to think of anything really. I am so dumbfounded over the victory”, Janne Heikka of Delta summarised his sentiments.
      “Jukola is the greatest relay orienteering event in the world and we have just won it!” anchor and double relay world champion Novikov exulted at the Kaanaa competition centre.
     
Delta, from the western part of Uusimaa Province, was founded in 1992 as the combined representation team of Hiidenkiertäjät of Lohja, Karkki-Rasti of Karkkila, and Rasti-Vihti of Vihti. Several times in the past the team has come close to capping the Jukola Relay.
      “We’ve pursued this for about 15 years now. This time everything went as planned”, stated coach Juha Liukkonen.
      “A great thanks goes to the junior work within the background teams.”
     
The victory came as a result of a fierce battle between the anchors.
      Perhaps slightly surprisingly the first team to take to the woods after the last handoff was Lynx of Kirkkonummi, with their anchor Mårten Boström having just over a minute’s lead to his closest competitors.
      Soon, though, Boström was caught by Linne from Sweden, Veikot of Vehkalahti, and Delta. Boström’s mistakes on the course had cost him the lead and soon the pursuers were the ones fighting over the victory.
     
In the end the Delta anchor Novikov proved the toughest of the bunch. An intense battle took place for second place, though, as at the last control point only a second separated Vehkalahti from Linne.
      In the final spurt to the finish Vehkalahti’s Tero Föhr nevertheless had to surrender to Linne’s Mattias Millinger.
      Lynx came in fourth, followed by the favourites Halden of Norway, and Kalevan Rasti of Joensuu.
     
Novikov was not aware of being the leader until the last control point on his anchor-leg.
      “My aim was to go fast. I knew I had chances”, the Russian analysed.
      “I just tried to enjoy myself and make the most of everything in this race.”
      The anchor’s brother, 22-year-old Leonid Novikov, was the one to lift Delta into the lead on conclusion of the long night portion of the race. The runner of the third leg had an extra motivation to finish his stint quickly. His wife is about to give birth any moment now.
      Though Delta’s first leg competitor Panu Piiparinen finished his job nearly eight minutes behind the then leaders, this did little to dishearten Heikka, Leonid Novikov, Petri Noponen, Oskari Liukkonen and Olle Kärner, who made sure that anchor Valentin Novikov would start the final leg in a favourable position.
     
”Pretty good birthday present”, stated Liukkonen and Heikka, who both celebrate their birthdays next week.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  The Jukola Relay is about much more than orienteering (19.6.2007)

Links:
  Jukola Relay (Wikipedia)

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