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Novy Bor

The Czech Republic is one of the only countries in Europe where I (Eric) have not visited or orienteered at some point so competing in the last three days of the Bohemia 5 Day competition ticked this particular box.  Choosing these races was a bit more than box ticking though.  The terrain north of Prague is some of the best to be found in Central Europe with huge sandstone features making for very tough and technically challenging competition.  Samuel and Elise certainly found it challenging with their courses much harder than they were used to in Australia.  Sadly Sam only ran one race and Elise two as both were struggling with illness.



My challenges were a bit different.  A nasty fall in the first race left me with a trip to first aid to patch up my lacerated ear.
This was after the ear was cleaned up but before I could have a wash!

Accidents aside, the terrain was as good as promised though the heat made for very tough orienteering particularly on the last day where I had a very long and steep course.  Good practice for Switzerland in a week in any case!  We also scored some fantastic accommodation.  Our room was on the second floor of a building with a cake shop in the front and an ice cream parlour out back.  With ice cream costing around $1 per scoop, there was no problems getting sugar back into the body after racing.


One of the flatter bits of forest!

Exhausted after the final days race on a very hot day.

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