The 11th European Foresters Orienteering Championship 28 June. 3 July 2004 Szilvásvárad, Hungary

The 11th European Foresters Orienteering Championship was held between 28 June and 3 July 2004 in Szilvásvárad (Hungary). The main patron of the competition was Mr. Németh Imre, the minister for agriculture and rural development. The 270 competitors represented 12 countries, the Netherlands and Italy took part the first time in the competition.

The first event the Park OL was organised on Wednesday in the city of Eger. The competitors were seeking the checkpoints in the downtown and the city-park. Park OL has a tradition in EFOL, last year Bialystok (PL) and previously Olomouc (CZ) and Roznava (SK) was the location of the event. The opening and prize-giving ceremony was organised on the Dobó-tér of Eger.

The location of the classic individual OL was the Bükk-plateau (Olaszkapu). The stony and steep course, which was harmonised with the requirements of the Bükk National Park, was rather advantageous for the competitors. At the evening, after the prize-giving ceremony, the participants enjoyed the good Hungarian food an music.

Friday was the day of the professional study tours. The participants visited Eger, the Tisza-lake, the Mátra mountains, the Aggtelek National Park, the Bükk-plateau, and got a lot of information on forest management and nature conservation.

The last competition day was on Saturday. 70 teams were competing in the relay, both national and mixed teams. After the prize-giving ceremony Mr. Leif Strömquist, the president of IC EFOL closed the competition. The next EFOL will be organised in Latvia and Mr. Martins Gaigals received the EFOL flag from Mr. Urbán Imre the leader of the OC EFOL Hungary.


We would like to express out thanks for the patrons of the EFOL 2004, and especially for the main sponsors, the ÁPV Rt, STIHL and M-real.

Ferenc Gerely

Results: http://www.efol.agria.hu/

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