WHITEFOORD HELPS HOST SPRINT WORLD ORIENTEERING FINALS

Whitefoord House added an unusual entry to its colourful history when SVR’s Edinburgh residence helped host the finals of the Sprint World Orienteering Championships.

Scottish Veterans Residences were delighted to help out when organisers identified the site as a key control-point on the route for the 2024 renewal of this prestigious worldwide event, and approached the charity for permission. Although the event has been months in the planning, and has had several recces and run-throughs, we needed to keep our involvement hush-hush due to the nature of the sport (where competitors choose their quickest way to navigate the route via control points), and we thank SVR residents and staff for their discretion and help.

Whitefoord House has been home to Veterans since opening its doors in 1911, and has hosted a variety of events and occasions over the years, but this was something new!

In a fast and furious finale to the competition, which had been held over five days across the city, elite international athletes sprinted through the grounds of Whitefoord on their way to deciding the men and women’s Knock-out Sprint medal placings.

The Knock-out Sprint race is the newest format of orienteering where athletes race several short sprints on the same day. Following a
qualification round at Wester Hailes in the morning, athletes then headed into the city centre to participate in the quarter and semi-finals, before the field was whittled down to the top six who contested each of the finals, starting in St John Street and then winding through a 2.1km route in the Old Town, which included Holyrood Road, Royal Mile Primary School and Old Tolbooth.

After entering Whitefoord House via Calton Road, the athletes rounded the SVR bowling green, raced across the courtyard, briefly through the corridor to the control point, then exited through the garden via the Royal Mile gate before weaving their way through the Old Town to the finish line at St John Street.

There was drama in the women’s final, when sole GB athlete Megan Carter Davies broke from her five rivals and chose an alternative route, entering and exiting the Whitefoord House grounds via the Calton Road back entrance. The bold move almost paid off, as she emerged in front later in the race. However, in a race of twists and turns, Swedish athlete Tove Alexandersson – who had briefly stumbled and fallen in the early stages of the final – finished strongly to win gold. Compatriot Karolin Ohlsson was second, and Swiss contender Simona Aebersold was third, with Carter Davies fifth.

The men largely chose to race together, and emerged as a tight pack of six when they reached the Whitefoord House control point. In a thrilling sprint finish, Switzerland’s Riccardo Rancon powered home, narrowly ahead of Jorgen Baklid of Norway, and Jonatan Gustafsson of Sweden.

For more information, visit: https://www.woc2024.org/

Click here to view highlights of the race on Eurovision Sport (free to register)