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Share  Tweet Wednesday 25th July 2018

#4: Hector Haines: Selected to compete in the World Orienteering Championships 2018

WOC 2018 Selected athlete interviews

Athlete Name: Hector Haines

Age: 29

Club: IFK Lidingö SOK

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Congratulations on your selection to compete for GBR at the 2018 World Orienteering Championships.

Please tell us...

Who was the first person you told the news to about being selected for the World orienteering Championships?
HH:  "My wife, Rachel, who I was with at the time of the call."

What made you choose orienteering over any of the other available sports?
HH:  "I competed a lot in Fell Running when I was younger and was introduced to Orienteering through my parents. I still do a lot of Fell and Mountain Running, as well as Trail Running and the occasional road race. I was never fast enough for the track though. Orienteering was the sport that I had the most fun in as a junior – the junior squad and all the training weekends and camps away with my friends, combined with travelling to amazing places around Europe and the world is what kept me hooked and interested enough to keep at it for long enough to get good enough to represent my country at it!"

Hector Haines 

Where is your favourite place to orienteer?
HH: "Probably Slovenia. Or the Limestone terrain in France. Awesome fun!"

What is your favourite training session?
HH: Hill Reps is my favourite session. Closely followed by orienteering intervals. Depends on the day. But I get the most enjoyment from long runs in the mountains (not really a session per se).

How are you preparing for the World Championships in August?
HH:  "I’ve been spending some time in the relevant terrain in Latvia. I am also doing lots of planning courses on the old maps. I am sharpening my physical shape with key sessions as well as getting into the racing mindset by competing at Oringen."

Who or what will be your biggest threat?
HH:  "Well, I think that the usual nations will be dominant in the Long. Olav Lundanes, from Norway, is showing form, as too is Mattias Kyburz from Switzerland. In the relay, there are many teams that can do well – but again, I don’t see that there will be too many upsets to the favoured teams. As usual, though, GBR are sure to be in the mix! Should be exciting!"

 

Thank you Hector. Congratulations again on being selected to compete in the World Orienteering Championships.

We wish you all the best with the rest of your preparation!

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