ETOC 2026 concludes some fantastic results for the GBR TrailO team

The Open team result was the best ever relay result for a British team at any ETOC. The Open team had Tom Dobra (TVOC) going off first, Charles Bromley Gardner (BAOC) second and Ben Kyd (MDOC) was on the final leg.

The Junior team, competing in the first ETOC Relay Junior class, had James Curtis (M18, SO) first leg, Jack Knight (M20, KERNO) second and brother Tom Knight (M18, KERNO) third.

Before the Championship started, at a ‘preETOC’ TempO event, Ben Kyd successfully led the field of nearly 150 competitors. Over 6 stations, he was one of 5 competitors to have no mistakes but his time was over 30 seconds faster than the next competitor.

Images below: Silver Medallists Charles Bromley Gardner, Ben Kyd & Tom Dobra at the Open. Then the Junior Team made up of James Curtis, Tom Knight and Jack Knight. Credit: Ian Curtis and David Jukes. 

In the ETOC TempO competition on scrubland with scattered vegetation, both Ben Kyd and Tom Dobra qualified for the final.  This had 9 stations but, with two errors on the 8^th station, Ben saw his winning chance disappear and he finished in 15^th place with Tom in 26^th.

The 2-day PreO competition used the mature beech forest to the south of Szczecin.  Our best results came in the Junior class with Tom Knight being in 6^th place both days.  Unfortunately, when the two day’s results were combined, he was pushed into 7^th place just missing a podium position. Colin Duckworth (HALO), our only competitor in the P class, did well to finish in 17^th place overall.

Images below: James Curtis, Pete Dobra, and Tom Knight during the Relay Race. Credit: Tomasz Krysiak.

The relays took place in very different terrain – a golf course on a gently sloping hillside allowing the planner to set some very long-distance controls.  Each competitor had 13 PreO controls to consider followed by 2 TempO stations. These all proved very challenging and, with some complaints and one protest, the results were not finalised until some time after the final competitors had completed their legs. Ultimately, when these were concluded, the Finnish team had a combined time of 457 seconds with Great Britain having 463.  Croatia was over a minute behind in third with 535 seconds.

Finally, a special mention of two of the team participating for their first time in the Open class. Peter Dobra (SAX), Tom’s brother, and River Edis-Smith (SYO) had some excellent results with Peter’s 8^th place, and the leading British competitor, in the preETOC PreO being really outstanding and encouraging for his future participation.

Overall a very successful Championships with many positive elements for the British participants.