One of the favourites in Venla relay, Tampereen Pyrintö, has been leaving Tampere on Saturday morning. The leader of the team, Jouni Mähönen, was excited about the race when he was packing his backpack. After two Venla relays, which have been disappointments, they’re trying to get the best place of all in the relay.
– The level will be high in the race. My own mood is as sunny as the weather. Venla Niemi has had a sore throat, which Aamulehti has already made a piece of news about, but she’s participating anyway.
Riina Kuuselo will start and she’s described as a confident starter. The mid-legs will be done by Venla Niemi and Saila Kinni, who is described as one of the best persons in Finland to do that leg.
–Anni-Maija Fincke, as the person who does the anchor leg, is the ace up our sleeve so it may be our surprise. Anni has made a good job in Tiomila and been in high level camp, says Mähönen.
One of the most significant absence is the absence of Sofia Haajanen, who won’t be in the race because of being ill. She will be replaced by Laura Lakanen, who is described as a strong and surpising athlete by Laura Hokka, a member of SK Pohjantähti. Hokka considers that placing Fincke as an anchor is a surprise because she hasn’t taken part in the world cup tour that has been lately.
– She’s a black horse in the race with whom many orienteerers haven’t competed, says Laura Hokka.
As favourites Hokka mentions for example Halden and Århus but she says that past ten years’ top ten teams are all really strong also this year. Both Mähönen and Hokka suspect that the first leg will be really eventful.
– During the first leg there’ll be people at the top who probably aren’t there in the end. One’s own work has still to be done one-hundred-per-cently, Mähönen highlights.
– At the first leg there’ll be for example Minna Kauppi as Asikkalan Raikas’ starter, there’s one orienteerer to follow, Hokka complements.
Other starters are, for instance, Halden’s Vendula Haldin, Paimion Rasti’s Laura Lammila, Århus’ Ida Bobach and Sävedalens AIK’s Emma Andersson. The starter of KooVees first team Liisa Anttila has strong experience.
