The Polish Championships 2026 in long distance and relay, held on 16–17 May near Świdnica, brought two intense days of racing in the forests of Lower Silesia. The event was also one of the official events on the road to JWOC 2027, forming part of the preparation programme leading towards the championships. The competition combined demanding route-choice challenges, steep slopes, fast forest sections and technically detailed areas where every small mistake could quickly change the result.

Saturday’s long distance in Żdanów was a true physical and navigational test. The terrain offered significant climb, long legs, complex route choices and constant changes of rhythm. It rewarded athletes who could combine endurance with calm map reading and smart decisions under pressure.

On Sunday, the relay competition moved to Lutomia Górna. This was a completely new map, offering faster running but still requiring high precision. The compact arena, spectator control and relay changeover created an exciting atmosphere, while the forest itself made sure that the race remained open until the final legs.

The results confirmed the quality of the challenge. In the senior classes, several races were decided by very small margins — including just 10 seconds between the top two women in the long distance and only 5 seconds between the first two teams in the women’s relay. It was exactly the kind of racing where speed alone was not enough.

For JWOC 2027 teams, there is also an important message: the terrains and maps used during these championships will be added to the official JWOC 2027 training options soon. They will provide another valuable opportunity to experience the character of Lower Silesian forest orienteering before the championships.

Full results, Livelox routes and additional information from the Polish Championships 2026 are available on the event website. Please note that the event website is available in Polish only: here

Photo: Jakub Kijak / MoonLine Media: here

We invite teams and athletes to follow the official training offer and make use of the new training possibilities: here

We also encourage teams to register for Training Camp 1, which will be the first official opportunity to prepare together in the JWOC 2027 region: here