Tove Alexandersson was recently named the Orienteering and Ski Orienteering Athlete of the Year for 2017 ©IOF

Sweden's Tove Alexandersson produced a masterclass to claim gold in the women's sprint at the European Ski Orienteering Championships at the Starina Alpine Skiing Centre in Velingrad.

In misty and breezy conditions at the Bulgarian spa resort, eight-time Ski Orienteering World Championship gold medallist Alexandersson was leading the race by more than half-a-minute at the halfway stage, and kept up this momentum to finish the 3.06 kilometre course in 17min 4sec.

Compatriot Magdalena Olsson took silver in 17:38 with Finland's Salla Koskela finishing in 17:53 to clinch bronze.

Eduard Khrennikov, centre, won his first Ski Orienteering World Cup event in 2000 ©IFO
Eduard Khrennikov, centre, won his first Ski Orienteering World Cup event in 2000 ©IFO

Russia's Eduard Khrennikov, a four-time World Cup champion, completed the men's 3.34km course in 17:15 to secure the gold medal, beating Sweden's Erik Rost and Switzerland's Gion Schnyder, who recorded times of 18:00 and 18:27 to claim silver and bronze respectively.

One hundred and five athletes from 19 nations are taking part in Bulgaria, at an event doubling as the second round of the International Orienteering Federation Ski Orienteering World Cup.

The event continues tomorrow with the sprint relays.