Tove Alexandersson has now won three golds in three days in Velingrad ©IOF

Sweden's Tove Alexandersson kept up her winning streak on day three of the European Ski Orienteering Championships at the Starina Alpine Skiing Centre in Velingrad, by taking gold in the middle-distance race.

In conditions of sunshine and light winds at the Bulgarian resort, the eight-time Ski Orienteering World Championship gold medallist recorded a time of 25mins 11sec to clinch the title, ahead of Russia's Mariya Kechkina, who was over a minute behind in a time of 26:14.

This was Alexandersson's third gold medal of the competition after she took the individual sprint and mixed sprint relay race titles on days one and two respectively.

Alexandersson's compatriot Linda Lindkvist completed the podium line-up thanks to a time of 26:24.

Andrey Lamov, centre, collected his first gold medal of the competition ©IOF
Andrey Lamov, centre, collected his first gold medal of the competition ©IOF

Russia's Andrey Lamov, a four-time World Championship gold medal winner, took the men's title in a time of 28:11 with compatriot Eduard Khrennikov, who won the men's sprint event on Saturday (February 3), 18 seconds behind in the silver medal position.

Stanimir Belomazhev ensured hosts Bulgaria picked up their first medal of the competition so far thanks to his bronze-medal winning time of 28:58.

The athletes are having a rest day tomorrow with action set to resume on Wednesday (February 7) with the long-distance races.

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.