Favourites return to win Legend Rogaining in Mercendarbe
The popular Legend Rogaining team or solo orienteering event took place on 15 August in Mercendarbe, near Baldone, bringing together more than 500 orienteering and active lifestyle enthusiasts. Zigmunds Bībers and Alberts Jasāns, who missed the July event, returned with a victory.
Original publication date: 17.08.2026
In mid-August, Legend Rogaining continued in Mercendarbe, once again offering a new area to explore. The event centre was at Mercendarbe Manor, while the course included Riekstukalns, familiar to winter sports enthusiasts, the town of Baldone, Rozītes and other locations. Sunny, warm weather contributed to a wonderful atmosphere.
In the INTERVALS.LV 6h course, Bībers and Jasāns (Laid mums tur laimē diet) took first place with 187 points. Previous round winners Valdis Čunka and Jānis Ķemers (Riga Adventure team) returned to their customary second place. The best mixed team, Lauder architects, featuring European silver medallist Kārlis Lauders and his wife Rita, finished third overall. Madara Apsalone and Aleksandra Fjodorova (Ampēriņš) were again the top women's team.
Lauris Veidemanis and Niks Patriks Ummers (Pavasars) collected the highest score, 118, in the IMPRO 4h course and also won the TVNET corporate challenge. Favourites Pēteris Grīviņš and Henrijs Lērme (Trailinity) finished second, two points ahead of Ēriks Bogdanovs and Edijs Tropiņš (Riga Trail runners). The second-best corporate team, WELLMAN (Valters Veiss and Artūrs Kančs), was also close behind. Lāsma Ozola and Gatis Osvalds (LOGO) delivered a strong performance as the best mixed team with 99 points.
In a duel between two world-class MTB orienteers in the ALEXELA 3h MTB course, Mārtiņš Linde navigated more accurately to claim another victory. Andris Sarksņa, who competes less frequently, finished second, with Raitis Muižnieks close behind in third. Dina Zobena again dominated the women's competition. In a tight contest for second, Ieva Godiņa beat Inese Kauķe on time after both scored the same number of points.
Mixed-category leaders Viesturs Raipulis and Kristīne Kalniņa (Ķengakasti) won the TVNET+ 2h course with 47 points. They were followed by the three best men's teams and the second-best mixed team, separated by just one point. Kalvis Bricis and Aldis Grasmanis (Veci vraki) prevailed in this exceptionally close contest, ahead of Ropaži winners Vlads Kutiavins and Jānis Zeltiņš (Redshift Team), Valters Freidenfelds and Kalvis Timšāns (Vispārākais spēks), and the second-best mixed team, Agita Dreimane and Nauris Bērziņš (Vai esam jau klāt?). One point behind them were the women's winners, Aiga Kalniņa and Līga Vībure (AK 35+), celebrating another round victory.
Rubens Šulcs won the MAGNESIA 2h solo rogaine for the second round in a row with 64 points. Kaspars Beriņš delivered an excellent performance to finish second. Despite exceeding the time limit by 14 minutes and losing 14 points, Oskars Cimermanis overtook Jānis Dūka for the final podium place. Daina Saltuma confirmed her status as women's favourite with 52 points. Dace Zumberga was again second, while Lauma Muceniece earned the final podium place after a close battle involving several women.
The event was organised by XEVENTS in cooperation with Ķekava Municipality.
Results and further information are available at rogainings.lv.