Leaders approach the maximum score again at the third City Legends round in Baloži
While the boom of the great Rimi Ŗīga marathon has already started in the center of Riga with the first day of competition, in the meantime, many running and orienteering fans enjoyed the terrain and the taste of competition for the third stage of the “Pilsētas leģendas” rogaining series “Baložu kūdras bānīša rogainingā”, which was organized by the adventure competition agency “Xevents" in cooperation with the municipality of Ķekava region, as well as Intervals.lv, Isostar, Garmin, Kokmuiža and “Magnesia” support and where the leading team in the longest “Garmin” 6h distance was again close, but still did not reach the maximum limit of 200 points.
Original publication date: 19.05.2024
According to the participants' abilities and wishes, the organizers offered the usual team distances - 6h Garmin, 4h Kokmuižas and 2h Isostar rogaining distances, as well as individual 3h MTB and rogaining run 2h (O-Run) and rogaining walk for children.
The competition center was located near Baloži High School, but during the competition, the participants visited Lapenieki, Katlakalni, Rāmava, Ziedoni, Valdlauči, Krustkalni, of course, Baloži itself and the joint from the 2021 stage - Medemciema in search of checkpoints. Some checkpoints had to be found on the banks of the Daugava from the Southern Bridge for several kilometers to the creation of Sausās Daugavas, which surrounds the island of Dole.
In the longest “Garmin” 6h distance, Pēteris Grīviņš and Klāvs Stankēvics (Trailnity.lv) started and won for the first time this season, who justified their favorite status, but did not collect the maximum number of points in the hot weather, which they managed to do just a year ago in May. This time, 194 points for the fastest long-distance runners. Aigars Vārna and Alvita Mirecka (“Pa taisno no meža”) achieved the second result (154 points) with a good performance and the victory in the Mix or mixed group was celebrated, while the best female team of Noru Baranovsku and Aigu Toru (Ku ku) completed the top three with 145 points, who beat the first place winners of the women's category from “Ampēriņa” (Madara Apsalone, Aleksandra Fjodorova). 109 points for Aigar and Tomas ČVeksterime (All in Balls) won the family competition.
In the “Kokmuižas” 4h distance, Sandis Zukulis and Elīna Petrovska (Cascade of Mistakes) dominated the second stage in a row, collecting 130 points and 11 ahead of Uģi Inku and the fast “Stirna buka” sprinter Gitu Gedrovicu. Mix group teams Eduards Pāķis and Sniedze Brakovska (Adaži city) were close to taking the top three in the absolute rating, but they were overtaken by one point by the best men's team “Necūko mežā” (Valters Veiss, Artūrs Kančs). Ieva Godiņa and Aiga Kalniņa (BR3) once again remained unbeaten in the women's category, accumulating 105 points, but the Borovik family from Madona (Bečina) was the best in the family competition.
Kārlis and Daina Stonkas (A team) became the third new winners in the “Isostar” 2h distance with 59 points. Uldis Pormeistars and Gunārs Ozoliņš (LV Bārdas) returned to the top three with points and earned the highest place of the season. Two less points for the family of orienteers Dagis (Dejavus), with Salvi and his son Oliver completing the top three and winning the family competition. “Lauktozītes” (Ilze Roķe
Māra Ozola) secured the first place in the women's competition in an intense battle, one point ahead of the closest followers.
3h MTB orienteering, starting for the second time this season, the second victory was won by Andris Sarksņa, the winner of the 14th place of the world championship, but for women, the dominance of Lithuanians was interrupted by Annija Krūma, ensuring Latvia finally the first place. In the 2h rogaining race, the winners changed, becoming the Lithuanians Vladam Kutiavinasam and Kristīnei Slikšānei.
In Rogaining competitions with 2 to 4 participants, the team includes both athletes and orienteering enthusiasts who are already masters of these competitions, as well as lovers of an active and sporty lifestyle who like to spend their free time in the fresh air and be active. That's why several families also use this option, because rogaining is a very democratic activity in its essence, since the participants can choose the distance and the number of checkpoints suitable for their abilities. The next stage will be on July 13 in Mazsalac.