Riga Spring Rogaining takes over the capital this Sunday
On Sunday, March 26, the sixth Riga Rogaining will take place in Mežapark. More than 1300 participants from six countries applied for the competition. The start of the competition is scheduled in the territory of the former hippodrome of Mežapark at Meža prospect 5, where at 4 and 6 hour distance participants will start at 11.00, but at At 12.00, the start will be given to the participants of the 2-hour distance, the Asics trail run and the children's walk.
Original publication date: 25.03.2017
The Rogaining competition area includes Mežaparkas, Čiekurkalns, Sarkandaugavas, Skanstes districts, as well as the territories of Mīlgrāvja and Vecmīlgrāvja and goes all the way to Vecāķi beach. On Sunday afternoon, participants walking and running with maps in their hands will be visible in all these areas of Riga. Rogaining will give you the opportunity to meet ships that will open to the view from the Vecmīlgravja bridge, running across Mīlgrāvi, as well as to search for points on the shores of Ķīšezer and to meet trains.
The main attention will be attracted by the fights in the longest distance – 6 hours, where traditionally the strong teams from Latvia and Estonia will compete. Several registered teams have planned to participate in the World Rogaining Championship this year, and Riga Rogaining will be a good test for checking physical form before the summer season. The three-time winners of the Riga Rogaining Zigmunds Bībers and Andris Ronimoiss are claiming the victory in the longest distance, who will have strong competition from the members of the Latvian national team Jānis Kūms and the titled orienteer Jānis Krūmiņš. Worthy competitors will be the strong Estonians Reigo Lehtla and Armo Hiie, who have already won the longest distance of Riga Rogaining.
No less intense battles will also take place in the 4-hour and 2-hour distances. Strong participants from among runners, cyclists, triathletes and orienteers have applied for the competition. However, the majority of participants will use the event to enjoy their Sunday afternoon in an active spirit. Riga Rogaining gives the opportunity to travel the distance also to families with small children in strollers, as well as to seniors who have already reached 80 years of age. This spring, participants of the trail race will also go for the distance, covering a 7-kilometer distance with small orienteering elements.
Rogaining is a team orienteering sport that originated in Australia. Its name is formed from combining the names of the three inventors of the sport. Participation in rogaining distances takes place in teams of 2 to 4 participants, and the most significant difference from classic orienteering is the possibility for each team to choose the distance length and route by itself, collecting checkpoints with different values. Detailed information about the competition is available on the website www.rigasrogainings.lv. The competition is offered by Riga City Council, supported by Isostar, Garmin, Asics.