The tenth Riga Rogaining draws a large turnout

Original publication date: 23.03.2019

It should be noted that we have only just officially entered spring, but the weather throughout the day ensures that almost one and a half thousand participants return to the finish line with dry feet and in high spirits. Athletes with several years of experience in orienteering competitions, as well as people, children and families, who simply wanted to exercise in the fresh air, gathered at the start. The competition center was located near Rīnūži Secondary School. The starts were given three times - at 11:00, when the longest, 6h Garmin distance started, at 12:00, the participants of the 4h Isostar distance started, while at 13:00, the start was given simultaneously for the 2h and rogaining race “O-Run” (14-16km) distances. As soon as the adult participants had gone on the track, the smallest participants started as well, going on a rogaining children's walk together with instructors - cartoon characters.

As part of the tenth Riga Rogaining, which took place mainly in the vicinity of the sea, the searchers enjoyed checkpoints of various values (from 2-6) from never-before-seen viewpoints - Vecmīlgrāvi, Mangaļsalu, Rīnūži mežu, Vecāķi, Jaunciemu and other neighboring areas, including the Kalngali and Ķikatpurva neighborhoods, where it was possible to get the maximum number of points - 6. As well as some good braves, in order to get to the finish line faster, he decided to swim across the Vecdaugava river. Many participants admitted that orientation in the forest had additional difficulties, as it was rather difficult to perceive the terrain of hills and hills, which often increased the time spent in the distance.

A total of 178 teams competed in the longest and most difficult Garmin 6h distance in all groups. The winning team - "Laid us tur laimē die", in which three men started - Zigmunds Bībers, Uldis Klepers and Kristaps Broks, spent the distance in 05:57:33 and collected 185 points, which is a great result nowadays. On the other hand, the neighboring Lithuanians, or team “Baltu lokys”, ranked second, finishing with a total of 164 points. Team “Naids” with Edgaru Jurjānu and Mārtiņu Krūzekas took third place, only 4 points behind the 2nd place. In the mixed group competition, the “Ampēriņš” team took first place with 158 points. On the other hand, in the women's competition, Madara Šneidere and Baiba Zīberga from the association “Lēnās Latvijas Lapsiņas” took the 1st place on the podium. Team “Čiņčidriļčiks” took first place in the family competition with a round 100 points.

In the Isostar 4h distance, only one team collected more than 130 points - the winners "Nieliels trežas" (133 points) with Zigmāru Gaili and Andris Gaili. Team “D&Z team” won the women's competition with 101 points. Not far away, with only 4 points behind another women's team - "Let's be afraid together!"

In the shortest, 2-hour course, the duo from “Artūrs Graube the bestest” convincingly won the men's competition with 84 points, ahead of “KM” (67) and “WildOnes” (61). “FATE.LV”, with Toms Rijnieks, Liena Puise-Puiše and Dāvis Valters Immurs, won the mixed category with 47 points. “Pe Peeek” followed just one point behind. “Māsas Peciņas” won the women's category with 37 points.

Didzis Šapkus won the men's O-Run rogaining race. Nelda Neilande won the women's competition, finishing with 37 points, the same score as Didzis.

This year we will also enjoy the summer/night stage in rogaining, so we will meet on July 6. On the other hand, after a little more than a month, Olaine's rogaining awaits us, which will take place on May 11.

The competition is offered by Riga City Council, supported by Isostar, Garmin.