World-class MTB orienteers separated by a single point at City Legends in Mazsalaca

Original publication date: 14.07.2024

After a month of rest in June and the celebration of Midsummer, the fifth season of “Pilsētas leģendas” crossed the equator in July, that is, the fourth of a total of six stages took place in Mazsalac and was called “Mazsalacas Skaņākalna rogainings”. The total number of checkpoints was 50, and the maximum amount was 200 points.

This was the most picturesque part of the season, as Rogainers were treated to beautiful views of nature, especially in the well-known and picturesque Skaņākalnas nature park. The competition center was located near the Mazsalac secondary school, but 50 checkpoints were placed on both banks of the Salac river, from the Svētās Annas church built in the Romanesque style in the 14th century to the Raimonda Paula restored Līču school (Paul's music center), where a stage was built on the beautiful bank of the Salac river more than 20 years ago. In the middle of the competition area was also the 90m long and 20m high Skaņaiskalns (Devonian sandstone rock).

The 3h MTBO distance brought together a very respectable lineup, reminding us of the start of the World Cup cycling stage held here a week ago. For men, the third victory of the season was won by Andris Sarksņa (179 points), who was in the twenties of the world and European championships, who was one point ahead of the winner of the second stage and last year's 19th place winner in the sprint Mārtiņu Lindi. 170 points and a place in the top three for the current overall leader Raitim Muižniekam.

Also for the women, where five of the participants have competed in major international championships, there was a very intense battle for victory, Aigai Strazdiņai with 146 points overtook the multiple world champion in the Master group Iritu Puķīti, for whom it was the first prize in bicycle orientation. The trio was completed by the best Latvian Inese Kauķe of the first stage, but this time Dinai Zobenai had to settle for 4th place.

Also in the 2h rogaining race, the first two were separated by one point. Miķelis Zumbergs had collected 79 points but wasted almost seven minutes, which, subtracting 7 points, resulted in a score of 72 points, which was barely enough for the win, as runner-up and overall leader Jānim Užulim had 71 points, despite having originally accumulated 72, but wasted 24 seconds. Third place Kasparam Beriņam. For women, after not so successful starts in Liepāja and Baloži, the leader of the women's rogaining race, Anita Užule, returned to the first place and did it convincingly. Second place went to Anželai Šapavalovai, but the top three was completed by Dina Alksne, while the winner of the Liepāja stage, Aneta Dārtai Rožkalnei, took fifth place this time.

In the 6h “Garmin” distance, an intense battle for victory between two teams was expected. The maximum 200 points was reached for the first time this season, which was taken care of by “Laid mums tur laimē diet” with Zigmundu Bīberu and Albertu Jasānu, who also started together for the first time this season. 190 points Pēterim Grīviņam and Valdim Čunkam (Riga Adventure ​​team). “Citādie” (Gatis Čirka, Arnis Grasis) finished the top three in the intense battle, earning 170 points and one point ahead of the best ladies' team “Apmēriņš" (Madara Apsolone, Aleksandra Fjodorova) and “Rāpot atļauts, apstāties aizliegts”. Jānis and Elīza Actiņi from “Dzegužkalna alpīnistiem” finished the top six (168 points) and were the best Mix team. The Rocky Eagles dominated the family standings with 129 points.

“Kokmuižas” earned 130 points for the second time during the season in the 4h distance and won “Kļūdu kaskāde” (Sandis Zukulis, Elīna Petrovska). In the intense battle for second place between the two overall leaders, “Ādaži city” (Eduards Pāķis, Sniedze Brakovska) beat season leaders “Necūko mežā” (Pāvels Ņevodņičneko and Artūrs Kančs) by 121 points to one. Then Mārtiņš Treijs, who ran ultra marathons with Uldi Cīruli (Dust Eaters), followed with 117 points, and the best women's team, as usual, was BR3 with good orienteers Ievu Godiņu and Aigu Kalniņu.For families, the best score was achieved by Borovikovi from Madona with the name “Beciņas”.

“Isostar” 2h was won by the Lithuanians from “Sakas one” with 75 points, ahead of Kristapu Gādmani and Jāni Dūko from “Gold miners” by five points, but by six more the overall leaders “LV Bārdas” with Uldi Pormeistaru and Gunāru Ozoliņu in the team. Team Labākā Mix, as always “Logo” with the strong triathlete and cyclist Lāsmu Ozolu and Gati Osvaldu, earned 59, while the ladies team Pro X2 collected 48 points. “Haizivis” (Gatis and Roberts Mišins) were the first in the family standings in an intense battle with 31 points.

“Pilsētas leģendas” is organized by adventure competition agency “Xevents" with the support of Valmiera municipality, Intervals.lv, Isostar, Garmin, Kokmuiža and “Magnesia”. You can register for membership and find out more information on the website rogainings.lv.

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.