Latvian rogainers win 14 medals at European Championship
At the European Rogaining Championship in Czech Republic, Latvian athletes collected 14 medals across various age groups, including gold in junior and ultra veteran categories.
The 21st European Rogaining Championship took place from June 27 to 28 in the mountainous area around Orlické Záhoří, Czech Republic, near the Polish border. A total of 243 teams from over 20 countries competed in a 24-hour orienteering event covering approximately 350 square kilometers. The race was held under extreme conditions: a national heat record was set in northern Czechia that day, and organizers did not set up special water points, relying on mountain streams for hydration.
Latvian teams collected 14 medals in various age groups. In the absolute ranking, silver went to Guntis Šmaukstelis and Kārlis Lauders (team "Šmauders") with 293 points, trailing behind Estonians Timmo Tammemäe and Sander Linnus (313 points). The junior gold was won by Krišjānis Krēmers and Jēkabs Pētersons ("Kre&ab") with 212 points, just two points ahead of the runners-up.
In the women's super veterans (WSV) category, gold was secured by last year's world champions Ilze Lapiņa and Anita Liepiņa ("AT LAST TOGETHER") with 205 points. Bronze in the same category went to Santa Blūma and Lāsma Šlosberga ("Latvietes") with 145 points. In mixed veterans (XV), Ildze Straume and Gunārs Ikaunieks ("100 km purvā") earned bronze with 212 points. In women's open (VO), Aleksandra Fjodorova representing a Latvian-Estonian team "Alma" took bronze (215 points). Mixed super veterans (XUV) bronze went to Valters Kaminskis in another Latvian-Estonian team "Surprise" (179 points).
In mixed ultra veterans, Latvia swept the podium: gold for Silvija and Māris Penkuļi ("Durbe Bisons", 147 points), silver for Aivars Druvenieks and Gundega Jurāne ("Sēlijas mežs", 143 points), and bronze for Ārija Šinke and Juris Šinke ("Olaine", 123 points). Women's ultra veterans gold went to Velga Buša and Skaidrīte Otaņķe ("Monas Taka", 141 points). In men's ultra veterans (MUV), Varis Peisenieks and Juris Švirksts ("Turkuciems") earned silver with 168 points, while Rolands Laveiķis and Vairis Krauklis ("Privātbūve") took bronze with 159 points.
