In Madona, which hosts high-level sports competitions in various sports, after a three-year break, the sleigh dog sport on the snow, which is of interest to spectators, took place again. Several Latvian representatives competed on the well-prepared, difficult and interesting track “Smeceres sila” with participants from four other countries – Poland, Russia, Lithuania and Estonia. Athletes found the best in two disciplines – sledding and skijoring (a skier is tied to a dog), but also divided into dog breeds in the Open and Nordic classes, including sledding for two or four dogs. On Saturday there were additional relays, but on Sunday – mini-pulling (dogs pull the tire to speed), the participants fighting for the prizes provided by SIA “Bertas nams”, “Josera”, SIA “Lauku Rudzupuķe”. As always, the competition attracted the interest of the spectators, because both days the competition in Madona had come to watch more than a hundred spectators.
The participants made two trips – the first on Saturday and the second on Sunday, counting the results of both days together. The distance from the ski and biathlon complex to the motorcycle track was 5 km. On Saturday, after a fresh snowfall, the track had become a little slower, but on Sunday the participants showed faster times.
The two-time and four-dog sled in the Open class was won by the ten-time world champion Tracs from Poland, who left behind two successful Russian representatives in the four-dog category, and the Estonian and Polish in the two-dog category. However, Latvia won the sleigh prizes, which were taken care of by the world vice-champion Mārtiņš Kristons, who is the third place in the Nordic class of four dogs after the Russian and the Estonian. Kristons won another prize in scoring (skier tied to a dog) in the Nordic class, second only to Estonian Silvera.
Latvia’s full podium in skiering in the Open class for men and women. The men’s first three were representatives of the organizing team “Dog Sport Carnikava” – Fricis Zaržeckis, Arturs Jakobsons and Kaspars Krievs, all three of whom were victorious in their discipline in the autumn PK stage in snowless conditions. Elīna Klindžāne, who won several victories in the autumn, dominated women’s skijoring, showing better results than some leading men. The second place went to landmark from Madona Sigita Gotlauf, but the three was finished by Laura Nikola Pinne. Sergejs Pranckuns remained unbeaten in the men’s group skiing in the veteran group, but Vairis Krauklis won the third place.
