Jukola relay

The Jukola 2012 relay start had 1600 men with their headlamps
Jukola 2012: 1250 maps waiting Venla orienteers from the first leg

The Jukola Relay is an orienteering relay race held annually in Finland since 1949. The race always takes place on Saturday between 13th and 19 June in different sites around Finland. The northernmost location has been 50 km north from the Arctic Circle. The name Jukola is a family name in the classic Finnish book - Seven Brothers.

In the Jukola relay has seven legs with distances varying from 7 to 15 km. The starting time is around 11 pm when the sun sets. Runners of the 1st to 3rd legs usually wear headlights, depending on the geographical site (north or south of Finland) of the relay and the weather conditions. The winning team crosses the finishing line early on Sunday morning, around 6 or 7 am, and the last teams finish just before the finish is closed at afternoon. Women can participate in the Jukola relay in non-official teams (non-sports club teams, like company, family or other teams).[1]

For the ladies, an individual race with a mass start was organized in 1951 and was turned into a three leg relay race in 1978 and then a four leg relay race since 1981. The women's relay, known as the Venla Relay, is a daytime race on Saturday afternoon.

In 2012 the Jukola relay attracted close 1700 teams and the Venla relay more than 1250. Clubs from 20 different countries took part. Jukola is the biggest relay event in the world.

The "Kaukametsäläiset"[2] association is the founder of the Jukola relay and it is also the owner of the rights of Jukola event.

The Youth Jukola relay

Since 1986, a Jukola relay event for the young orienteers was organized as a separate event in August each year. The Youth Jukola relay[3] is the world's biggest junior orienteering relay.

History of Jukola

Year Location Starters Finishers Winner[4]
1949 Helsinki surroundings 41 15 Finland Helsingin Suunnistajat
1950 Rural municipality of Helsinki
to City of Helsinki
62 45 Finland Helsingin Suunnistajat
1951 Hollola, airport71 37 Finland IK Örnen
1952 Hämeenlinna, Miemala 83 57 Finland Helsingin Suunnistajat
1953 Valkeala, Savero 82 31 Finland Helsingin Suunnistajat
1954 Lahti, Arkiomaa 96 71 Finland Hämeenlinnan Suunnistajat
1955 Kangasala, Säynäjärvi 115 83 Finland Asikkalan Raikas
1956 Riihimäki, Paalijärvi 127 38 Finland Helsingin Suunnistajat
1957 Virolahti, Ravijoki 108 59 Finland Helsingin Suunnistajat
1958 Karkkila, Vuotinainen 119 95 Finland XYZ
1959 Vammala, Vaununperä 134 112 Finland Asikkalan Raikas
1960 Kouvola-Valkeala 132 111 Finland Helsingin Suunnistajat
1961 Tammela, Valkeaviita 143 113 Finland Tampereen Pyrintö
1962 Orimattila, Luhtikylä 173 119 Finland Tampereen Pyrintö
1963 Kiikala, Johannislund 154 86 Finland Tampereen Pyrintö
1964 Joutseno, Vesikkola 178 136 Finland Tampereen Poliisi-Urheilijat
1965 Petäjävesi, Kintaus 210 195 Sweden IFK Hedemora
1966 Padasjoki, Tarusjärvi 225 176 Finland Tampereen Kilpa-Veljet
1967 Halikko, Hajala 264 214 Finland Asikkalan Raikas
1968 Mäntsälä, Kaukalampi 300 238 Finland Asikkalan Raikas
1969 Vammala, Roismala 327 280 Finland Liedon Parma
1970 Riihimäki, Paarijoki 383 250 Finland Helsingin Suunnistajat
1971 Vehkalahti, Pyhältö 329 264 Finland IK Örnen
1972 Paimio, Motelli 443 365 Finland Liedon Parma
1973 Hämeenlinna, Miemala 435 308 Finland Angelniemen Ankkuri
1974 Puumala, Pistohiekka 411 344 Finland Liedon Parma
1975 Kankaanpää, Niinisalo 475 384 Finland Alavuden Urheilijat
1976 Tammisaari, Spjutsböle 453 406 Sweden Gustavsbergs IF
1977 Ruokolahti, Virmutjoki 471 395 Finland Tampereen Yritys
1978 Kuorevesi, Halli 595 490 Finland Järvenpään Palo
1979 Lapua, Simpsiönvuori 594 523 Norway Lyn
1980 Rovaniemi, Ounasvaara 508 455 Sweden OK Ravinen
1981 Hyvinkää, Kytäjä 753 495 Sweden Almby IK
1982 Liperi, Pärnävaara 728 647 Sweden OK Ravinen
1983 Valkeala, Selänpää 807 742 Finland Vehkalahden Veikot
1984 Rural municipality of Heinola, Vierumäki 920 859 Sweden Almby IK
1985 Laitila, Tulejärvi 937 838 Sweden Almby IK
1986 Tampere, Kaanaa 991 945 Sweden IFK Södertälje
1987 Hollola, airport 1052 989 Finland Hiidenkiertäjät
1988 Pudasjärvi, Isosyöte 976 874 Norway Bækkelagets SK
1989 Joutseno, Myllymäki 1067 956 Norway NTNUI
1990 Juva, Koikkala 1109 1011 Norway NTNUI
1991 Vimpeli, Lakeaharju 1144 1061 Sweden IFK Södertälje
1992 Virolahti, Ravijoki 1131 1050 Sweden IK Hakarpspojkarna
1993 Paimio, Vista 1051 982 Norway Halden SK
1994 Pelkosenniemi, PyhäLuosto 982 873 Finland Turun Suunnistajat
1995 Sipoo, Sipoo kk. 1107 989 Norway NTNUI
1996 Rautavaara, Harsukangas 1049 963Finland Turun Suunnistajat
1997 Jyväskylä, Killerjärvi 1172 1057 Norway Halden SK
1998 Siuntio, Svartbäck 1224 1113 Norway Halden SK
1999 Eurajoki, Rikantila 1226 1109 Norway Bækkelagets SK
2000 Liperi, Pänävaara 1134 960 Norway Halden SK
2001 Jurva, Tainuskylä 1189 1042 Finland Turun Suunnistajat
2002 Asikkala, Vesivehmaa 1256 1063 Norway Bækkelagets SK
2003 Sulkava, Sulkava kk. 1205 1053 Norway Halden SK
2004 Jämijärvi, Jämi 1314 1137 Finland Kalevan Rasti
2005 Anjalankoski, Sippola 1331 1130Finland Kalevan Rasti
2006 Salo, Karjaskylä 1337 1115Finland Vehkalahden Veikot
2007 Lapua, Simpsiönvuori 1345 1151Finland Kalevan Rasti
2008 Tampere, Kaanaa 1389 1172 Finland Delta
2009 Mikkeli, Kalevankangas 1412 1265Norway Kristiansand OK
2010 Hyvinkää, Kytäjä–Usmi 1537 1232Norway Halden SK
2011 Virolahti, Ravijoki 1504 1298Norway Halden SK
2012 Vantaa, Sotunki 1685 1378Finland Kalevan Rasti
2013 Jämsä 1632 1383Finland Kalevan Rasti
2014 Kuopio 1628 1357Finland Kalevan Rasti
2015 Paimio 1787 1514Norway Kristiansand OK

Upcoming events

Year Dates Location Organizing clubs Official Website
2016 June 18th–19th Lappeenranta Lappeen Riento
2017 June 17th–18th Joensuu Kalevan Rasti

References

  1. "General information". Retrieved 2015-06-15.
  2. "Association Kaukametsäläiset". Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  3. "Youth Jukola". Retrieved 2014-06-20.
  4. "Jukolan Viesti results and teams". Retrieved 2012-03-11.

Further reading

External links

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