From June 16 to 22, the National Orienteering Championship for boys and girls under 19 was held near the Silver Ponds tourist base in the village of Sazhnevo, Ryazan Region.
A total of 24 athletes (12 boys and 12 girls) from four Russian regions—Moscow, Perm Krai, St. Petersburg, and Sverdlovsk Region—competed in four disciplines: cross-sprint, cross-classic, cross-long, and cross-relay (teams of 3).
Up-to-date sports maps are crucial for orienteering, and the organizers, in collaboration with the Ryazan Region Orienteering Sports Federation, meticulously updated the maps for all disciplines. Fortunately, the area had recently hosted the Russian Championship for hearing orienteers, which facilitated preparations.
The only factor beyond the organizers' control was the weather. While the first day was warm and sunny, the following days brought cool temperatures and rain. To ensure athletes' comfort, the base administration provided heating in the rooms, preventing any illnesses.
Despite the challenging conditions—both from the rain and the demanding routes—each participant’s performance was all the more valuable, as overcoming such obstacles builds invaluable experience.
To further develop the sport and give younger athletes a chance to shine, the Orienteering Coaching Council proposed holding a children’s orienteering festival (ages 9–13) alongside the championship. This initiative was supported by teams from the Republic of Bashkortostan, Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Sverdlovsk Region.
23 young competitors (8 boys and 15 girls) raced in the same disciplines as the older athletes but on age-appropriate courses. The organizers prepared special medals and diplomas for these rising stars.
On the final day, honorary guests attended the awards ceremony: Dmitry Rebrov, President of OSFSG; Vitaly Shabanov, Acting Minister of Physical Culture and Sports of Ryazan Region; Igor Gorshkov, President of the I.I. Lisov Ryazan Center for Youth Tourism and Local History.
They presented medals, diplomas, and team cups to the winners. Rebrov thanked the Ryazan Ministry of Sports, organizers, and judges for their excellent work, awarding them memorable prizes from the Federation.
During his visit, Rebrov also discussed the current state of deaf sports development in the region with key figures, including Valery Senin, Chairman of the Ryazan OSFSG Branch.
Team Standings (Gold, Silver, Bronze)
1. Moscow – 6 + 4 + 4
2. St. Petersburg – 5 + 4 + 3
3. Sverdlovsk Region – 1 + 2 + 2
The young athletes also returned home with medals:
Moscow: 4 gold, 4 silver, 6 bronze
St. Petersburg: 1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze
Bashkortostan: 2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
Nikolay Zorya, Senior Coach of the National Orienteering Team:
“The event was a success—all objectives were met. Moving forward, we aim to include two age groups in the Russian Championship program in the coming years.”
RESULTS OF THE WINNERS AND PRIZE-WINNERS

Text: Andrey Popov, Nikolay Zorya, Nurlan Tazhigulov
Photo: OSFSG
Translation: Daria Kudelina