Armored Orienteers on the Podium

The soldiers of 10BKPanc defended their title as DGRSZ No. 1 Orienteering Champions, having also won team gold in this discipline last year.

The competition was organized in Przemyśl, with 10 teams from units belonging to Group No. 1 taking part.

On the first day, the competitors took part in two individual races, which was a considerable challenge even for the most experienced runners. “The terrain was difficult and hilly, cut through by ravines. In the first race, I tried to apply the tips I had learned during training from Paweł Golinowski, and I was pleased with my run. However, I approached the next race, after a one-hour break, with some apprehension, because it was supposed to be longer and have greater elevation gains,” reported Senior Warrant Officer Krzysztof Malicki.

In the under-35 category, Private Michał Kalata fought a fierce battle for victory against Polish national-team candidate Private Mikołaj Dutkowski from Czerwieńsk. The fact that our competitor’s lead was less than a minute shows how close the contest was. Once again, Michał proved that he is a formidable opponent for anyone in the mountains.

In the 35–39 category, the outcome of the competition was contested by three competitors. Senior Corporal Dariusz Kwapiński performed very well, fighting for victory right to the end and beating 2015 Army Championship bronze medalist Rafał Walicki from 17WBZ. Ultimately, Private Paweł Golinowski won the category.

In the remaining categories, as expected, the winners were: Lieutenant Colonel Bogdan Rycerski, in excellent form, in the M-45 category, and, as usual, undefeated, Senior Warrant Officer Mariusz Plesiński in the M-40 category.

In the women’s category, a major surprise was Senior Private Justyna Panaszek taking third place and winning her first medal at this level of competition.

The terrain prepared by the organizers was highly demanding both physically and technically. Running two races in such a short time required physical preparation—mountains, deep ravines and dense undergrowth—and, more importantly, mental preparation. A race that requires constant concentration and focus is extremely exhausting; one mistake can undo the entire effort.

“The second race was so physically demanding that, despite being well prepared for the season, fatigue caused technical errors. I ran through the forest for 90 minutes. Some competitors spent more than four hours there. I have great respect for the determination and fighting spirit of all the participants who managed to reach the finish line with a full set of points,” summed up Senior Warrant Officer Mariusz Plesiński.

Individual classification of the General Command of the Armed Forces Branches Championship No. 1 in Orienteering:

• K-Open category
  1. Wioletta Dominas – 17 WBZ
  2. 2nd Lt. Justyna Boryca – 17 WBZ
  3. Senior Private Justyna Panaszek – 10BKPanc
• M-21 category
  1. Private Michał Kalata – 10BKPanc
  2. Private Mikołaj Dutkowski – 4pplt
  3. Platoon Commander Marcin Gaczyński – 17 WBZ
• M-35 category
  1. Private Paweł Golinowski – 10BKPanc
  2. Senior Corporal Dariusz Kwapiński – 10BKPanc
  3. Platoon Commander Rafał Walicki – 17 WBZ
• M-40 category
  1. Senior Warrant Officer Mariusz Plesiński – 10BKPanc
  2. Lieutenant Sławomir Wiertelak – 21BSP
  3. Sergeant Adam Domański – 17 WBZ
• M-45 category
  1. Lieutenant Colonel Bogdan Rycerski – 10BKPanc
  2. Sergeant Andrzej Kłak – 21BSP
  3. Major Janusz Fajger – 34BKPanc.

On the second day, relay races were held on very interesting parkland and urban terrain in Przemyśl. In a very close competition, we won two medals; it is worth emphasizing that we were the only team to include a woman in the senior relay lineup.

• senior relay
  1. 10BKPanc lineup (Panaszek, Kwapiński, Rycerski, Kalata)
  2. 6BPD from Kraków
  3. 17WBZ from Międzyrzecz
• MIX relay
  1. 17WBZ from Międzyrzecz
  2. 21BSP from Rzeszów
  3. 10BKPanc lineup (Szczęsnowicz, Jaros, Golinowski, Plesiński).

Team classification:

1. 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade, Świętoszów
2. 17th Wielkopolska Mechanized Brigade, Międzyrzecz
3. 21st Podhale Rifle Brigade, Rzeszów
4. 4th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Czerwieńsk
5. 6th Airborne Brigade, Kraków
6. 34th Armored Cavalry Brigade, Żagań
7. 23rd Artillery Regiment, Bolesławiec
8. 1st Engineer Regiment, Brzeg
9. 5th Chemical Regiment, Tarnowskie Góry
10. 11th Command Battalion.

Physical Education and Sports Section, Katarzyna Przepióra