Jukola relay explained

The Jukola Relay is an orienteering relay race held annually in Finland since 1949. Jukola is the biggest orienteering relay event in the world.[1] [2] [3] [4] The race takes place on a Saturday between 13 and 19 June in sites around Finland. The northernmost location has been 50 km north of the Arctic Circle. The name Jukola is a family name in the classic Finnish novel, "Seven Brothers". The women's relay, known as the Venla Relay, is a daytime race on the Saturday afternoon. It is named after the main female character from the novel.[5]

The Jukola relay has seven legs with varying distances. The starting time is around 11 pm when the sun sets. Runners for the first three legs usually wear headlights, depending on the geographical site (northern or southern 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 in the afternoon. Women can participate in the Jukola relay in non-official teams (non-sports club teams, like company, family or other teams).[6]

For the women, an individual race with a mass start was organized in 1951. This was turned into a three-leg relay race in 1978 and then a four-leg relay race in 1981. In 2012 the Jukola relay attracted close to 1700 teams and the Venla relay more than 1250. Clubs from 20 countries took part.

The "Kaukametsäläiset"[7] association is the founder of the Jukola relay and it is also the owner of the rights to the Jukola event.

The Youth Jukola relay

Since 1986, a Jukola relay event for young orienteers has been organized as a separate event in August each year. The Youth Jukola relay[8] is the world's most attended junior orienteering relay.

History of Jukola and Venla

YearLocationJukola StartersJukola FinishersJukola Winner[9] Venla StartersVenla FinishersVenla Winner
1949 Helsinki surroundings 41 15 Helsingin Suunnistajat---
1950 62 45 Helsingin Suunnistajat---
1951 Hollola, airport71 37 IK Örnen---
1952 Vanaja, Miemala 83 57 Helsingin Suunnistajat---
1953 Valkeala, Savero 82 31 Helsingin Suunnistajat---
1954 Lahti, Arkiomaa 96 71 Hämeenlinnan Suunnistajat---
1955 Kangasala, Säynäjärvi 115 83 Asikkalan Raikas---
1956 Riihimäki, Paalijärvi 127 38 Helsingin Suunnistajat---
1957 Virolahti, Ravijoki 108 59 Helsingin Suunnistajat---
1958 Pyhäjärvi Ul, Vuotinainen 119 95 XYZ---
1959 Tyrvää, Vaununperä 134 112 Asikkalan Raikas---
1960 132 111 Helsingin Suunnistajat---
1961 Tammela, Valkeaviita 143 113 Tampereen Pyrintö---
1962 Orimattila, Luhtikylä 173 119 Tampereen Pyrintö---
1963 Kiikala, Johannislund 154 86 Tampereen Pyrintö---
1964 Joutseno, Vesikkola 178 136 Tampereen Poliisi-Urheilijat---
1965 Petäjävesi, Kintaus 210 195 IFK Hedemora---
1966 Padasjoki, Tarusjärvi 225 176 Tampereen Kilpa-Veljet---
1967 Halikko, Hajala 264 214 Asikkalan Raikas---
1968 Mäntsälä, Kaukalampi 300 238 Asikkalan Raikas---
1969 Tyrvää, Roismala 327 280 Liedon Parma---
1970 Riihimäki, Paarijoki 383 250 Helsingin Suunnistajat---
1971 Vehkalahti, Pyhältö 329 264 IK Örnen---
1972 Paimio, Motelli 443 365 Liedon Parma---
1973 Hämeenlinna, Miemala 435 308 Angelniemen Ankkuri---
1974 Puumala, Pistohiekka 411 344 Liedon Parma---
1975 475 384 Alavuden Urheilijat---
1976 Tenala, Spjutsböle 453 406 Gustavsbergs IF---
1977 Ruokolahti, Virmutjoki 471 395 Tampereen Yritys---
1978 Kuorevesi, Halli 595 490 Järvenpään Palo190 174 Sippurasti
1979 Lapua, Simpsiönvuori 594 523 Lyn225 209 Kalevan Rasti
1980 Rovaniemi, Ounasvaara 508 455 OK Ravinen191 178 Hiidenkiertäjät
1981 753 495 Almby IK271 199 Bäkkelagets SK
1982 Liperi, Pärnävaara 728 647 OK Ravinen237 228 Stora Tuna IK
1983 Valkeala, Selänpää 807 742 Vehkalahden Veikot310 285 Almby IK
1984 Rural municipality of Heinola, Vierumäki920 859 Almby IK371 350 Stora Tuna IK
1985 Laitila, Tulejärvi 937 838 Almby IK403 386 Stora Tuna IK
1986 Tampere, Kaanaa 991 945 IFK Södertälje441 419 Halden SK
1987 Hollola, airport 1052 989 Hiidenkiertäjät476 447 OK Hedströmmen
1988 Pudasjärvi, Isosyöte 976 874 Bækkelagets SK423 398 Halden SK
1989 Joutseno, Myllymäki 1067 956 NTNUI519 483 Helsingin NMKY
1990 Juva, Koikkala 1109 1011 NTNUI573 548 Halden SK
1991 Vimpeli, Lakeaharju 1144 1061 IFK Södertälje543 512 IFK Södertälje
1992 Virolahti, Ravijoki 1131 1050 IK Hakarpspojkarna578 554 Kalevan Rasti
1993 Paimio, Vista 1051 982 Halden SK545 518 Rastikarhut
1994 Pelkosenniemi, PyhäLuosto 982 873 Turun Suunnistajat486 455 Tampereen Pyrintö
1995 Sipoo, Sipoo kk. 1107 989 NTNUI597 537 Liedon Parma
1996 Rautavaara, Harsukangas 1049 963 Turun Suunnistajat535 511 Bäkkelagets SK
1997 Jyväskylä, Killerjärvi 1172 1057 Halden SK645 604 Bäkkelagets SK
1998 Siuntio, Svartbäck 1224 1113 Halden SK667 635 Angelniemen Ankkuri
1999 Eurajoki, Rikantila 1226 1109 Bækkelagets SK678 630 Tampereen Pyrintö
2000 Liperi, Pänävaara 1134 960 Halden SK622 575 Liedon Parma
2001 Jurva, Tainuskylä 1189 1042 Turun Suunnistajat689 639 Liedon Parma
2002 Asikkala, Vesivehmaa 1256 1063 Bækkelagets SK728 694 Turun Suunnistajat
2003 Sulkava, Sulkava kk. 1205 1053 Halden SK708 646 Tampereen Pyrintö
2004 Jämijärvi, Jämi 1314 1137 Kalevan Rasti796 764 Ulricehamns OK
2005 Anjalankoski, Sippola 1331 1130 Kalevan Rasti841 770 Ulricehamns OK
2006 Salo, Karjaskylä 1337 1115 Vehkalahden Veikot854 798 Ulricehamns OK
2007 Lapua, Simpsiönvuori 1345 1151 Kalevan Rasti881 798 Asikkalan Raikas
2008 Tampere, Kaanaa 1389 1172 Delta951 870 Domnarvets GoIF
2009 Mikkeli, Kalevankangas 1412 1265 Kristiansand OK978 911 Ulricehamns OK
2010 Hyvinkää, Kytäjä–Usmi 1537 1232 Halden SK1083 997 Tampereen Pyrintö
2011 Virolahti, Ravijoki 1504 1298 Halden SK1048 981 Domnarvets GoIF
2012 Vantaa, Sotunki 1685 1378 Kalevan Rasti1246 1145 Halden SK
2013 Jämsä, Myllymäki 1632 1383 Kalevan Rasti1210 1141 OK Pan Århus
2014 Kuopio, Vehmersalmi 1628 1357 Kalevan Rasti1211 1139 OK Pan Århus
2015 Paimio, Mäntyrinne–Hiekkahelmi 1787 1514 Kristiansand OK1286 1305 Domnarvets GoIF
2016 Lappeenranta, Raippo–Simola 1683 1374 Koovee13581237 Halden SK
2017 Joensuu, Harpatti 16001351 IFK Göteborg12691182 Alfta-Ösa OK
2018 Lahti–Hollola, Hälvälä 1901164416321518 Stora Tuna OK
2019 Kangasala, Heponiemi 1950165216921624 Fredrikstad SK
2020 cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Rovaniemi, Mäntyvaara 12527501014692 Alfta-Ösa OK
2022 Mynämäki, Kallavuori 1592127014321270 IFK Göteborg
2023 Porvoo Borgå, Epoo1704 660 1558 1437 IFK Göteborg

Upcoming events

YearDatesLocationOrganizing clubsOfficial Website
2024[10] June 15 - 16, 2024[11] KauhavaKauhavan Visa & Lapuan Virkiähttps://jukola.com/2024/
2025June 14 - 15, 2025[12] MikkeliNavihttps://jukola.com/2025/
2026JuneKotkaKymin Suunnistajat & Vehkalahden Veikot
2027[13] JuneSotkamoSotkamon Jymy & Vuokatti Sport Resort Oy
2028JuneEspooEspoon Suunta

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023-04-15 . The world’s largest orienteering relay leads the way for the future . 2024-04-21 . Porvoo Borgå Jukola 2023 . en-GB.
  2. Web site: Top 10 most popular orienteering races in the world, open to everyone . 2024-04-21 . All4o.com . en.
  3. Web site: 2022-06-21 . Presidentti Niinistö jakoi videon perisuomalaisesta näystä Mynämäessä: ”So very Finnish” . 2024-06-10 . Ilta-Sanomat . fi.
  4. Web site: Finnish Event Heroes: Arctic circle Jukola, Rovaniemi Visit Finland . 2024-04-21 . fcb.visitfinland.com . en.
  5. Web site: Etusivu - Jukolan viesti . 2024-06-10 . Jukolan viesti – Jukola relay – Jukola kavlen . fi.
  6. Web site: General information . 2015-06-15.
  7. Web site: Association Kaukametsäläiset . 2012-03-11.
  8. Web site: Youth Jukola . 2014-06-20.
  9. Web site: Jukolan Viesti results and teams . 2012-03-11.
  10. Web site: Jukolan viestin järjestelyoikeudet vuosille 2025-2026 on myönnetty . 2022-06-05.
  11. Web site: Jukola 2024 . 2024-04-21 . Jukola 2024 . fi.
  12. Web site: Mikkeli-Jukola 2025 . 2024-04-21 . Mikkeli-Jukola 2025 . fi.
  13. Web site: 2023-06-15 . Jukolan viestin järjestämisoikeudet myönnetty vuosille 2027-2028 . 2024-04-21 . www.suunnistusliitto.fi . fi.

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