The "Ștafeta Munților" National Championship Beganin the Month of Flowers

The "Ștafeta Munților" (the Mountain Relay) National Championship began in the month of flowers, when in the Parâng Mountains the "good weather" was battling the last cold rains, and now, in the twilight of autumn, when winter is sending the vanguard of frost our way, the mountaineers gathered to award the winners of the 1st edition, and also to set the competition stages that will take place in 2013.
On the banks of the Olt, in the Cozia Mountains – the resort of Călimănești-Căciulata – the awards ceremony of the "Ștafeta Munților" National Championship was held recently, a sporting, cultural and ecological event attended by more than 140 people aged between 1 and 68.
The winners of the 1st edition were rewarded with substantial prizes offered by: Belkin International, Inc., SIS Travel (www.sis-travel.com ), Infopensiuni.ro, Love Plus, Lec-Academy.ro, Doppel Herz (www.queisser.ro), Tupperware.ro, Bookblog.ro, R-therapy.ro, Valea-Mare.ro, Libris.ro, Edituracununidestele.ro, Anthonyfrost.ro, Ch-Center.ro, Craimont.ro, Sfing.ro and TehnoPlus Industry, and we thank the Gorj County Directorate for Sport and Youth for its support in providing the video projection.
The hosts of the event were the young people of the Drumeții Montane Association, by JNEPENII, true ecologists and good hosts who managed to bring many surprises and much joy to the participants.
Their efforts were rewarded by the guests, who spiced up the three days with initiative and plenty of good cheer, and at the end rewarded them with applause and congratulations.
Friday was the day, but especially the evening, of reunions, when the fierce rivals from the mountain raid, orienteering and climbing events sang together songs from mountain folklore, loved by different generations.
On Saturday morning the representatives of the mountain tourism clubs present at the event set the stages of the 2013 competition calendar, in which context the leadership of the arbitration panel was taken over by the Zimbrul Carpatin Pitești Association, while the honorary organiser for 2013 is the HAI-HUI Târgu Jiu Association for Tourism, Sport and Ecology.
The mountain tourism competitions will begin in May and end in September, with seven stages.
The participants appreciated the fact that in two stages peaks exceeding 2,500 metres will be reached, namely Vf. Moldoveanu – the highest peak in the country – and Vf. Parângul Mare.
The day was full of activities, and the mountaineers competed in backgammon, orienteering and mixed football competitions – the event that enjoyed the greatest success.
Before the awards were presented, several video presentations were screened, with those prepared by Zimbrul Pitești, Elite București, Călăuza Carpatină Petrila, Marmotele Mahmure, the Drumeții Montane Association and Jnepenii standing out.
In an atmosphere of friendship and fair play, special prizes were awarded, as well as prizes for the best clubs in each competition category and the national champions' trophy, which went to the Zimbrul Carpatin Association from Pitești, with the podium completed by Marmotele Mahmure and the "Hai-Hui" Târgu Jiu Association for Tourism, Sport and Ecology.
As dawn was still far away, all the participants got into costume in the greatest hurry and the fiesta began: the carnival costume parade, where we all applauded as they arrived: Snow White, gypsy girls, kittens, little angels, clowns and jesters, a whole ship of pirates, mummies, queens of the Orient, the Black Widow, gangsters, sheikhs, Zorro, Indians, geishas, Little Red Riding Hood, the Tipsy Citizen, Tinker Bell, Father Christmas and many other characters.
Until the break of dawn we sang, danced and took part in numerous surprise challenges, but the most thrilling was the raffle.
A very special moment took place during the couples' dance competition, when two young people joined their destinies forever.
To make this evening a wonderful one, Răzvan and Mădălina kept the atmosphere going throughout.
When the first rays of morning were mirrored in the waters of the Olt, Andrei and his guitar heralded the start of a new championship, one of friendship, because ȘTAFETA MUNȚILOR was a thought, a dream that all of us who take part have turned into reality.
See you on the ridges!