Stargard Szczeciński zaprasza na IV

Stargard Szczeciński would like to
invite to the
IV International
“the Blue Ribbon”
Street Race
Stargard Szczeciński is a city located 40km east of Szczecin with a population of
approximately 70 thousands inhabitants. Stargard is recently in a fast economic growth,
however it doesn’t help athletic disciplines (queen of all sports as we used to say) to
become more popular. Our local sports club “Pomorze” (“Pomerania”) trains teenagers
only, up to high school level. Unfortunately athletic disciplines are not very popular
among adults.
Seeing this problem, members of our association – Stargard Veterans Athletic
Association (PL: Stargardzki Związek Weteranów Lekkiej Atletyki) decided to take
action and encourage people to take athletic trainings. It was possible to achieve it by
showing that sport is for everybody, without any exceptions. We involved local
authorities and business world to support our idea financially. The easiest and most
effectively way to demonstrate it is by organizing a street race.
Having no experience in running such a project, in autumn 2006 the association board
decided to organize the first street race.
Stargard Veterans Athletic Association – Board Members
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Logo of the race refers to the Stargard coat of arms. Griffin runs on a track that
symbolizes the river Ina.
Logo of the race.
To promote our city we decided to present on our posters places worth seeing in
Stargard. The ideal date for a street race is the celebration of Days of Stargard which
began Friday and ends on Sunday. Friday is a day of culture, Saturday of sport and
Sunday is a day of history. On Saturday, Szczecinska street turns into a huge sports
arena. Various sports events take place there. From the early morning we start with
wrestling tournaments, basketball, and street races for children and adults and the final
event is the Night Cycling Street Race. This day ends with a midnight fireworks show. A
few thousand people enjoy the night. It’s a great possibility to spend time with family
and friends. The first edition of "The Blue Ribbon" Street Race took place on 23 June
2007. The first race gathered 69 runners. Due to technical difficulties, the first race was
planned for 9km.
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First street race in Stargard Szczeciński
First monument presented on the poster was Pyrzycka Gate
First edition poster, presenting Pyrzycka Gate in the background
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First edition - June 2007
First edition winner – Józef Zbielski
from Szczecin (time 27min and 56s)
The best woman was Agnieszka Serżko
from Gorzow Wielkopolski
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Second edition took place on 14th of June 2008
Second edition – June 2008
On our posters we promoted the Church of John the Baptist, which in 2008 celebrated
600 years of existence. This time the race gathered 112 runners – amateurs and
professionals.
Ready, steady, GO!!! June 2008
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Second edition become international, runners from different countries joined the race Japan, Belarous, Ukraine. Among the women triumphed Danuta Pietruszyńska from
Międzychód (38min 15s) and among men Teterukon Igor (31min 32s)
Iwata Takayasu from Japan.
Teterukon Igor (to the right – Roman
Jasiczek – race
director, to the left Sławomir Nowicki – author of race logo.
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13th of June in Stargard Szczecinski startet 3rd edition.
Third edition – June 2009
This time Nikolai Ryabinin from Russia won the first place (32min 2s)
The winner - June 2009
the best woman in third edition was Anastasiya Padalinskaya from Belarus (38min 30s).
The fastest womdan – June 2009
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Each year the race was becoming more and more popular. 186 participant (158 men
and 28 women) decided to join the race. 65 young runners (between 16 and 30 years
old) also decided to run 10km – what proves that running in Poland is also popular
among young people. 45 residents of Stargard also decided to join the race.
Independent Self-Governing Trade Union of Police introduced extra category for
policemen, the fastest policeman was Bogdan Michoński from Szczecin.
Currently we are getting ready to the IV edition. It will take place 19th of June 2010.
This time the official name will be no more Nationwide the Blue Ribbon Street Race, but
International the Blue Ribbon Street Race. In 2010 the promoted monument will be
Guardhouse which houses the museum. Stargard museum in 2010, celebrates its 50th
anniversary.
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We would like to invite all runners to the IV International “the Blue Ribbon" Street Race.
IV edition official poster
Everyone who finishes the race will get a medal, t-shirt, and a meal. Organizers also
provides a nice atmosphere and the fair play spirit.
All information can be found under http://szwla.pl.
To get information in English, please call Katarzyna Suchcicka, tel. 691 297 572.
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In Jaroslawiec the board of the association of Polish running event organizers ( Zarzad
Polskiego Stowarzszenie Biegów) held their assembly from November 20-22, 2009.
The main subject of the conference was how to organize street races at the highest
possible level in accordance with existing regulations and establish a calendar for 2010.
Special guests were Horst Milde founder and director of the Berlin Marathon and the
director of the Prague Marathon - Carlo Capalbo. In the photo below the President of
SZWLA Julian Wójcik presents medals from all three editions of ”the Blue Ribbon"
Street Race in Stargard Szczecinski.
Jarosławiec – November 2009
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