Jukola relay

The Jukola 2012 relay start had 1600 men with their headlamps

Jukola 2012: 1250 maps waiting Venla orienteers from the first leg

The Jukola Relay is an orienteering relay race held annually in Finland since 1949. The race always takes place on Saturday between 13th and 19 June in different sites around Finland. The northernmost location has been 50 km north from the Arctic Circle. The name Jukola is a family name in the classic Finnish book - Seven Brothers.

In the Jukola relay has seven legs with distances varying from 7 to 15 km. The starting time is around 11 pm when the sun sets. Runners of the 1st to 3rd legs usually wear headlights, depending on the geographical site (north or south of 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 at afternoon. Women can participate in the Jukola relay in non-official teams (non-sports club teams, like company, family or other teams).

For the ladies, an individual race with a mass start was organized in 1951 and was turned into a three leg relay race in 1978 and then a four leg relay race since 1981. The women's relay, known as the Venla Relay, is a daytime race on Saturday afternoon.

In 2012 the Jukola relay attracted close 1700 teams and the Venla relay more than 1250. Clubs from 20 different countries took part. Jukola is the biggest relay event in the world.

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

The Youth Jukola relay

Since 1986, a Jukola relay event for the young orienteers was organized as a separate event in August each year. The Youth Jukola relay is the world's biggest junior orienteering relay.

History of Jukola

Year	Location	Starters	Finishers	Winner
1949	Helsinki surroundings	41	15	Helsingin Suunnistajat
1950	Rural municipality of Helsinki to City of Helsinki	62	45	Helsingin Suunnistajat
1951	Hollola, airport	71	37	IK Örnen
1952	Hämeenlinna, 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	Karkkila, Vuotinainen	119	95	XYZ
1959	Vammala, Vaununperä	134	112	Asikkalan Raikas
1960	Kouvola-Valkeala	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	Vammala, 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	Kankaanpää, Niinisalo	475	384	Alavuden Urheilijat
1976	Tammisaari, Spjutsböle	453	406	Gustavsbergs IF
1977	Ruokolahti, Virmutjoki	471	395	Tampereen Yritys
1978	Kuorevesi, Halli	595	490	Järvenpään Palo
1979	Lapua, Simpsiönvuori	594	523	Lyn
1980	Rovaniemi, Ounasvaara	508	455	OK Ravinen
1981	Hyvinkää, Kytäjä	753	495	Almby IK
1982	Liperi, Pärnävaara	728	647	OK Ravinen
1983	Valkeala, Selänpää	807	742	Vehkalahden Veikot
1984	Rural municipality of Heinola, Vierumäki	920	859	Almby IK
1985	Laitila, Tulejärvi	937	838	Almby IK
1986	Tampere, Kaanaa	991	945	IFK Södertälje
1987	Hollola, airport	1052	989	Hiidenkiertäjät
1988	Pudasjärvi, Isosyöte	976	874	Bækkelagets SK
1989	Joutseno, Myllymäki	1067	956	NTNUI
1990	Juva, Koikkala	1109	1011	NTNUI
1991	Vimpeli, Lakeaharju	1144	1061	IFK Södertälje
1992	Virolahti, Ravijoki	1131	1050	IK Hakarpspojkarna
1993	Paimio, Vista	1051	982	Halden SK
1994	Pelkosenniemi, PyhäLuosto	982	873	Turun Suunnistajat
1995	Sipoo, Sipoo kk.	1107	989	NTNUI
1996	Rautavaara, Harsukangas	1049	963	Turun Suunnistajat
1997	Jyväskylä, Killerjärvi	1172	1057	Halden SK
1998	Siuntio, Svartbäck	1224	1113	Halden SK
1999	Eurajoki, Rikantila	1226	1109	Bækkelagets SK
2000	Liperi, Pänävaara	1134	960	Halden SK
2001	Jurva, Tainuskylä	1189	1042	Turun Suunnistajat
2002	Asikkala, Vesivehmaa	1256	1063	Bækkelagets SK
2003	Sulkava, Sulkava kk.	1205	1053	Halden SK
2004	Jämijärvi, Jämi	1314	1137	Kalevan Rasti
2005	Anjalankoski, Sippola	1331	1130	Kalevan Rasti
2006	Salo, Karjaskylä	1337	1115	Vehkalahden Veikot
2007	Lapua, Simpsiönvuori	1345	1151	Kalevan Rasti
2008	Tampere, Kaanaa	1389	1172	Delta
2009	Mikkeli, Kalevankangas	1412	1265	Kristiansand OK
2010	Hyvinkää, Kytäjä–Usmi	1537	1232	Halden SK
2011	Virolahti, Ravijoki	1504	1298	Halden SK
2012	Vantaa, Sotunki	1685	1378	Kalevan Rasti
2013	Jämsä	1632	1383	Kalevan Rasti
2014	Kuopio	1628	1357	Kalevan Rasti
2015	Paimio	1787	1514	Kristiansand OK

Upcoming events

Year	Dates	Location	Organizing clubs	Official Website
2016	June 18th–19th	Lappeenranta	Lappeen Riento
2017	June 17th–18th	Joensuu	Kalevan Rasti

Further reading

• Uljas, Reimo: Jukolan viestit 1989 - 2008 with English summary, Kaukametsälaiset ry 2009, ISBN 978-952-92-5583-2

External links

• Jukola relay