The second state competition for imitating a deer's roar concluded with Alen Čop (LU "Vidra", Turke) securing the first place, Matija Laginja (HDL "Zec", Klana) achieving second place, and Robert Gec (LD "Tetrijeb" Delnice) securing third place. The third Rika Fest, an esteemed tourist event, concluded today in Delnice with the announcement of the most successful Croatian hunters. This event aims to showcase and promote hunting as an activity that significantly contributes to nature conservation and the preservation of biodiversity.
The gathering, which attracted numerous attendees, was coordinated by the Croatian Hunting Association, the Hunting Association of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, the City of Delnice, the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, and the Kvarner Tourist Board. Notable figures in attendance included Renata Ojurović, the Director of the Directorate of Forestry, Hunting, and Wood Industry at the Ministry of Agriculture, Nediljko Dujić, the President of the Croatian Forests Administration, Aleksandra Ban, the Head of the Administrative Department for Tourism, Entrepreneurship, and Rural Development of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Irena Peršić Živadinov, the Director of Tourism Communities of Kvarner, Katarina Mihelčić, the Mayor of Delnice, Graciano Prekalj, the Vice-President of the Croatian Hunting Federation, Josip Malnar, the President of the Hunting Association of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Reverend Ivan Milatović, and other distinguished individuals.
The event featured the 26th exhibition of hunting buglers and choirs, a competition for hunting kettle cooking, a showcase of 27 owners and their hunting dogs, and a presentation on falconry.
During the event, the roarers performed three rounds of roaring. First, they imitated a young deer in search of a herd of hinds, then a dominant deer with a herd of hinds, and finally the roar of two deer of the same strength during a duel. The youngest roarers, including 9-year-old Domagoj Kalčić from Ravna Gora, 6-year-old Vito Logar from Klana, and 6-year-old Petar Gec from Delnice, showcased their roaring skills at the very beginning of the event.
At the event's outset, Josip Malnar, the president of the Hunting Association of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, extended greetings, expressing his optimism that the competition would yield proficient hunters capable of excelling in future European competitions. Graciano Prekalj, vice president of the Croatian Hunting Federation, underscored the event's significance, envisioning its future distinction among hunters in the Republic of Croatia and internationally.
During the brief welcoming speeches, Irena Peršić Živadinov, the director of the Tourist Board Kvarner, emphasized the significance of Rika Fest as "an event that brings together hunters from across the Republic of Croatia, contributing to the promotion of hunters and hunting tourism." Additionally, Aleksandra Ban, the head of the Administrative Department for Tourism, Entrepreneurship, and Rural Development of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, highlighted that "Rika Fest serves as evidence of unity and the commitment to preserving tradition, knowledge, and skills, all of which contribute to the uniqueness of this region."
The event commenced with an opening address by Katarina Mihelić, the Mayor of the City of Delnica. In her remarks, she emphasized that the event was a testament to the dedication of the town and its hunters, who aim to advocate for the significance of hunting in preserving the natural environment within the region.
A highlight of the event was the performances by horn players from the City of Zagreb, Osijek-Baranja, Karlovac, Krapina-Zagorje, and Međimurje counties. The oldest mixed hunting choir, "Matko Laginja" from Klana, performed well.
The hunting kettle cooking competition, featuring 34 teams from the hunting associations of the Osijek-Baranja County, the City of Zagreb, and the Primorje-Goranska County, took place in the esteemed company of chef Tomislav Špiček. After a spirited competition, the team from the Hunting Association of the Island of Rab emerged victorious with the top-rated kettle. The second-place honour was awarded to the team of Croatian forests, Forest Enterprise Delnice, Forestry Ravna Gora, while the team from the Hunting Association Orebić of the Island of Cres secured the third-place position.
The best in show was the dog Maximus, an Istrian short-haired hound owned by Zdenko Perikić (LD "Srndać", Permani). The second place was won by Ceca, a Posavina hound owned by Siniša Gak (LD "Tuhobić", Krasica). Third place was Maja von der Fuchskralle, a German hunting terrier owned by Dragutin Kovačević (LD "Srnjak" Fužine-Lokva).
The Hunting Museum participated in the 3rd Rika Fest with numerous workshops on the capercaillie, the largest forest grouse. The workshops were educational and entertaining, designed for children of all ages, and well-attended.
Autori fotografija su: Vesna Poduška Farkaš i Ivica Stanko
Text:Aleksandra Štingl
BILTEN – Rika fest – Delnica 2024. (24.08.2024.)
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