2018 for SK Ašais has had 61 event (the really small ones we don't count) and 103 medals obtained in 2018. There is nothing better than to come to the conclusion that the year has been amazing! Artis Rožkalns explosive season, many many club records, the first convincing SUB2 800m run. Roberts Glazers first excellent 1500m with a golden medal and super-prerecord. Renātes' Beļājevas' flights in 400m on the level of National team candidates. Gothenburg, Suwałki, Saaremaa, Estonia and Lithuania! 8th spring in the mountains! Unforgetable! Years has been very golden, because a new gold pedestal record has been in the history of this club - 45 gold pedestals. The years was finished with a bang! We celebrated the 10th anniversary of SC Ašais in "Pļavas". Thank you, to everyone who helped us have this amazing year! 2019 is right around the corner! We shall see what it has to offer!
It seems that the carousel of competitions in 2018, has stopped spinning with Ašais runners participating in Tartu manege. Last few Decembers, whilst participating in these races, we've been in some sort of curse, but now the curse has been broken. Gold and bronze medals are now ours, as well as new PRs, and a new club record. Despite the lack of rivals, which vitaly is needed in 800m for a good result, Artis Rožkalns convincingly won with a new PR/CR and with only 0.03 seconds to "under 2" - 2:00.03! Excellent PR [overall] and a bronze medal running with one year older rivals - Roberts Glazers 800m = 2:12,36!!! A spontaneous descision to let him run with U16 runners resulted in a new PR also for Ričards Špacs - 2:29,41! Also a PR and 5th place in 800m for Renāte Beļājeva. A step closer to a good form and 4th place in U18 for Kārlis Dieviņš. Evening continued positively with the streets of Tartu. Photos - here!
12.12.18 is a very beautiful date. Exactly 10 years ago, on this date, Sports club Ašais obtained registration certificate of the association. We celebrated, looked at the best moments and talked about life. A big thanks to all the guests, who arrived to this celebratory event and didn't mind the long way to Ainaži. We also want to say a big thank you to restaurant Pļavas owners Jānis and Lauris, and to the excellent waitress Džeina and all the parents of out athletes, who believe in their children. Thanks also to everyone, who weren't mentioned! Most importantly, keep this evening, emotions and happiness in your hearts. Photos - here!
Ašais runners went
went for the first time to the city of Klaipeda to compete in an
international athletics competition for youngsters. Latvia's and
Lithuania's strongest athletes had come to compete in their
respective age groups. An astonishing number of runners in our
distances - 30 on average! On the first race day to the start line
went Renāte Beļājeva (U16) and Kārlis Dieviņš (U18) to test their
limits in the 600m distance. Renāte, in a very cutthroat competition of 35 girls, got 4th place.
To bronze medal only -1,5 seconds! Kārlis' return in the world of
athletics after ankle fracture and 6 month long "empty" period
resulted in a new PR, but still with a humble place in the
leaderboard.
Traditionally, December is a celebratory month. For us it's also a month when someone from Ašais gets greeted for his/her accomplishments in Cesis state Sports school's laureate event. This year's laureates - Artis Rožkalns, Roberts Glazers and Renāte Beļājeva. Unfortunately only Artis had the chance to visit the event, because Roberts and Renāte went to the city of Klaipėda in Lithuania to compete in an international match. As Artis informs, SK Ašais was represented with honour, region flag held high and with honour, and everything ended well. 
Despite the fact, that the time for gifts isn't here yet, we've recieved one excellent present from our friends at GFitness. We are always happy to visit this company, not only for pleasent talks, but also to test the newest fitness technologies and sports equipments. The gift is a smart Myzone chest strap for heart rate monitoring and other things, which will be tested by Roberts Glazers next week. Big thanks to Gints Kuzņecovs! 
It's a tradition for youngsters all around Vidzeme to test their abilities in Limbažu olimpic center. Competition for many types of athletic disciplines. At noon of November 23rd Ašais athletes of age groups U14 and U16 arrived at Limbažu OC. For variety, our athletes, especially of U16 age group, tried sprint. However let's start with the achievements of U14! Excellently his fall/winter cycle has started Ričards Špacs, winning the 600m race, but in the 60m sprint being 2nd. In U14 age group for girls, Tīna Briša gets silver in 600m. Roberts Cercins in U14 age group 5th in 600m distance. Next is U16, although our beloved distance is 800m, Roberts Glazers and Renāte Beļājeva tried 200m sprint. They did it very well! Both of them have got split 4th-5th place. Also new PR for Roberts! Both have a new PR in 60m. p.s Tīna's medal is the 100th this season and Ričards' is 101st! Photos - here!
Ašais athlete @artisrozkalns 3rd in Latvias' competition "Best athlete in the professional education 2017./2018.m.g.". He has also recieved appreciation prize for excellent achievements in athletics from Cesis Technology and Design middle school. We are very proud and hope, that also next year will be just as excellent in the sports life of Artis. 
Everyone has their own way of celebrating holidays. Some need fireworks, others need holiday meal. This our third time celebrating November 18th by participating in the Līvenhofas run. This year in a bit smaller composition, without the older runners. Middle and youngest generation fought for medals in the 1500m through the streets of Līvāni. Excellently Roberts Glazers reached his goal, convincingly winning the race, also setting a new track record in the 1500m run, since the foundation of the race. 3rd places for Ričards Špacs, Tīna Briša and Renāte Beļājeva. 4th, only a second behind 3rd place - Stella Paltiņa. Also 4th right behind his teammate - Roberts Cercins. Thus outdoor season 2018 has ended. Indoor adventures are rapidly approaching! Results - here! Photos - here!
Fresh news from Rihards Serģis, that cross country season has ended in the USA. As Rihards writes, NJCAA Nationals for boys 8th place, for girls 21st place. 50 teams from the whole USA. The best runner from Colby got 2nd place and the next was 10th. Track was very difficult and hilly, they ran even across golf fields. Vast amounts of runners and supporters. Rihards had never seen so many runners! Now Rihards will enojoy a little pause and then indoor season will start!
Ašais athletes have had the opportunity to train for winter season 2019, like never before! Thanks to a very good money printer :D, already in November our runners can regularly travel neigbhouring country. Happiness through tears, because soon Latvia will be indepented for 30 years and still will have 0 good running maneges. At the same time, Estonia has 3 maneges in a 80 km diameter. Our runners enhance their athletic abilities in two of these maneges - Valga's and Vōru. We are very happy that we are able to use these high quality maneges! The first competitions slowly are approaching. 
2018 is rapidly coming to an end. We have recieved good news from Latvian Athletics union. Three of our runners have been added to the National team candidate list! In U20 junior group as 4th in 800m - Artis Rožkalns! In U16 age group as 1st in 1500m and 2nd in 800m - Roberts Aleksis Glazers! Also is the same age group Renāte Beļājeva 2nd for 400m sprint! What else to say? An interesting season awaits us!
Cold weather being
more often and the sky being grey and not blue means autumn is
here, but that definitely isn't a bad thing, because autumn is the
time when we pack our bags look forward going on a ferry that takes
us to..., that's right once again Ašais visited the beautiful &
magical island - Saaremaa. Like every year, fall comes, and so does
SAAREMAA 3 PÄEVA JOOKS. This is our 6th year competing is this
event and we are already waiting for the next years' competition.
Every year is different in some way and we haven't become bored of
it. Part of the beauty is in the fact, that it's a rally, because
results from each day are added together and that total time from
all 3 days is yout end result. This year in the youth race
participated a record amount of competitors - 210!
Two in one! Finally our young sports lover Stella Paltiņa has recieved her long awaited gift - clubs' t-shirt and also clubs' cold weather hat. In all honesty, it isn't that easy. These kind of gifts are only for those who step on to the pedestal for the first time in a competition. And now Stella Paltiņa 110% is one of ours! Marked. And a big thank you to Kaspars from "Melnais gulbis" for making a special welcoming cocktail for Stella! 
While Ašais runners compete with other latvian youngsters in many different fall races, Rihards Serģis continues his fights in college cross country season, representing his current Colby community college. In the last three weeks Rihards' competed in two NJCAA [National junior college
athletic association] cross country races. In both races, his college won 1st place in team overall score. Tracks' length is 8km and on the start line are roughly 200 competitiors from 20 different teams. And these tracks certainly are not walks in the park. Rihards also mentions that cross country will last to mid November. Then we'll see what more is ahead. Waiting for more messages from the USA. Photos - here! Rihards Serģis continues cross country season in the USA
Ašais runners compete
in many different races, but for us, competing in Smiltenes laps is
fall is a MUST. Without a doubt one of our favourite events in
fall. We've been participating in this race since its begining and
we've always enjoyed its track and also its positive energy! Even
more magic to the whole experience added this years' beautiful
golden fall. However place and time weren't the only things worth
mentioning. Our athletic achievements - 6 victories, two 2nd places
and one 3rd!!!!! In the distance of one lap (~3,3km), undoubtedly
Roberts Aleksis Glazers 1st, who managed to set the all time
fastest lap time since the races' foundation - 12,10
minutes!!!!!
A special picture about a special story of Ķelmēnu bread. There is a bakery near Ranka. Passing by, Ašais chief went to check out, how bread is made. Just because. But in return he got unconditional message about how much they love what they do. And a fresh bach of baked bread (gifted!!!) was given to Ašais! From now on, as much as possible - only Ķelmēnu goods! For attitude, for unconditional fate for what they are doing, and for what we are doing! Bon appetit!
Yes, there was wind. Yes, the weather was like every fall – rough.
But most importantly – yes, there were people cahttering, shouting
encouragements, making goals, and reaching them. For sports clubs’s Ašais
champions title fought many girls and boys in many different age groups, and
also is in team overall-score. Results available at the of this story. We thank
every, who helped this event to happen – Amatas novada dome, G – Fitness, T/C
ALFA, Zelta Zirgs, and also the parents of Ašais athletes, who were ready to be
a part of this event. Thank you! Let’s go forward! Photos/
For Ašais runners not
only leaves are gold, but also their medals! It’s fall, and that
means winter is coming, but before the cold and snovy time begins,
we can enjoy a short moment of golden colours. We’ve started fall
with our own gold in Cēsu novada open competition. Despite Ašais
athletes representing their own schools, there was tough rivalry
between other athletes, skiers, orienteers and other sport
lovers.
And despite the fact that only Saturday, they gave everything they had in Līgatnes Stirnu buks and had a tough training the day before this competition, Ašais runners represented their schools with honor! In the youngest age group for girls, first two places for our girls! Stella Paltiņa 1st, Tīna Briša – 2nd!
This year in Līgatne
3x2. For our athletes three 2nd places, 5th place, two 6th places,
7th and 11th place in different age groups. 2nd place for Roberts
Aleksis Glazers, Renāte Beļājeva and Artis Rožkalns. In U12 age
group Roberts Cercins 5th, but, with a close to excellent first
competiton, Dāvis Mežals 6th, right behind Roberts. Ričards Dāvis
Špacs 7th, but Stella Paltiņa in the olimpic 6 of U12 age group!
Tīna Briša is still a bit uncertain...
