ERNA Raid Competition 2008

Whilst perhaps not yet as well-known as the Swiss RAID-COMMANDO events, the ERNA Raid competition in Estonia is quickly achieving wide international recognition…

From the event website: “One of the world’s longest and most difficult military competition, the Erna Raid, is organised by the Erna Society. This is to commemorate the actions of Erna long-range recce group in the summer of 1941. In the summer of 1993, after Estonia’s independence had been restored, a group of enthusiasts retraced the route of the reconnaissance unit’s trek, and founded the military-sporting club Erna Society. The next summer, the club began to hold the annual competition, Erna Raid, which is currently one of the longest and most difficult international military-sporting competitions of its kind.”

Once again this year, it was an Estonian team that took first place – Estonian teams also took second and third places too!

Full details of recent competitions, as well as equipment lists for participating teams, can be found at the event website:  http://www.erna.ee/en/?Home 

Photo albums for this year’s event can be found here:http://www.mil.ee/~fotek/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album465

Further information about the Estonian Defence Forces can be found at:  http://www.mil.ee/index_eng.php?s=edf

Here are a few of my favourite photos from this year’s event:

Hitting the beach...

Move out!

Their faces say it all...

The Belgian team stick together...

Chinese spies - er, observers

Battle of the flag bearers