President Milanović Presents Great Shield of Prince Domagoj to Winners of “Zagreb” Crew at the 27th Ladja Marathon on the Neretva River
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović attended the 27th Ladja Marathon on the Neretva River. He extended his congratulations to the winning crew of the boat “Zagreb” and presented them with gold medals and the Great Shield of Prince Domagoj, while the Small Shield for first place was awarded by the President of the Neretva River Boatmen Association Luka Oršulić. This is the third year in a row that the “Zagreb” crew has won the competition on the Neretva River.
The Ladja Marathon is an amateur sports race featuring traditional boats or ladja from Metković to Ploče, on a total length of 22,500 meters, with a crew consisting of 10 rowers, a drummer and a helmsman. The race, organized by the Neretva River Boatmen Association, is held under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Croatia.
The Ladja Marathon was instituted in 1998 as part of events celebrating the 7th anniversary of the Croatian Army’s military campaign in Ploče “Zelena tabla-Male Bare”, and today it represents not only a unique cultural event but also a sort of “brand” of the Neretva region and a valuable part of the national cultural heritage.
When the musket-bearing Dubrovnik Guard of Honour “Dubrovački Trombunjeri” signalled the start of the race from the shore in Metković, multiple rowers in their traditional boats embarked on the battle for the Great Shield of Prince Domagoj on the 22-kilometre long race course from Metković to Ploče.
President Milanović watched the race from the deck of the command ship “Nada” as it sailed down the Neretva River to the finishing line in Ploče. At the finish line, silver and bronze medals and a Small Shield were awarded to the Komin Pirates and third place to the crew of Slivno. Bronze medals and a Small Shield for third place were presented by Dubrovnik-Neretva County-prefect Nikola Dobroslavić and the Mayor of Ploče Mišo Krstičević, while silver medals and a Small Shield for second place were presented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets and delegate of the Prime Minister Branko Bačić and by the Mayor of Ploče Dalibor Milan.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek