The haymaking team from Zhilino, Postavy district, won the world championship in Poland.

The haymakers from Zhilyany, Postavy District, have become the best at the World Haymaking Championship held in Biebrza National Park, Poland, as reported to BelTA by the captain of the Zhilyany team, Petr Korol.

He stated that 28 teams from Belgium, France, Poland, and Belarus competed for victory. Our country was represented by four teams: one from the Vitebsk region and three from the Brest region. Following their performance in the professional agriculturists' category, the haymakers from Zhilyany secured first place. The Postavy team, consisting of Iosif Golyak and Valeriy Kalitsky, mowed a strip 60 m long and 1.5 m wide in a record time of 4 min. 28.44 sec. In the category for National Park representatives, participants from the Brest region excelled: the team from Sporovsky Biological Reserve took gold (4 min. 28.45 sec), and the team from Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve won bronze (6 min. 38.99 sec). In the individual competition, which is open only to the top ten mowers, Iosif Golyak took fifth place with a result of 3 min. 23.46 sec.

Petr Korol drew the attention of those who believe that scything is a simple task requiring no special skills to the intricacies of haymaking. First and foremost, excellent physical condition is essential: strength, endurance, and trained breathing. Professional scything skills for various terrains (foothills, meadows, lowland bogs) require constant practice. In Postavy, for instance, young haymakers aged 10-12 undergo training and hone their skills under the guidance of experienced peers. They, along with their adult colleagues, take a unique examination in June at the local festival "Zhilyany Haymaking," which has already acquired an international format. Winners are awarded the right to participate in higher-level scything competitions. For example, last year, the best haymakers from Zhilyany travelled to competitions in Slovakia, Yakutia, and the Urals.

According to the interviewee, the tool is, of course, important: each mower has their own, and one must know how to care for it. Pyotr Korol also attaches great importance to the moral component in competitions. "We didn't think or plan for victory at the championship in Poland, as the field of participants was very strong. For example, the Poles themselves are very well-prepared, traditionally among the strongest athletes. Therefore, our goal was simply to show everything we were capable of," he noted. It is noteworthy that the brother of Iosif Golyak, representing the Polish team, took part in the competition. The man from Postavy had not seen his relative for 26 years, and therefore was doubly interested in demonstrating his skill level. "The result ultimately exceeded all expectations, both for him personally and for the team, as many rivals did not consider us serious contenders for the championship awards," added Pyotr Korol.