Kometa get busy; Zbrojovka prepares for two big games; mmcité+ has rebounding trouble; ZBL resumes play; and the Brno sports schedule. Photo: @BrnoDaily
By Bruno Zalubil
Brno, Nov 15 (BD) – Despite the fact that the weather is getting colder and snow and ice is just around the corner, the running community of Brno is just warming up. The Brno Running Cup — Brněnský běžecký pohár — will start its 19th year of winter running this Friday with the races just north of the city in Jehnice to commemorate the Velvet Revolution of Nov. 17, 1989 — Běh o pohár Jehnic – Běh 17. Listopadu.
The overall running circuit has 10 races over the next four months. Each raceday includes children’s races, a 5 km and a 10 km. Rain or shine, snow or sleet, wind or ice — or all of it together — you can still count on a couple of hundred people at each race. It is not unusual for runners to be struggling up a snow-covered hill while a few meters away children are sledding down the same hill.
Top runners compete to win the entire series in the various different gender and age categories. Casual runners use the series to get out of the house for a few hours in order maintain a rudimentary level of fitness for the spring and summer running season.
Some of the races are within easy reach of the Brno mass transportation system. Others require a car. Most have changing rooms and food at a school or community center.
Each race costs 50kc if you purchase a registration card. The card costs 100kc and expedites the sign-in process. Races are 60kc without the card.
Click here for more information about individual races. Click here for more information. (Both are in Czech, there is no English version).
Each raceday begins with junior races at 9 a.m. The 5 km starts at 10:30 a.m. and the 10km starts at 11:15 a.m. The schedule of races is below:
Nov. 17, 2017 — 1. Běh o pohár Jehnic – Běh 17. listopadu
Dec. 2, 2017 — 2. Mikulášský běh Okrouhlá
Dec. 9, 2017 — 3. Vranovský žleb
Dec. 26, 2017 — 4. Štěpánský běh Syrovice
Jan. 6, 2018 — 5. Kuřimský kros
Jan. 20, 2018 — 6. Radostická nerezová desítka
Jan. 27, 2018 — 7. Rájecká desítka
Feb. 17, 2018 — 8. Modřický pohár
March 10, 2018 — 9. Běh kolem Myslivny
March 25, 2018 — 10. Brněnská přehrada
HOCKEY
Kometa Enters Difficult Stretch
Kometa Brno enter an extremely busy part of the season, with seven Tipsport Extraliga games in the final two weeks of November separated by only one or two off days. Then, the Hockey Champions League continues in December two quarterfinal games against JYP Jyväskylä in the first two weeks.
League play begins at home with Pardubice (6 p.m.) tonight and Vikovice on Friday at 5 p.m. Then there are three road games: at Liberece on Sunday at 4:20 in a televised game; at Plzeň on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.; and at Olomouc on Friday, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m. Litvínov comes to Brno on Sunday, Nov. 26 at 5 p.m. and Oceláři Třinec arrive on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 6 p.m.
In addition to more league games, Kometa starts at JYP Jyväskylä in the Champions League on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. The home-and-home quarterfinal series moves to Brno on Dec. 12 with a 5:30 p.m. start.
Three of the eight teams still alive in the Champions League are from the Czech league. Oceláři Třinec host Brynäs IF and Bílí Tygři Liberec host ZSC Lions Zurich on Dec. 5.
MEN’S FOOTBALL
Zbrojovka Prepares for Two Big Games
After a disappointing beginning to the season that has seen two coaching changes, two wins, two ties and only nine points, Zbrojovka has a chance to pull themselves up from last place in the final two games of the first half of the HET Liga season.
Teplice, currently seventh in the league with a 5-4-3 record and 19 points, visits Brno on Saturday at 4 p.m. Then Brno travels to Jihlava for a Friday night game on Nov. 24. Kick off is at 6 p.m.
Zbrojovka has not scored in its last three games. They have given up only one goal in the past two.
The league season continues in mid-February. Zbrojovka is scheduled to host Zlín on Feb. 12.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Brno Struggles at Nymburk
Sometimes the mathematics of sports works out in interesting ways. For example, ČEZ Basketball Nymburk beat mmcité+ Brno, 96-63, on Saturday, meaning that a third or their total was equal to their 33-points winning margin.
Unfortunately for Brno, the mathematical anomaly was perhaps the most interesting part of playing against the undefeated top team in the Kooperativa NBL.
Brian Sullivan (15 points), Zurab Kereselidze (11), Jan Tomanec (11), and Mladen Primorac (10) all scored in double digits.
The leading rebounder, however, was Kevin Mays with only four. Nymburk dominated the boards, 51-19. Brno was 50 percent from the field (14 of 28), but Nymburk was 66 percent (30 of 45).
mmcité+ Brno will host BK Opava on Saturday at 7 p.m.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Žabiny Brno, Technic Brno Resume Season with Home Games
The ZBL resumes play this weekend with two Brno teams playing home games. Žabiny Brno host SBŠ Ostrava on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Technic Brno hosts DSK Basketball Nymburk on Sunday at 5 p.m.
KP Brno is on the road at Loko Trutnov for a 5 p.m. Sunday game.
KP Brno continues their EuroCup schedule with home games against Fribourg on Nov. 22 and Venezia on Nov. 29.
BRNO SPORTS RESULTS
Quick results for various Brno professional and recreational sports for the past week. Home team listed first (when applicable).
Sunday, Nov. 11, 2017
— Men’s Basketball: ČEZ Basketball Nymburk 96, mmcité+ Brno 63
BRNO SPORTS SCHEDULE
The schedule for various Brno professional and recreational sports for the next two weeks. All dates and times subject to change. Home team listed first (when applicable).
Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017
— Hockey: Kometa X Pardubice, 6 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 17, 2017
— Running (Brno Running Cup): 1. Běh o pohár Jehnic – Běh 17. Listopadu
— Hockey: Kometa X Vítkovice, 5 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017
— Men’s Football: Zbrojovka Brno X Teplice, Srbska. 4 p.m.
— Women’s Basketball: Žabiny Brno X SBŠ Ostrava, 4:30 p.m.
— Men’s Basketball: mmcité+ Brno X BK Opava, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017
— Hockey: Liberec X Kometa, 4:20 p.m. (TV)
— Women’s Basketball: Loko Trutnov X KP Brno, 5 p.m.
— Women’s Basketball: Technic Brno X DSK Basketball Nymburk, 5 p.m.
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Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017
— Hockey: Plzeň X Kometa, 5:30 p.m.
— Women’s Basketball (CEWL): Olimpia CSU Brasov X Basket Žabiny Brno, TBA
Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017
— Women’s Basketball (EuroCup): KP Brno X Fribourg, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017
— Women’s Basketball (CEWL): CSU Alba Iulia X Basket Žabiny Brno, TBA
Friday, Nov. 24, 2017
— Hockey: Olomouc X Kometa, 6 p.m.
— Men’s Football: Jihlava X Zbrojovka Brno, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017
— Women’s Basketball: KP Brno X DSK Basketball Nymburk, 3:30 p.m.
— Women’s Basketball: ZVVZ USK Praha X Technic Brno, 5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017
— Hockey: Kometa X Litvínov, 5 p.m.
— Women’s Basketball: Žabiny Brno X Loko Trutnov, 5 p.m.
The Brno Sports Report is published every Wednesday. All dates and times are subject to change. Most of the stories are about the traditional “English-speaking” team sports — football, hockey, baseball, basketball, American football, rugby, etc. — but it is also about the interesting local spectator and participation sports — tennis, badminton, running, horse racing, swimming, rock climbing, biking, etc. If you have any suggestions for what should be included, please comment below or send an email to brnosports@gmail.com.
