Zurich influence at the Zug Chriesisturm on Monday

A delegation of around 100 people from Zurich was present in the old town of Zug at the 15th Chriesisturm on Monday – heralding the start of the cherry season.
 

The Zug Cherry Storm (Chriesisturm) took place for the 15^th time on Monday, 23^rd June – with a record-breaking turnout. The traditional festival brought together prominent politicians from the city and canton of Zug, and Zurich's Sechseläuten celebration was also echoed this year,: the canton of Zug was the guest of honour in Zurich in April, and it was now the time for the return visit. The Zurich racing team and the large delegation from the city of Zwingli enriched the event.

The 800-metre race through the old town of Zug – starting and finishing at the Liebfrauenkapelle chapel – officially heralded the start of the cherry season. At 12 noon sharp, the ‘Chriesigloggä’ bell of St. Michael's parish church rang out as the starting signal. Exciting races were held in five categories: the men competed in teams of two, carrying eight-metre-long original ladders on their backs. The women started individually, laden with a ‘Hutte’, a woven harvest basket.

The 5th grade schoolchildren from the Burgbach school gave it their all in the relay race with shortened ladders. The happy winners Filipe Gomes, Max Milivojevic, Nian-Lee Engel and Chloé Merz all agreed: ‘It was really fun. We are ambitious and wanted to win. As members of the Zug tennis squad and the Zug athletics club, we are in good shape.’

Same winner as last year
The ‘Zuger Kirschrakete’ team with Michael Strickler and Philipp Beck triumphed in the men's competition – thereby successfully defending their title. The relay team from the Zug and Zurich guilds particularly thrilled the audience: Zurich guild members Luki Meier – the Böögg builder at the Sechseläuten celebration – and René Kalt ran through the crowd with a ladder equipped with firecrackers. Sound, smoke and explosions created a bombastic atmosphere.

Luki Meier said with a wink: ‘Our performance was quite symbolic. Running through Zug as a living Böögg in the original costume with blue buttons and a straw hat – that was great fun.’

Men race for victory in teams of two
The women were carrying a ‘Hutte’ basket           
The winners treat themselves to dessert
Humans dressed as Bööggen also ran along        
A little cherry or kirsch won't hurt Laura Dittli before she goes back to the meeting
Peter Hegglin waves to the audience       
The Böög was burned at Zuger Chriesisturm                        Photos: Jan Pegoraro

Taking part for the first time at 89 years of age
Benjamin Leupi-Landtwing and Damian Ulrich from the Bakers' Guild (Bäckerzunft) won in the guild category. But Ernst Moos from the tailors' guild (Schneiderzunft) attracted a lot of attention: at 89 years of age, he took part in the Chriesisturm for the first time – in a historical medieval guild costume. ‘I've done the Engadin Ski Marathon 50 times – but running through Zug with a ladder and giant scissors was a new experience! We sprinted at the start and finish, and marched in between,’ he remarked mischievously.

There was also a first for the women: two female runners crossed the finish line at the same time – Sonya Hegglin representing Zug's economy and EVZ player Jael Manetsch representing Zug Sport. Sarina Ettlin, the bdefending champion and representative of Zug Tourism, also performed brilliantly.

Peter Hegglin, the president of IG Zuger Chriesi, was right with his prediction: together with the Zurich audience who had travelled with him and the Böögg in tow, the spectators were treated to a real spectacle. The Landsgemeindeplatz resembled a festival tent during the announcement of the rankings – until an approaching thunderstorm with a storm warning created a dramatic atmosphere.

The Böögg, which was fitted to a raft on the lake, then burned with a slight delay and brought this traditional folk festival with guest participation to a spectacular close with a loud bang.

Note:
The final rankings can be found on:
www.zugerchriesi.ch.

A Tele1 video of the Böög burning at the Zuger Chriesisturmcan be seen on:
https://www.tele1.ch/nachrichten/boeoeg-wird-an-zuger-chriesisturm-verbrannt-161050336