eNewsletter 197 - Friday 28^th February 2025

G'day fellow rogainers,

This issue reports on last Sunday's minigaine, and then continues with the latest info on the next 4 events, plus recent date changes.

Summing Up the Summer Minigaine

Down to Checkpoint 72

Many thanks to all who participated. It was a roaring success with numbers maxing out the 400 entries cap 2 weeks early. We had a few enquiries from people who missed out, but unfortunately we have to stick to the caps specified by National Parks.

Perhaps it was the spectacular location largely in the Kamay Botany Bay National Park, an area not rogained before despite its proximity to Sydney, or maybe the dependable summer weather.

To complement the warm and sunny day we had plenty of drinks at hand, plus lots of watermelon, sliced oranges, cut apples, jelly snakes, lamingtons, jam rolls, and many other iconic treats to suit all ages and tastes.

Photos by Bruce Sutton

Results

    In the 3-hour team category:

• The overall winner was the Mens Veterans Team "R&R" (Richard Morris & Ryan Armstrong), who achieved a score of 1,840 points just in time at 2 hours 59 minutes and 59 seconds!
• The top team in the Mixed category, and overall 4th, was "Kate’s Mates 2" (Bill Klein & Tarana Stubenrauch) with a score of 1,630 points.
• Bill and Tarana were also the top Under 23 Team.
• The top Womens Team, also veterans who placed 20th overall, was "Just4Fun" (Saffron Sweeney & Kirsten Horley) with a score of 1,170 points.
• The top Novice Team, also mixed veterens who placed 19th overall, was "Lost Carnts" (Nikki Connors, Marc Fitzpatrick) with a score of 1,180 points.

Photos by Bruce Sutton

    In the 3-hour individual category:

• The overall winner was "Me and my mates" (Anthony Ricci), who achieved a score of 2,150 points in 2 hours 59 minutes and 7 seconds.
• The winner of the Womens, who came 4th overall, was "Headless Chook" (Melissa Robertson) with a score of 1,830 points.
• The top Veteran was "Tachyon", Sergey Pikuz, who came 6th overall at 1,810 points.
• The winner of the Under 23 category was "MarcusC", Ho Lam Marcus Cheung, (also a novice) who came 25th overall with a score of 1,470 points.
• Finally, the top Novice, who placed 12th overall, was "Thomas Schanzer" (Thomas Schanzer) with a score of 1,630 points.

Photos by Bruce Sutton

The full results with more detailed statistics, and many more quality photos by our event photographer Bruce Sutton, can be found on the website.

A big thanks to all our volunteers

Listed below are all those who helped make the Kamay-Kaze Mission minigaine such a great event:

Without doubt, special mention needs to be made of Mat Collin, who was clearly the glue that held the show together. In addition to Coordinator, Mat undertook 5 other key roles. Special mention also to our ever-calm administrator Anita Bickle, and to Lindsay and Judy Young for towing the trailer as well as helping on the day.

Also In This Issue:

• Entries Open: 2025 Australasian Champs, Snowy Mts, 15-16^th March
• Entries Open: Jordan Springs (Penrith) 6-hour Metrogaine, Sun 30^th March
• Entries Open: Coffs Harbour 6/12-hour Autumngaine, Sat 26^th April
• Paddy Pallin 6-hour at Belanglo, Sun 15^th June
• 2025 Rogaining Calendar Note the date swap
• Volunteer Opportunities (Earn a free entry)

2025 Australasian Champs, Snowy Mts, 15-16^th March

Entries close in just 9 days for the ACTRA's 2025 Australasian Championships. Although a 'championship' event, it is open to all levels of ability. NSW is leading the sign-ups so far.

The event is approximately 3 hours 15 minutes from Canberra and 5 hours 30 minutes from Sydney. The Hash House is at Cooinbil Hut, Long Plain. Maps will be released at 9am on the Saturday.

Key event information:

• Entries close 11:59pm Sunday 9^th March
• There will be NO late entries accepted after entries close on 9^th March
• Full entry: $165
• Concession entry: $135
• An event bus leaves Canberra 2pm Friday, returns Sunday, cost $50
• A carpooling service is also available on the website
• T-shirts can be ordered ($30), technical fabric, bright blue, event logo
• There is a partner finder service on the website.

Enter Here

The course is being set by champion rogainers David Baldwin and Julie Quinn (wearing the event T-shirt), with help from other ACT rogainers. They want you to experience the open plains and high country bush of northern Kosciuszko National Park.

Set by experts, you should expect a course that will reward careful off-track navigation.

For more info, visit the Event Website.

Jordan Springs (Penrith) 6-hr Metrogaine, Sun 30^th March

Ivan Koudashev writes:

This year’s metrogaine will feature Wianamatta Regional Park in the suburb of Jordan Springs near Penrith, an easy hours drive from central Sydney.

It is a former Defence Industries site that protects what remains of the Cumberland Plain Woodland. Once widespread throughout the Sydney Basin, only 6% remains. It is listed as an Endangered Ecological Community under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

This is our first time in this area so it could be well worth a visit.

Key event information:

• Entries close 11:59pm Sunday 23^rd March
• Full entry: $45
• Concession entry: $32, and child under 14 free
• A partner finder service plus info for novices can be found on the Metrogaine page.

Enter Here

The course setters encountered countless kangaroos, kookaburras, galahs, black cockatoos, pelicans, swans, and kingfishers, as well as many other bird species and snakes. The area might also harbour emus and echidnas.

The western part of the course is relatively elevated and you will be able to catch some great views of the lower blue mountains.

Keep an eye on the Metrogaine page on the website for the latest info.

Event related queries can be directed to: admin@nswroganing.org

Coffs Harbour 6/12-hour Autumngaine Sat 26^th April

Please don't slip on this opportunity! The setters, Keelan Birch and Mark Hurry, insist this will be a very a-peeling experience for all.

Located at Bucca in the Coffs Harbour hinterland, the area is easily reached by freeway from both Sydney and Brisbane, and the course is also only 30 minutes from Coffs Harbour. Free camping will be available on the Friday and Saturday nights.

This rogaine will be a 'State of Origin' battle between NSW and QLD. Both the 6 and 12-hour events commence at 11am on the Saturday.

Key event information:

• Entries close 11:59pm Sunday 13^th April
• Full entry: $70
• Concession entry: $50, and child under 14 free
• A partner finder service plus info for novices can be found on the Autumngaine page.

Enter Here

Keelan and Mark are keen to point out that a rogaine has never been held here before. Highlights include lovely rainforest lined creek lines, waterfalls, old mining relics, and lookouts. The forest contains a mix of dry blackbutt, tallowood, flooded gum, brush box and some old NSW Forestry plantations so it is likely to become part of the new Great Koala National Park.

In the spirit of true rogaining, almost all of the controls have been set off-track.

There will be an All-Night Cafe set up at a lookout, approximately halfway through the course.

To find the most up to date info, visit the Autumngaine page on the website.

Event related queries can be directed to: admin@nswroganing.org

Paddy Pallin 6-hour at Belanglo, Sun 15^th June

Rick Cavicchioli writes:

Belangoloopy! The 6hr Paddy Pallin Rogaine is your chance to go loopy! Held entirely in native forest in Belanglo State Forest, you can expect to challenge yourself to big loops and big points with grand canyon views and steep climbs, or pamper yourself and team-mates with little loops enjoying time-honoured wandering through sandstone country with spectacular flora and fauna.

Positioned about half-way between Sydney and Canberra a short distance off the Hume Hwy, the event will foster NSW/ACT rogainer-rivalry at its best.

At an elevation of around 700m, the cool forest air can be enjoyed from the moment you arrive at the Three Trees Hash House to the time you depart.

Belanglo provides unique opportunities for picking mushrooms, spending an additional night with the frogs at Dalys Campground, or sampling fine food and wine from one of the nearby wineries.

Finally, we thank our friends and sponsors, Paddy Pallin, for supporting this event.

Watch the Paddy Pallin event page on the website for the most up to date info.

Event related queries can be directed to: admin@nswroganing.org

2025 Rogaining Calendar (updated)

The 2025 calendar has been updated (note the date swap below). Check it out or grab one of the new flyers at the next event. An updated ‘fridge-friendly’ printable calendar (pdf) is also available for download. Put these dates in your diary, but remember to check the website as there may be further changes.

Volunteer Opportunities

Call for volunteers: we are in immediate need of a couple of extra Event Coordinators plus a Webmaster. For instance, we still need a team to run the Spring Rogaine in October but there are also lots of other opportunities for you to help with delivering our events this year too.

Please drop an email to Robin, our Volunteer Coordinator - volunteer@nswrogaining.org or register to help in any event here.

(NSWRA celebrates its volunteers. Support our events and earn free entry! Volunteers earn points. 100 points earns entry to a subsequent event. There is a volunteer rewards points table where you can monitor your progress toward a free entry voucher. For more info see the Volunteer Rewards Policy.)

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