eNewsletter 199 - Friday 21^st March 2025

G'day fellow rogainers,

Last Chance to Enter the Metrogaine
Entries Close Monday Midnight

Ever expect to see a scene like this out west?

The event coordinator and setter, Ivan Koudashev, has to be congratulated for spotting this one! This is our first rogaine in the area, and it's worth a visit.

Only an hour away from the CBD NE of Penrith, the 6-hour course ranges through streetscapes, to lakes and wetlands stocked with abundant waterbirds, to parks joined by grassy tree-lined lanes that connect stands of remnant bushland. Where he can, Ivan has done his best to provide a small taste of off-track bush navigation, and you will not be able to see these controls from the tracks.

A crowning feature of the course is the expansive Wianamatta Regional Park. It extends for 5km E-W across the map and protects what remains of the Cumberland Plain Woodland, once widespread throughout the Sydney Basin. Only 6% remains and you can experience some of it on this metrogaine.

There are countless kangaroos and native birds to be seen. Emus and echidnas are reported. The emus have left tracks and children (of all ages) might enjoy the thrill of finding them in urban bushland so close to the City.

• Key event information:
  Entries close:                11:59pm this Monday
• Full entry:                      $45
• Concession entry:       $32, and child under 14 free
• Registration:                 from 08:30
• Start:                             10:30
• Duration:                       6 hours
• Food:                             16:00 - 17:00
• Hash House:
• Jordan Springs Community Centre, 2/6 Cullen Ave, Jordan Springs
• 
  A team finder service plus info for novices is available on the entries page.

Enter Here

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

Also, if you would like to help out, Ivan is still on the lookout for a Trailer Tower to get the gear to the event. For details, send an email to Robin, our Volunteer Coordinator - volunteer@nswrogaining.org.

Also In This Issue:

• Results & Summary: Last Weekend's 2025 Australasian Champs
• 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
• Volunteer Opportunities WANTED: A new webmaster

Results & Summary: The 2025 Australasian Champs

More than 100 NSW rogainers competed in the Australasian Rogaining Championships organised this year by the ACT Rogaining Association in the high-country of the Murrumbidgee River head waters.

Results are available here, with map overlay including GPS tracks of many teams.

It was a big field with 402 participants in 180 teams. There were more strong teams in almost all categories than in previous championships in the post Covid years. It was won decisively by a Kiwi team, Tiaan and Jonty McKinnell who scored 3640 points in 23hrs 43mins. Unlike a number of previous events up at 1500m, which have been very wet or very cold or both, this rogaine was warm and remarkably the temperature hardly fell overnight. Keeping hydrated and designing a route which matched climbing to fitness and making strategic use of the five water drops was the challenge.

The event was organised by champion rogainers Julie Quinn and David Baldwin who did an excellent job. The course was large, and David’s map to a very high standard complete with 5 metre contours allowed for placement of some controls on fine features which were challenging in the dark. There was however a remarkable full moon which shone most of the night. Had the event been two days later it would have been below freezing overnight.

There were some great results from NSW teams in a strong field. Congratulations go to:

The awards ceremony was well done and good humoured, helped by tummies filled with good tucker from a food truck which came in for the occasion.

Many thanks ACT Rogaining.

Report & Photo by Julian Ledger

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

Entries Open

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, so get your "bunch" together!

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 Monday 21^st April
• Full entry: $70
• Concession entry: $50, and child under 14 free

A team finder service plus info for novices is available on the entries 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:

Go 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

The NSW calendar for 2025 is summarised below. Check it out or grab a flyer 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

A call for volunteers

For the fast approaching Metrogaine (30^th March) we are in immediate need of a Trailer Tower.

We also need a Course Setter for the Spring Rogaine on 18th October and a Coordinator to run the Socialgaine on 2nd November. It is best to fill key roles like these early.

Permanently, we are on the lookout for a Webmaster. This is a critical role. If you are a keen rogainer who has the right skill set, and the time to put in the effort required to maintain the high standard of our website, then we would like to hear from you. If you’re interested or want to know more, please send an email to president@nswrogaining.org or to Robin, our Volunteer Coordinator, at volunteer@nswrogaining.org.

Of course, there are still lots of other opportunities to help with delivering our events this year too.

Please drop an email to Robin - 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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