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Central to the debate is the way that rogaining has evolved both in Australia
and NSW. Those who've heard it all before are free to go to the next paragraph.
The sport's roots go back to 1947 when the Melbourne University Mountaineering
Club initiated 24 hour walks. An Intervarsity Competition followed in the
sixties with a format similar to the rogaines we know today. The VRA was formed
in 1976 and W ARA several years later. Both States have much larger associations
than NSW whose association, the NSWRA was formed in 1983. While there has been a
lot of informal contact between the associations, mainly at the annual
Australian Championships and orienteering events, there is little in the way of
regular contact and exchange of ideas. An Australian Rogaining Association (ARA)
exists, as does an IRF (International Rogaining Federation - the Canadians
couldn't handle it being called the IRA!), but to date has done little to
develop a national identity for rogaining. And so in NSW we have developed our
own identity to a large extent. So much for the history lesson ...
The main people responsible for starting the NSWRA in 1983 were Bert and Dianne
Van Netten, Ian Dempsey (see the entry form for Bert and lan's latest challenge
in September!) and Peter and Robyn Tuft (Robyn showed at the recent Paddy Pallin
that she's still as good a rogainer as ever by taking out the Women's category).
For the following few years one or two rogaines were held each year. About this
time Trevor Gollan, Peter Wherry, John Keats, myself and a few others became
more involved and from 1988, when we took over running the Paddy Pallin, we
decided to run four rogaines a year - one 24 hour, two 12 hours and the 6 hour
Paddy Pallin with the ACTRA running another two or three - until the NSWRA had
grown sufficiently to be able to run more. We felt it was better to run a few
events well than to spread our resources too thinly; I think that the success of
NSWRA events shows that we made the right decision.
But with the NSWRA turning ten next year perhaps it's time to not
only reassess the number of events but also their nature. (To this
end the NSWRA will be holding a 'think-tank' later in the year.) In
this context I'll now address the issues raised by Ian and Mike.
World Championships
The issue of the number of entrants at an event is a difficult one and one which
we've only recently had to address although the VRA and W ARA regularly turn
people away (the quota is 400). The two main reasons are impact on the
environment (and being able to enjoy an event without feeling that you're never
alone - as a team!) and catering. The first is very dependent on the area, with
many areas being conducive to larger numbers while others may only be suitable
for a hundred or so. Catering requires helpers and considerable logistics, both
of which are directly proportional to the number of people entered. I see this
as the major limitation to increased numbers. We could offer less in the way of
catering but I'd be reluctant to promote such a move as it's the catering which
provides the basis for that wonderful ambiance which is so much a part of
rogaining.
As for the selection criteria, as the proposer of the original scheme (three 24 hour rogaines and two years membership), I have to admit to making a mistake. A selection criteria should be based on performance! As it's turned out, NSW won't fill its quota. This is due to the fact that our quota (which is pro rated according to state membership) is much higher than originally envisaged because of the rapid growth in our numbers over the past couple of years. While some of this increase in membership could be termed 'highly competitive' or 'elite', the majority would be more accurately termed 'socially competitive' or 'participatory'. I'll come back to this point, which was the main issue raised by Mike, shortly.
8 Hour Championships?
The 24 hour 'Championship' event is one of the aspects of rogaining which we
have in common with other states. I believe that there may be a good case for an
'8 hour Championship' in the future; some would even say that the 6 hour Paddy
Pallin is in effect a short format championship.
This aside, I would like to make several points in answer to Ian.
First, the Championship status of the 24 hour event: rogaining is a
'complex' tactical sport, far more so than the sports with which Ian
drew comparison (running, swimming, cycling), and even it's close
relative, orienteering. An event begins in earnest when the maps are
handed out, with the eventual winners of many rogaines being decided
in the hours before the start. Out on the course the competition has
a number of phases, not the least of which is how to cope with the
changes in light and energy levels which come with the night; the
greatest challenge often coming after midnight. These elements,
which many see as the essence of rogaining, are the reasons for the
24 hour championship status. A shorter championship event would lack
some of these elements. I'll resist drawing an analogy between test
match and one day cricket but you're welcome to!
Second, I would challenge lan's premise that there arc 'clearly many rogainers
who prefer shorter formals'. The majority of peoplc participating in these
events are often not in the 'highly competitive' or 'Championship' category. Ian
is a clear exception. To give short format events which are run in conjunction
with longer events championship status would diminish the status of the shorter
championship as the majority of the competitive teams would probably be
competing in the longer championship. (It's worth noting that the NSWRA
acknowledges that more points may be gained by teams in the shorter event and at
this year's NSW championship the women's class was won by Debbie Cox and Judy
Micklewright who were only entered in the 16 hour event.)
Ian wrote his article before competing in longer events en route to the World
Championships. I would be pleased to hear whether his views have changed. Also
as Ian, along with ACT's Blair Trewin, will probably be NSW's most competitive
team in the World Championships I'd like to take this opportunity to wish him
every success.
Whither rogaining?
Michael Burton sees the forthcoming Rogaining World Championship as heralding a significant change to rogaining in NSW. Having lived with and been part of the changes in rogaining in NSW over the past six years I disagree.
The numbers of people attending rogaines in NSW has increased considerably over
the past few years and the majority of this increase has been made up by less
competitive rogainers. The Paddy Pallin gives a clear indication of this. In1987
the event drew some 60 participants most of whom were serious orienteers; in
1991 and 1992,when the numbers reached 400,there was still a very strong core of
orienteers but their ratio to those who have discovered rogaining as an
enjoyable 'recreational activity, albeit an arduous and adventurous one' has
fallen considerably over the years. This same trend is reflected in other
rogaines.
I am not opposed to catering for the 'new breed' of rogainer who sees the sport
as seriously competitive. My point is that it is important to maintain a balance
and not fall into the trap of catering for an unrepresentative minority. In
spite of our mistake with the selection criteria NSW appears unlikely to fill
its quota for the World Champs - less than 25 (and several of those aren't
members) out of a total membership of about 300.
In the NSW context, I see the offer of prize money at the Lake Macquarie rogaine as having more
immediate consequences. If rogaining is to cater for a more competitive breed then there are
a number of technical changes which will need to be made. Here are three examples:
- Rogaining uses off-the-shelf maps with minimal corrections; will these be acceptable to the serious competitor? To upgrade them to a higher standard would require considerable time and effort and would bring rogaining much closer to orienteering; bushwalkers would see this as a retrograde move.
- Policing the rule which requires that teams don't split up for competitive advantage has been shown to be very difficult. To ensure fair competition under more competitive conditions would be even harder.
- At present there's an acceptance that if a checkpoint is poorly
located that it's unfortunate (hopefully such occurrences are becoming
rarer). The nature of the sport is such that these checkpoints are more
a talking point than something for which the course setter should be
taken to task. To set and vet a course to a higher standard would
require even more than the several hundred person hours which are taken
at present to set a course.
Yes, these changes can all be made but they will require resources well beyond
those presently available in NSW. Personally I believe that our limited
resources should be used, in the short term at least, to cater for the
majority of rogainers and in recognition that growth in our wonderful sport
is coming from a less competitive new breed. But let's keep talking about it.
Warwick Marsden
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