The NSW Rogaining Organising Committee / Board are having a strategic planning session in December to redo our 5 year plan. In preparation for this session, I have collected the following statistics to help reflect on the sport we love.
I once went to Western Australia for a week and ended up staying nine years! If you have never been, it’s a great place …. and what better excuse than to make a first time visit than for the 2024
I attended the first world championships way back when in 1992 in the gold mining country around Beechworth, Victoria. Arguably the event was a bit premature (most competitors were Aussies) but it was statement of confidence about where the sport
It’s always frustrating — and humbling — to make a navigation blue right at the start. No, I’m not talking about a recent rogaine, but my experience while vetting the forthcoming course for the Oz Champs at Goobang NP and
We opted for the approach of “plan for less and you can always get more”, but in a way where we wouldn’t skip too much early on. Our starting plan actually excluded controls 50, 34, 31, 12 & 23, and
I first went rogaining in Western Australia in the early 1980s. I worked for YHA – Youth Hostels Association – one evening working back there was a stomping and a puffing up the stairs and there was Paddy Pallin. YHA
The Autumngaine at Stroud (thanks to Mat Collin for all his hard work) was my 100th NSW Rogaine which is a bit of a milestone for me. If you add ACT events and ones I volunteered at, rather than competing,
I am sure that many of you will have noticed, on the weekend, that the controls were covered with orange PVC pipe and there was not a steel cover in sight. There is a back story to this involving the
Congratulations to Steve Ryan and other volunteers for putting on this very sucessful event. Steve set the course, made the map and also acted as the event co-ordinator. Three roles normally done by three different people and all completed with
– by Brett Davis Children have a special place in rogaining, especially in NSW – and they don’t even have to obey the rules like everyone else! The “Rules and Regulations” page of the New South Wales Rogaining Association (NSWRA)
Each year we have several first timers at our NSW rogaining events, but we fail to get many people returning, particularly to the longer, bush events further away. Why is this? It’s been much discussed at various times, with suggestions
I was really looking forward to the Lake Macquarie rogaine. It felt like forever since the last Lake Macquarie rogaine, in fact the last Lake Macquarie rogaine was two years ago today. The organising team has had a rough time
I thought i’d write some thoughts/analysis. It’s all ‘what-ifs’ of course but i think lessons can be learnt from post-race analysis. Most important was to have fun (which was achieved!!). I enjoyed having a different approached to route planning with
By Brett Davis In rogaining, the terms “control” and “checkpoint” are pretty much interchangeable, with both used to describe those often elusive points on the map that we have to find. Orienteering began in the late 19th century, and was
Thanks to Covid disruptions, the NSW Championships haven’t run since Yengo 2019, which means we are greatly looking forward to a 24-hour event this year, using a new and exciting area in the far north-west of the state. Thinking of
Navigation Today Don’t get me wrong, I love rogaining, but I am starting to wonder if, like dinosaurs and Morse Code, rogaining might have had its glory days, unless we adapt. I am a keen bushwalker and I am partial
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Rogainer: the Search for the Perfect Partner by Brett Davis Rogaining is a team sport, and most people seem to rogaine with the same partner or partners in every event they enter – like
One of the benefits of being a rogainer in New South Wales is that there are a choice of rogaines put on not only by the local Association but also those organised by the ACT Rogaining organisation. As Canberra is
A Great Location I really like Cherrybrook as a location for a short or city based event. The suburb is literally surrounded by bushy creeks with Pye Creek to the north and Berowra Creek to the east and south. There
Missing Maps We are trying to complete our archives. In particular we want to get a complete inventory of maps used in NSW rogaines since the first rogaine in 1983. We have made pretty good progress with approximately 170 maps
What is Map Memory? Map memory, as defined for use in rogaining and orienteering, is the ability to look at a map and commit the relevant portion of the map to memory, it is said that this is useful for
By John Anderson Well known NSW rogainer, John Anderson, has written and self-published a book about James Macarthur and his role in the bringing about the first ascent of Mt Kosciuszko. It sheds new light on Strzelecki’s climb to make
In my previous post “Rogainers are Getting Older” I looked at the average age of rogainers and the fact that, on average, rogainers are getting older. This led to a number of questions like: If we have relatively more older
I had a chance meeting today with a rogainer who has recently turned 75, but is still a fine athlete. He (I’ll give that much away) still has the audacity to beat me from time to time. He was asking
The 58th Paddy Pallin Rogaine was a lot of fun and it wasn’t just me who enjoyed it, everyone seemed to have a pretty good time. It was probably the most fun I have had since Trevor Gollan’s 2017 Karst
by Tristan White 21 New South Welsh wo/men took advantage of the open state borders to cross the border to South Australia to compete for the titles of Australian rogaining champions, and it is exciting to announce that three of
This is the first of a series of posts asking the question “What can we do better?”. In order to keep the discussion brief and to the point I will be breaking the discussion up into a number of posts:
I had heard how good rogaines were in South Australia but despite doing events in other States and Territories I had never made it to one in SA. The 2021 Australian Championships on the last weekend of May did not
Oh where to go with our 12 hours? A look at the point distribution made it clear that we needed to go to the northern section and to the SW corner with some options through the western section depending on
Thanks very much to Rick Cavicchioli, Tassia Kolesnikow, Mike Hotchkis and the rest of the organising team for putting on yesterday’s Autumngaine at Belanglo. We had been promised that we would be spoilt for choice and we certainly were. There
We’ve all enjoyed the catering provided after a Rogaining event, maybe during a 24-hour one, and you might even have helped out in the kitchen at an event. Have you participated in an event (particularly since COVID) where catering has
Great event. After 40+ years of orienteering and rogaining i got to have a beer on the course at the Mt Kembla pub! Well worth it. Thank you to all volunteers.
Using these two sources of revenue I expect we should be able to fund our Wall in well less than a billion years and we will reap the benefits until the Sun destroys the earth shortly thereafter. Join our Protest
This was shot on the morning of Web 3rd Feb 2021 in Lindfield. This is a follow on from the recent feature on Rogaining in the Sydney Morning Herald on 16th Jan 16, 2021. Read SMH Article Here https://nswrogaining.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tpcp-bush1-clip-s1n.mp4 Tristan
The dietary choices for many rogainers during events are as obscure as the sport itself. With very few other sporting events involving up to 24 hours of activity, the traditional energy gels and chews, and protein shakes are not enough
For the last 57 years the Paddy Pallin organisation has combined with NSW Rogaining to put on a Rogaine. The Paddy Pallin rogaine is a special feature on the rogaining calendar since it is our most popular event and for
You are never too young to experience the joys of lawyer vine which, after all, is an Australian native (Smilax australis) pest rather than an introduced one. Sophie, my daughter’s first experience with lawyer vine was in the 2015 Lake
Posted on 12/12/2016 by Chris At the most recent meeting of the NSW Rogaining Association Committee the issue of mis-punching electronic controls was discussed. By default the event software we use “RogaineScore” records the lowest score recorded by a team member so any
Posted on 17/06/2018 by Chris I really enjoyed the 2018 Paddy Pallin event at Kitchener. I had not rogained in the area before, but I look forward to competing there again if the opportunity arises.The course was interesting because it was large and
A key ingredient to rogaining (in addition to the navigation, teamwork, and route planning) is pushing through the long duration of the event. Excluding multi-day events such as the Tour de France or Test Cricket, a 24-hour rogaine is one
Unless you have arms like an octopus, the single most important piece of equipment to have for a rogaine is a good backpack, because without one, it is near impossible to carry the bounty of other essential gear to keep
What a great event was the Woronora Pipe Dreams Rogaine. Excellent map, fine conditions and some refined control placement. Today, comparing the 1:20,000 map with the 1:25,000 Socialgaine map of the same area from 2013 shows a huge amount of
I greatly enjoyed last night’s rogaine and thanks to everyone involved in making it happen. I have done over 90 NSW rogaines and this one certainly rates in my top 5. A number of factors contributed to this enjoyment: The
I am grateful that I’ve had the chance to go on several night rogaines with seasoned competitors in earlier years. In addition to allowing me to do night rogaines comfortably on my own accord, it has given me the confidence
Perhaps it’s because I’m a reasonably warm-blooded creature myself, but I’m convinced that Sydney-siders are a bunch of cold-weather whingers. As soon as the temperature drops below 18°C, it’s inevitable that I’ll be hearing groans from others about how freezing
Sections of Gundabooka National Park are flat so I thought it timely, prior to this year’s NSW Championships, to prepare some thoughts about navigation in such country. The map we’re using is a custom prepared map at 1:25,000 scale with
A 24-hour rogaine looks a lot like a semester of university. The pace at the beginning is fast, but it doesn’t take long for motivation to drop off and slogging away becomes a test of willpower. And just like the
A rogaine is just about the antithesis to a conventional fashion show. Indeed, if one was looking for an event where they could find the least fashionable looking human beings, a 24-hour rogaine would undoubtedly be a forerunner. But the
Buy the new compass.While stocks last. Post added 2020 NSW Rogaining has teamed up with to create a revolutionary new “wonder” compass. A traditional compass, in the hands of a skilled operator, will tell you which way to go. This
Are you a Serious Rogainer? Gill Fowler and Jess Baker Dave Baldwin and Julie Quinn David Williams and Ronnie Taib Joel Mackay and Mike Hotchkis
Julian Ledger – 6 July 2019 So swiftly the sun sets in the sky You rise up and say goodbye to no one Fools rush in where angels fear to tread Jokerman Dance to the nightingale tune Bird fly high
If we were to take a survey of physical ailments that rogainers experience on the course, I would be very surprised if foot problems did not top the list. It would be wonderful if I could give an objective solution
Rogaining is the sport of paradoxes. An integral part of the sport is an appreciation for the natural environment and for the simple things, yet it is full of tech-heads and it utilises sophisticated technology actually developed by some of
I have a theory that for every person, there is about a 20 degree Celsius range in which most people can comfortably participate in vigorous outdoor activities. I have known many a cold-blooded species who will happily go running and
The Story Behind the Australasian Rogaining Championships 2020, May 9-10 “30 Years Ago; The Story begins…” writes SA Rogaining Association’s Chief Conspirator Jenny Casanova, “…on a dark, rainy, windswept night in 1989, the young girl trudged up the road in
Whether it is the clothes you wear, the food you eat or the torch you carry, knowing the best gear to take with you on a rogaine is absolutely fundamental. It has been a long time since any NSW publication
On the 3rd January I suggested on Facebook that, depending on interest in our rogaining community, we could run some training for course setters What a pleasing response! 30-odd expressions of interest Consequently we have scheduled a workshop on 8-Feb,
By Tristan White 29-Nov-2019 Those who partook in their first rogaine within the past decade will most likely only know the electronic scoring system known as “Navlight,” used at all NSW (and most other Australian) rogaines. In addition to simplicity
THE GENESIS While researching the 2017 world orienteering day, Margaret stumbled across a South African based paddle orienteering event and thought – “we can do that”. The seed was planted but it needed a lot of effort to finally germinate.
I was really looking forward to the Paddlegaine and I am very happy I competed and I will remember the event for the rest of my life. I am a semi regular kayaker and have access to a number of
There is a bit of space at the front of our place and for the past few years it has been home to the two rogaining box trailers. They are known affectionately as the Admin trailer and the Catering trailer
There’s a large bubble in my compass which has appeared from nowhere over summer. However as the first two events of the year have both been on tracks it has not yet been an issue. The Boardwalk Bonanza Minigaine on
Chris Stevenson The 2016 Paddy Pallin did not disappoint. The Bureau of Meteorology delivered the expected amount of rain. It rained 27.8mm during the 6 hours of the event. Looking around at the start there seemed to be three takes
Thoughts and reports on the NSW Champs, 20-21 September 2019 Yengo National Park is a large (150,000 hectare) tract of land in the north-eastern section of the world-heritage Greater Blue Mountains Area. It doesn’t get many visitors, much of it
The Socialgaine was developed to give the regular rogainer a different perspective on the environment. ¼ way between the, all urbane Metrogaine and the largely bush Rogaine. You can go all out and sprint for the 6 hours, or perhaps
Winter wrap Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by three fabulous rogaines With apologies to Shakespeare and Richard 3rd. Despite Sydney’s coldest winter for 26 years it has been champagne conditions for NSW rogainers with great
Posted by Chris Stevenson on 3/10/2001 This article originally written by Sue Clarke, from Newsletter 30, September 1991 Why are rogaines run in pairs? The easy answer is, of course, for safety. However, there is considerable scientific evidence to show that
This article is taken from Newsletter 34, July 1992, written by Warwick Marsden Ian McKenzie’s two articles in our March newsletter (on selection of teams for the World Champs and whether there should be a change to the convention whereby
Posted by Chris Stevenson on 20/02/2010 G’day rogainers, From Richard’s report I see he and his team turned on another very successful event. Tell us here about your experience at this rogaine and any suggestions that may make for
Posted on 2/11/2011 by Joel Mackay Here at the NSWRA committee, we are often pondering over whether we have too many shorter and/or urban events – compared to longer and more distant bush events, or whether we should even be
Volunteer Reward Points Table The following volunteers have earned points for volunteering at a Rogaine. Points are allocated by the Event Coordinator and the Volunteer Coordinator and are based on the numbers in the NSWRA Volunteer Rewards Policy, but in general,
Posted on 12/03/2015 by Chris Stevenson I felt motivated to write to let everyone know that the 2014 Socialgaine held last Sunday represents 20 years of rogaining for me. I still remember the day a friend described this sport with
Posted on 4/05/2015 by Dominique Pitot A big thankyou Yesterday, while participating in the Dharug Dreamtime 6 hour Autumn Rogaine, I slipped and banged my head against a rock. Team 58 were nearby and rushed to my assistance. I would
Posted on 8/08/2015 by Chris Stevenson The rules of rogaining are pretty explicit: R7. Navigational Aids (a) The only navigational aids that may be carried on the course are magnetic compasses, watches and copies of the competition map. (b) The
Posted on 28/02/2016 by Chris Stevenson My wife, Dianne, and I competed in the Lane Cover river 6 hour event in 1995 and yesterday I fronted up for another go. What has changed? My wife, now with 2 children and
Posted on 23/05/2016 by Chris Stevenson The Autumngaine at Tarlo river found me partnerless, so I tried our partner finding service. I first tried hooking up with Mal. Mal subsequently jilted me, preferring instead to recover from the flu, which
Posted on 24/06/2016 by Andy Simpson After a bit of arm twisting by some ACT rogainers the NSW Ski-orienteering event at Perisher on 7th August will include a 2 hour “Snogaine”, mass start at noon. More details at: http://www.bigfootorienteers.com/drupal_2/skio2016 Hope
Posted on 10/07/2016 by Chris Stevenson I have been rogaining more than 20 years, but I have never tried a NavShield until now. Julian, my regular rogaining partner suggested we “have a go” at this year’s event. For those of
Posted on 27/09/2019 by Tristan White Recent committee meetings have included discussion about ways to reward repeat offenders at rogaines, perhaps a token such as a headband after they go to their 5th rogaine. But what about those that just
Posted on 31/07/2016 by Chris, for Tristan White World Rogaining Championships, July 23-24, 2016, East McDonnell Ranges, Alice Springs, NT Team 211 (Male Youth): Tristan White & Mitchell Lindbeck Score: 2420/6190 Result: 3rd in MY, 47/299 overall Few people would have guessed that
This is an expanded version of the tribute I gave at the 6-hour presentation of the 25th Lake Macquarie Rogaine on behalf of President, Gill Fowler, to recognize the extraordinary contribution made by two rogaine stalwarts – Bert Van Netten
Posted on 10/09/2016 by Chris Stevenson I am quite excited about the forthcoming NSW champs. I was wondering why I am excited and I reckon that the NSW Champs might be close to a perfect event. This led me to thinking
Posted on 17/10/2016 by Chris Stevenson The NSW Championship last weekend was an event not to be missed, if you didn’t make it you missed out on a superb, classic rogaine. We had 200 starters which was 41 teams in the 8
Judging by our attendance at 12 and 24 hour events I think most Rogainers like it soft. The NSW Organising Committee (of which I am a part) are wondering why relatively few people enter 12 or 24 hour events. I
Posted on 10/04/2017 by Julian Ledger Congratulations to Steve Ryan course setter, Gill Fowler organiser and Anita Bickle admin, on the excellent Minigaine at Cronulla on Sunday. Exploring an area not so well known to many in very fair conditions
Posted on 10/04/2017 by Chris Stevenson The Minigaine yesterday was an interesting event. As someone who comes to rogaining from a bushwalking rather than a running or orienteering background, I always look towards the minigaines with some trepidation. To do
Posted on 08/05/2017 by Chris Stevenson The Australian Championships were held over the weekend in an area near Bredbo, south of Canberra, and I thought I would write down a few things that piqued my interest from the event. Firstly,
Posted on 08/05/2017 by Chris Stevenson It’s the end of an era. Welcome to the era of Teslin. Teslin, for those of you not up with the latest innovations in rogaining, is that “paper” on which we have started to
Posted on 21/05/2017 by Chris Stevenson Julian Ledger and I lined up for the 6 hour event yesterday. We were not keen for the 12 hour event, having competed in the 24 hour Australian Championship only a fortnight before. The “Karst
Posted on 14/06/2017 by Chris, for Trevor Gollan One feature of the Paddy Pallin Rogaine is its history. Paddy initiated the “Paddy Pallin Orienteering Contest” in 1964 to encourage people to enjoy the bush with minimal impact and to practice
Posted on 19/06/2017 by Chris Stevenson “Never in the field of human competition was so many fences crossed by so few competitors” (Sorry Winston.) The 2017 Paddy Pallin event was held at Sydney University’s farm “Arthursleigh’ at Big Hill and I
Posted on 07/08/2017 by Chris Stevenson I confess I was a bit nervous when I read pre-event information which included the line “Gaiters or other leg coverings (full body cover recommended)”. I have done the Lake Macquarie event a few times
Posted on 09/09/2017 by Chris Stevenson There are many reasons why you should compete in the 24 hour at the NSW Championship and here are some: 1. It is cheaper than the 8 hour eventBoth the 8 hour event and
Posted on 09/09/2017 by Chris – for Ciara Smart And they say Australia is inhospitable! This year I was lucky enough to travel to Latvia to compete in the World Rogaining Championships, along with nearly a thousand others. At the closing
Posted on 06/11/2017 by Chris Stevenson Finally, a small puzzle… Dave Williams nominated as his favourite place on the course, “the dramatic knife-edge spur above 92 on the way from 70. We timed it perfectly with great views east just
Posted on 10/11/2017 by Chris Stevenson I do not remember much about studying ancient history at school but I do remember the class structure of Ancient Greek society and the “Pentacosiomedimni” whose wealth can be defined as being greater than