Newsletter Number 54, January 2000
PO Box 3,
Central Park,
3145, Victoria.
neil.phillips@bigpond.com, 61-3-95721784 fax
President: Neil PhillipsPresident's Report
At times like this it is worth revisiting our aims as developed when the IRF was formed, and consolidated in our strategic plan.
· consolidate rogaining where it already has a presence
· foster the spread of rogaining to other countries
· improve the quality of all rogaines
· promote international participation in rogaines
· establish and maintain an international rogaining code.
Following from these aims, we have seen a number of successes over the last few years that include:
i) 3WRC at Kamloops with 290 rogainers
ii) 4WRC in New Zealand with 430 rogainers
iii) Interest in rogaining in Czech Republic, Eire, Sweden, Finland and Estonia.
iv) Development of consistent rules and procedures for the sport, worldwide
v) Publication of Rogaining to assist development of the sport
vi) Effective communications through the IRF Newsletters, email, websites and meetings.
vii) Tenth Anniversary Of International Rogaining rogaine in mid 1999
viii) Guidelines for the operation of the IRF
ix) Establishment of further rogaining associations in Australia such that there is now one in every state.
I now want to summarize the state of rogaining in various parts of the world. In Europe, we have seen interest in rogaining emerge in several centres, with a regular flow of rogaines and establishment of the Czech Rogaining Association. Much of this interest can be traced back to contacts through letters, emails and at major rogaines including the Most Awesome Rogaine in 1990. In Asia, we have small groups that attend our major rogaines, and these will hopefully lead to events in the future.
Immediate challenges lie in Canada, USA and New Zealand. We have a history of rogaines in these countries throughout the 1990s that can be attributed to the hard work of small groups of dedicated individuals. The spread of rogaining to so many centres (e.g. 21 states of America, six provinces of Canada) justifies the belief that the sport has appeal in these countries and that suitable terrain abounds. However, the observation that rogaining has actually slowed in several areas (i.e. it has stopped in several USA states) after key initiators of events depart suggests that we have not yet established a structure for the sport in these areas that can withstand migration of our leaders. The risk of course is that so much good pioneering work is not capitalized upon.
In Australia, there is a well-established structure that now includes a rogaining association in all eight states and territories. Western Australia celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, Victoria already has, New South Wales will shortly. It should be noted that the group of 180 Australian rogainers at 4WRC is one of the largest ever contingents of Australians to enter a single overseas sporting event.
Turning now to our various alliances with related sporting and outdoor groups, I raise the question whether we are doing enough to foster all of these. There is a long history linking rogaining and universities starting in 1947 and continuing today, but we may not be reinforcing the traditions of long-running university rogaines enough today. There is also a very strong alliance with Scouting that dates back three decades and underpinned the actual start of rogaining as a sport. Scouting has a presence and strength in almost every country in the world, and further links here would provide an excellent platform to take rogaining further. Orienteering and rogaining have had links for at least two decades, and also share overlapping interests and memberships. This alliance has worked to the benefit of both organizations. The 4WRC forms one of the key components of orienteering's world cup. Finally, an earlier research project on rogaining (IRF Newsletter No. 48) highlighted the large potential market of bushwalkers and trampers who shared many overlapping interests with rogainers. A potential goal suggested at that time was 'to make sure all bushwalkers/trampers are aware of rogaining'.
In discussions over the last year about our alliances, one message comes through very clearly and that is the wide importance given to retaining the present culture of the sport of rogaining. The benefit of rogaining maintaining these alliances is clear, and is not at all incompatible with retaining our independence and controlling our own destiny.
4th World Rogaining Championships
Report by Michael Wood, IRF Representative for New Zealand who led the campaign to have the 4th World Rogaining Championships held in New Zealand.
"Although held in mostly open farmland, mist blanketed the higher parts of the course for the 4th World Rogaining Championships in Canterbury, New Zealand on 15-16th January 2000. This resulted in some very challenging navigation even during the daylight, although the existence of fences on the map made other parts of the course easier. The steepness of the terrain reduced route choice somewhat and led to many teams selecting similar "chains" of controls, but the organizers, Peninsula and Plains Orienteers, produced a fine event for the 400 competitors.
This event was also round one of the inaugural Marathon-Orienteering World Cup run by the International Orienteering Federation, which also includes mountain marathons in France and Slovenia. Two out of three events are to count for the cup."
(Note: discussion of results has been omitted from this report awaiting verification by the 4WRC organizers).
4th World Rogaining Championships
Remarks by Neil Phillips in closing the 4th World Rogaining Championships, New Zealand, January 2000.
The International Rogaining Federation is the body under whose auspices world rogaining championships are run. The IRF was formed in 1989, we have just celebrated our 10th anniversary, rogaining is spreading to more countries every year, and we have just witnessed a successful 4th World Championships.
A measure of the success of 4WRC is the attendance of over 400 rogainers from 13 different countries. There is an age spread of almost 70 years between oldest and youngest competitors, and this event includes rogainers who have competed in 100 rogaines and several who have just completed their first rogaine. Probably unique within sport, all these participants compete under exactly the same conditions on the same course. At the conclusion some told me the navigation was easy, some said the navigation was hard, but all agreed that 4WRC posed a challenge, and that the course had been worthy of a world championships.
The trophies for each section were made available by the Western Australian Rogaining Association at the time of 2WRC in 1996. They are perpetual trophies that will be returned at the time of 5WRC for presentation at that event. As we present these trophies now, I would like to introduce key figures from outside New Zealand whose work in the background has complemented that of the New Zealand team. At the same time I can only reiterate the praise for the organizing team of Tom Banfield, Andy Buchanan, Jude Elliot, Dave Laurie, Stuart Payne, Peter Squires and all their support team.
Let me introduce these leaders and ask them to present the trophies.
Eric Smith has been USA representative on the IRF for several years and a key leader in the expansion of the sport to several USA states.
Richard Robinson led a sub-committee that developed the rules for this and other major rogaines, and in doing so ensured that our rogaines are fair to all, safe, and enjoyable.
Richard Matthews is a founder of the IRF and former Australian Rogaining Association president who was instrumental in making the trophies available for this event.
Peter Taylor has just stepped down from the presidency of the ARA and in that position gave enormous support for the concept of high quality world rogaining championships.
Phil Holman is the current ARA president and continues the outlook of the ARA that encourages support for rogaining in all corners of the globe.
Nigel Aylott was the world rogaining champion coming into this rogaine (with Iiro Kakko), and has exemplified the tradition of leading competitors who also play a role in leading our associations and working towards the continual improvement of our sport.
As I officially close this 4th World Rogaining Championships, I also invite you all to meet at the 5th World Rogaining Championships in the Czech Republic, and ask Tomas Rusek if he would say a few words of welcome on behalf of the Czech Rogaining Association.
4WRC IRF Meeting
A meeting of 15 rogainers was held before 4WRC, and this newsletter addresses the first of the items discussed: the next newsletter will elaborate on others.
Guidelines
In the last IRF Newsletter guidelines were published encapsulating the current operation of the IRF. To reiterate the status of these guidelines, it needs to be stressed that these do not replace the need for, nor pre-empt, a constitution, but simply reflect the request for transparency as to how we are operating until a constitution is agreed. The guidelines in Newsletter 53 draw on those prepared by a sub-committee of Nigel Aylott, Rod Phillips and Bob Reddick in 1996, constitution discussions during 1999, and otherwise reflect on-going procedures. The numbers of delegates should be read as a guide only, and approximate current practice. A key element of these guidelines is that representation on the IRF comes from those individuals organizing rogaines and leading national rogaining associations, a practice since the IRF was formed.
5th World Rogaining Championships
The IRF meeting reconfirmed the importance of having an experienced rogainer as Championships Manager to work with the Czech team organizing 5WRC. The position will be advertised in newsletters shortly, and a recommendation made by the Australian Rogaining Association to the IRF in the first part of 2000. The aim is to have a decision on the Championships Manager in advance of the final selection of the 5WRC course to be made by the Czech group in mid 2000.
6th World Rogaining Championships
The IRF meeting supported a bid from the USA to hold 6WRC. The key factors at this stage were identifying an organizing group with a track record of running 24 hour rogaines, and the availability of a site that was challenging, fair and provided enjoyable terrain. The possibility of more than one bid from USA groups was not ruled out, nor were strong bids from any other rogaining organizations. There is a need for reasonably complete bid proposals addressing issues that will help the IRF make a decision on the award of 6WRC. Likely time for a decision was the second half of 2000.
7th World Rogaining Championships
The meeting discussed the possibility of having the 7th World Rogaining Championships in Australia with at least three states expressing possible interest.
Junior Category
There was discussion highlighting the importance of juniors to the sport, and how to raise junior participation at world rogaining championships. With an 18 year old definition of 'junior', the only teams travelling far to a world championships appear to do so with parents; but a 21 year or 25 year old definition may open the junior class to a wider group that travelled independently. Any change to the junior category definition at world rogaining championships did not need to flow on to national and state rogaining championships where travel circumstances were quite different.
Neil Phillips, President IRF