International Rogaining Federation

Newsletter Number 59, August 2000

PO Box 3,
Central Park,
3145, Victoria.
neil.phillips@bigpond.com, 61-3-95721784 fax

President's Page 

IRF Executive

President: Neil Phillips
Secretary/Treasurer: Rod Phillips
Promotions and Development: David Stephens 

Australian Rogaining Championships 2000:
The 21st Australian Rogaining Championships were held in the upper Hunter River valley three hours northwest of Sydney in countryside renowned for its wines, coal and thoroughbred horse studs. The four hundred-strong field was the largest attendance at any New South Wales 24 hour rogaine, and after a very cold Friday evening, the weather moderated for a most pleasant weekend. 

In setting this rogaine, the New South Wales Rogaining Association opted for extensive use of private land. This meant considerable work convincing landowners to 'open' their properties to strangers for the weekend but gave us access to some superb countryside. The other important upside of using private land was the very good publicity for the sport: landowners were genuinely interested and supportive after the weekend, and welcomed rogainers back in future. Positive profile like this is harder to achieve if we spend all our time in forests and state parks. 

It is likely we will see more emphasis on use of private land in future, emphasising the sport's ability to co-exist with other land users, and requiring us to leave the rogaine sites in spotless condition. 
 
  Membership of the IRF Council:

Several rogaining nations have responded positively to the recent invitations to join the IRF upon incorporation. Some of these will be Observers, those representing 'national groups' still need to select their representatives, and the Australian Rogaining Association has referred their formal decision to a subcommittee that will report back once they have fuller details. 

This is a particularly positive start, and will mean that there will be a wider representation shortly. 

Also on the calendar over the next few months are the updating of the IRF Strategic Plan, an IRF website, selection of the venue for the 6th World Rogaining Championships, WARA's 20th anniversary rogaine, and some invited articles on leading-edge ideas for better rogaines. 

A decision will be made soon regarding the awarding of the 6th World Rogaining Championships. For 6WRC, we have had informal expressions of interest from two Australian states and three centres in USA. These can be culled at national level to present one bid from a country to the IRF, or as was suggested to the USA at the 4WRC meeting, multiple bids could come from a country thereby giving IRF Council more selection opportunities.

 
IRF Secretariat 

6th World Rogaining Championships: 

At 4WRC in New Zealand, the meeting of the IRF decided that awarding of 6WRC should wait until the second half of 2000. That time is now with us, and this is further notification to prepare bids for those who wish to apply to hold 6WRC. 

The 6WRC selection process will follow that of 3WRC, 4WRC and 5WRC, and be staged (see special page below). 

Ireland rogaines 

The 3rd Setanta Wicklow Rogaine was run near Dublin, Eire on 15/16 June 2000 in ideal weather conditions. Twenty teams entered in a rogaine run by Philip Brennan. www.setantaorienteers.org for regular information on Irish rogaining. 

USA Elkhorn Rogaine 

The Elkhorn Rogaine, sponsored by the Sammamish Orienteering Club, is being held September 9 - 10, 2000 at the Elkhorn Ranch and adjoining lands just northeast of Kittitas in central Washington State. USGS maps are being used, with minor updates. The Hash House will be central to the 90 square kilometre rogaine area, with about 55 controls. Sections include 8hr, 12-in-24, and the classic 24 hour rogaine. Classes are open, veteran (over 40) and superveterans (over 55), for each of Men, Women, or Mixed. 

This rogaine in the foothills of the Cascade Range, on the dry side of the mountains in Eastern Washington State, is looking good, except for it being too dry with high fire risk. There may be minor adjustments due to the high fire danger, but otherwise things are on track. 

Event registrar: Bob Reddick, PO Box 82374, Kenmore, WA 98028-0374 Tel 425-487-0099, email: rogainer@xoc.net

http://www.pnwo.org/elkhorn/index.html 
 
 
  
 6th World Rogaining Championships

(Appendix IRF Newsletter 59) 

The IRF is now formally calling for any expressions of interest in staging 6WRC in 2003 or 2004. This expression of interest need only be a brief note to the IRF with the name of the country, approximate date and location proposed for 6WRC. These expressions are due by 30 September 2000, before a short list is finalized by the IRF at the end of October 2000.

All short-listed groups are then asked for a one page summary of their bid listing strengths and answering perceived weaknesses. This page should include the track record of the organizing group. It should also list any related sporting events that might enhance 6WRC and add value to the particular date by attracting extra participants. This one page summary should be provided to the IRF by the end of November 2000 for publication in an IRF Newsletter.

After publication of the one-page summaries, the IRF will not itself be organizing any open discussion on 6WRC (but does encourage informal questions and suggestions to all the 6WRC applicants). This might include asking for specific details of any bid from the respective parties.

A simple vote amongst IRF representatives will lead to one or more groups being invited to prepare a more detailed submission. The option will be kept open to call for more details from both/all groups if no clear decision can be reached on the information provided.

IRF representatives from the short-listed bidding groups will not have a vote.

Traditionally, the IRF President has offered assistance to each/any group to prepare their submissions, but would not exercise a vote except in a tied situation.

A strong bid from any rogaining group to hold 6WRC will inevitably involve discussions with non-rogaining groups that might include government and other sports. For such discussions to proceed to our mutual benefit, it helps each bidding group to know and be able to say that the IRF is taking their bid seriously. Once a bid is short-listed, the IRF is prepared to offer this support in writing for any applicant. 

These are the World Rogaining Championships of the International Rogaining Federation who will monitor the different stages of the event. As such, there are some details that should be read before finalizing any bid. The Strategic Plan outlines procedures and details of WRC, and explicitly says the WRC should not be held more often than once a year. It has been general policy for the first few World Championships to be initially at four-year, then at two-year intervals, but it is permissible for the event to be held up to once in each calendar year. It is accepted that the event will not be awarded if there is no suitable bid. Bidders should factor in an IRF levy of AUD$6 per head into their proposals. The rules pertaining to 6WRC will be those of the International Rogaining Federation, and will resemble those used at 4WRC and 5WRC but may have some modifications. The IRF WRC Manager would be working closely with 6WRC organizers to ensure a fair and high quality championships, and with the IRF Technical Manager to ensure clarity and fairness of rules and technical regulations. 

It is not too early to think about 7WRC, and when and where this might be held. We might be focussing on 6WRC, but organizations are welcome to indicate their interest in staging 7WRC if they believe that this will help decisions regarding 6WRC. 

All official correspondence regarding 6WRC to be addressed to the IRF at PO Box 3, Central Park, 3145, Victoria, Australia. 

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